KINGSTON, R.I. - In preparation for the 2025 season, Rhode Island Football head coach
Jim Fleming announced that the team has selected four captains in quarterback
Devin Farrell, wide receiver
Greg Gaines III, linebacker
A.J. Pena and defensive lineman
Case Mankins.
Together, the quartet has a combined 90 games of experience at URI under its belt and played a crucial role in the Rams' 2024 CAA Football Championship campaign. Gaines III, Mankins and Pena each appeared in all 14 of Rhody's games last fall. Farrell was on track to do so before suffering a season-ending injury in November.
Both Pena (First Team) and Farrell (Third Team) are coming off All-CAA Football seasons.
Farrell finished his shortened campaign with 1,670 passing yards and 302 rushing yards. He threw 11 touchdown passes while adding five on the ground and collected one CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week nod.
In his first year with the Rams, Gaines III (Iowa State transfer) went on to start all but one game. He totaled 603 receiving yards on 50 catches and added three touchdown grabs. He served as both a game captain and the anchor bearer.
One of the top edge rushers in college football, Pena had a torrid junior campaign that saw him finish in the nation's top 10 in both tackles for loss (22.5, seventh) and sacks (12.5, 10th). He racked up 82 tackles while recovering two fumbles and breaking up a pair of passes. Pena enters the year with a 21-game starting streak and is closing in on numerous career records at URI.
A stalwart player on the defensive line, Mankins has played in 24 career games through his first two years in Kingston and has steadily seen his production increase during the span. Last year, he accumulated 24 tackles with 4.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks.
A year ago, Rhody chose two captains in running back/punt returner
Gabe Sloat and defensive lineman
Westley Neal, Jr.
Rhode Island's season officially begins on Friday, Aug. 29 with a league game against Campbell. The Rams will take on the Camels under the lights at Meade Stadium starting at 6 p.m.
