The University of Minnesota Duluth football team announced its four captains for the 2025 season Friday, an impressive group of one senior and three redshirt seniors. The four tasked with leading the Bulldogs next fall are now two-time captain and redshirt senior Kyle Walljasper, redshirt senior DeShaun Ames, redshirt senior Alex Sylvester, and senior Matt Weerts.
"I am honored to work alongside these four voted on captains for the 2025 season," said UMD head coach Curt Wiese. "These four guys exemplify what it takes to be a Bulldog. They have earned this honor and will lead our Bulldog Football team."
Walljasper, who continues his leadership duties, hails from Fond du Lac, Wis., and was named an NSIC First Team All-Conference selection in 2024 after picking up second team honors in 2023. The quarterback had the best passing season of his career, averaging 200.9 yards in the air a game and tossing 22 TDs – which tied his career high set his redshirt sophomore season. With 806 yards on the ground, Walljasper also used his legs to run in eight touchdowns, and averaged 80.6 rushing yards a game. Walljasper's leadership extends to the classroom – he was a 2024 CSC Academic All-District Football Team honoree and was both a 2024 NSIC Academic Team of Excellence honoree, as well as a All-NSIC Academic Team member last fall.
Ames, from Cumberland, Wis., earned NSIC First Team All-Conference accolades after having a breakout season in 2024. The 6'1" wide receiver had 11 receiving touchdowns in 11 games and had 756 yards in the air on 38 receptions for a 19.9 yards per catch average – an NSIC-best effort and a 68.7 yards per game average all season. A stellar student in the classroom, Ames also named to the 2024 CSC Academic All-America Football Second Team after earning 2024 Academic All-District Football Team honors, and was both a 2024 NSIC Academic Team of Excellence honoree, as well as a All-NSIC Academic Team member.
Sylvester, a product of Green Bay, Wis., had 31 tackles last season, which included 21 solo efforts. The defensive back had a career-high six passes broken up or defended in 2024, and now has seven in his career. Overall, in 31 career games, Sylvester has made 77 tackles – more than two a game average – and has had two sacks for seven yards lost.
Weerts, defensive back from Batavia, Ill. who transferred from North Dakota State University last year, was a 2024 NSIC Second Team All-Conference selection. He turned in 4.5 sacks (14th most in the conference) and nine tackles for loss for 43 yards, the 14th most in the NSIC last season. In all, Weerts registered 26 tackles, which also involved 15 solo grabs.
The four will lead UMD into its 92nd season in program history in 2025.
