Five to Captain 2025-26 Buckeyes
11/21/2025 11:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cullen Brown, Blake Eiland, Taji Flynn, Alex Marinier and Bobby Van Buren will captain the Ohio State men's lacrosse team for the 2026 season, head coach Nick Myers announced Friday.
"I'm proud to announce our five captains, leaders who've earned respect through hard work, grit and heart." Myers said. "These captains represent the standard we hold ourselves to. They lead by example, they lift others up and they embody the spirit of this team. They have earned the represent from their peers and coaching staff, and I am incredibly confident that they will honor and defend our Buckeye Lacrosse family."
This year marks the first time since 2011 the Buckeyes have selected five captains.
"That speaks to how remarkable and unique these men are. They each have their own journey as a Buckeye and bring different skillsets to our Brotherhood."
Van Buren, a returning captain of last year's squad, is the reigning William C. Schmeisser Co Defensive Player of the Year. Often drawing the top matchup of the game, the Wingate, N.C. native helped Ohio State hold opponents to 10 or fewer goals in 11 of 17 games last season. He finished the 2025 season with 24 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers. He earned First Team All-America status, First Team All-Big Ten honors and a Tewarraton Award nomination.
"I've always heavily valued my coaches' and teammates' belief in me, so being selected to return as a captain this year means the world," Van Buren said. "In my final season, I will do everything in my power to lead this team to our final goal."
Marinier returns at attack as a 2025 Honorable Mention All-American after a senior season in which he became just the third Buckeye to record 50 goals in a season. He recorded 52 points last year, with at least one goal in all but two games, 13 multi-goal games and 10 hat tricks. Marinier's seven goals against Air Force tied for the fourth-most goals scored in a game by a Buckeye and the most since 2019. After playing his first two-seasons at Ohio State on defense, Marinier got moved to attack after a successful summer playing box lacrosse in Canada. Since then, he has 82 points and 78 goals for his career in just two seasons as an attacker. This fall, he was drafted by the Halifax Thunderbirds as the sixth overall pick in the NLL draft.
"I am proud and honored to serve this team as a captain," Marinier said. "There have been so many amazing captains in this program whose footsteps I will try to follow while also paving the way for the 2026 Buckeyes and future members of this program. We have an amazing group of leaders on this team who I am excited to work alongside in our chase to Memorial Day Weekend."
Brown is set for his senior season after a breakout 2025 campaign. He set the program's single-season caused turnover record with 34 and earned Honorable Mention All-America and Second Team All-Big Ten honors. The starter at close defense led non-faceoff players with 60 ground balls and caused 34 turnovers in his junior campaign. He helped the Buckeye defensive effort to a top 10 goals against average and he finished the year leading the Big Ten in caused turnovers per game.
"To be selected as a captain really means the world to me," Brown said. "Every year I've been able to look up to great leaders and Buckeyes, and now I am beyond excited to lead and to see where this group goes in 2026."
Eiland, from Delaware, Ohio, is a mainstay at short stick defensive midfield for the Buckeyes. He had 17 ground balls, six caused turnovers, two goals and an assist in his junior season. He tallied a goal against Virginia to help the then-unranked Buckeyes defeat then-ranked No.12 Virginia for the first of seven wins over ranked teams in 2025. Eiland added two caused turnovers in the team's regular season win over then-ranked No. 2 Notre Dame to help the team to an unblemished road record. He capped th season by earning Honorable Mention All-America recognition.
"Being recognized as a captain this season means so much to me," Eiland said. "Growing up as a lacrosse player in central Ohio, leading the Ohio State Buckeyes has always been a dream of mine. I'm incredibly grateful for the belief and confidence my teammates and coaches have in me, and I'm committed to helping this team reach our goals. I couldn't have done this without the unwavering support of my parents, my family, and my faith in Jesus Christ."
Flynn, a defender from Roswell, Ga., is a leader for the Buckeyes not just on the field, but off the field as well. The 2025-26 hammer recipient, an honor bestowed upon the player that exemplifies relentless effort and toughness, Flynn is a three-time Mark Bergey Service Award winner and has completed over 100 hours of community service during his time as a Buckeye. He also serves as the president of Ohio State's Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
"Being a captain for this team means the world to me, as it is the highest honor and responsibility in our program," Flynn said. "I appreciate the support from my teammates to entrust me with the ability to lead them for the upcoming season. There have been so many great leaders I have learned from during my time here, and I hope to utilize that to help this team accomplish every competitive goal we have."
