Keller, Plummer Named 1999 Ohio State Football Captains – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/20/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 20, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Senior fullback Matt Keller (Mason, Ohio) and senior cornerback Ahmed Plummer (Wyoming, Ohio) were elected captains of the 1999 Ohio State football team today by a vote of their teammates, head coach John Cooper announced. Both players are fifth-year seniors and entering their third year as starters.%^$
%^$”I think Matt and Ahmed will do a fine job captaining this football team,” Cooper said. “They are both excellent young men and excellent young football players. They set a great example for everybody and they have the qualities that are necessary to lead this team.”%^$
%^$Secondary coach Jon Tenuta said of Plummer: “It’s a tremendous honor for Ahmed. I think he will be a tremendous leader for this team.” Running backs coach Tim Spencer, an OSU captain in 1982, said: “I think it is well deserved for Matt. Here is a young man who has worked his tail off. We changed his position when he came here and he stayed mentally strong. He has excelled in everything we have asked him to do.”%^$
%^$Plummer, a 1999 preseason All-American, is one of the country’s finest defensive backs on the field and one of its finest student-athletes in the classroom. He is a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a two-time CoSIDA District IV Academic All-American. Plummer was an honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference selection last season, and is considered by many as a legitimate candidate for the Thorpe Award as the nation’s outstanding defensive back in 1999.%^$
%^$”It’s a great honor, especially being voted by the people on this team,” Plummer said. “You look at the senior class and see such great players – really a number of guys could have been named. I’m just fortunate that it was me.”%^$
%^$Keller, a compact, punishing blocker out of the OSU backfield, has played in every game (37 total) since arriving on campus in 1996. One of the most versatile fullbacks in Ohio State history, he enters his senior season with 521 rushing yards, an OSU fullbacks record 52 receptions and 574 receiving yards. Last season, Keller cleared the path for tailback Michael Wiley to gain over 1,200 yards. Keller is the first fullback to be chosen captain at Ohio State since Scottie Graham in 1991.%^$
%^$”It really hasn’t hit me yet,” Keller said. “I think it’s going to hit me when we go out for the coin toss at the Miami game. It’s a great honor and coming up through the ranks like I have – it’s just a great reward. My role really doesn’t change much. I came into this year expecting to take more of a leadership role as well as the other seniors. Ahmed and I aren’t the only leaders on this team.”%^$
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-GO BUCKS!-%^$
