TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State head football coach Curt Mallory announced the 2026 football team captains following the player vote on Monday night in the Sycamores' final team meeting of the fall preseason.
 
The six captains for the upcoming season will be quarterback Elijah Owens, wide receiver KeShon Singleton, offensive lineman Drew Page, linebackers Braxton Sampson and Alex Rose, and defensive lineman Kolten Gajewski.
 
Owens, Page, and Sampson all repeat as captains after serving in the role in the 2025 season, with Owens garnering the nod for the third consecutive year after being selected prior to the 2024 season. Singleton, Rose, and Gajewski all receive the honor for the first time.
 
Owens becomes a three-time captain as the redshirt junior quarterback returns to the field after suffering a season-ending injury in the second game of the 2025 season. The Jacksonville, Ill. native posted 317 passing yards and 112 rushing yards prior to the injury as he continues to be one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The former Jerry Rice Award finalist is two seasons removed from finishing eighth in the FCS in completion percentage (68.8%), while setting the Indiana State quarterback rushing records in both yards and touchdowns.
 
Singleton returns to the field as the Sycamores' top receiver as the redshirt sophomore finished second on the team with 25 receptions for 328 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2025. The Springfield, Ill. native highlighted his season with a season-high six catches for 51 yards against Illinois State, while adding touchdown catches against both South Dakota and North Dakota.
 
Page returns as the Sycamores' center in the middle of the offensive line. The Noblesville, Ind. native blocked for an offense that posted six games with at least 100 rushing yards, including a season-high 322 yards against Southern Illinois, while Indiana State added a season-high 319 passing yards against Youngstown State.
 
Sampson returns as one of the top linebackers in the MVFC after finishing third on the Sycamores with 73 total tackles, including 6.0 TFL and 1.0 sacks. He posted a career-high 16 tackles and 1.0 TFL last season against North Dakota State, while adding at least eight stops in four other contests. He highlighted the year with an eight-tackle game featuring 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, and a forced fumble against Eastern Illinois.
 
Rose returns as one of the emotional leaders of the team as the Terre Haute, Ind. native took on a significant role on the defense in the 2025 season. He finished fourth on the Sycamores with 66 total tackles, including a season-high 16 stops in the season finale against Murray State. He highlighted his year with a six-tackle, 1.0 TFL, and a forced fumble game against Indiana.
 
Gajewski returns to the field as the leader of a defensive line group that finished 20th in the FCS in team tackles for loss per game (6.6). The Nashville, Ill. native recorded 27 total tackles and 3.0 TFL over the season, highlighted by a five-tackle, 1.5 TFL game against South Dakota State.
 
Indiana State Football Season and Single Game Tickets On Sale Now 
For information on season tickets, fans can contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing Mason LaGrange by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Mason.LaGrange@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu.
 
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