Northwestern Names Five Captains for 2023 Season
8/30/2023 12:32:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern football Interim Head Coach David Braun has announced seniors Bryce Gallagher, Coco Azema, Cam Porter and Josh Priebe, along with graduate student Charlie Mangieri, as team captains for the 2023 season.
Gallagher becomes the 15th two-time captain in program history, while Azema, Porter, Priebe and Mangieri are all first-time captains. Entering his fourth year in Evanston, Gallagher has amassed 195 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in his career. The Raynham, Massachusetts, native started in all 11 games he played in last season, leading the team in total tackles (100), placing him fifth in the Big Ten. Gallagher was named to the preseason All-Big Ten Third Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Azema, who appeared in three games last season before suffering a season-ending injury, recorded 20 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. In 2021, he finished fourth on the team in solo tackles (47) and total tackles (72), and tied a team-high with two forced fumbles.
After backing up Evan Hull last season, Porter is poised to be the feature back for the 2023 Wildcats. Porter is Northwestern's leading returning rusher this season, totaling 286 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns in 2022. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native burst onto the scene in 2020, rushing for a combined 301 yards and four touchdowns in the final three games of the against Illinois, Ohio State (Big Ten Championship) and Auburn (Citrus Bowl).
Priebe is one of four offensive players who started in six or more games in 2022. Priebe appeared in 26 games during his first three seasons in Evanston, starting in 16 contests, which ranks as the fifth-most career starts on the team.
Mangieri leads all Wildcats in career starts with 25, producing 142 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 47 career games.
Northwestern will kick off the 2023 season at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 3 at Rutgers. The game will air on CBS.
Gallagher becomes the 15th two-time captain in program history, while Azema, Porter, Priebe and Mangieri are all first-time captains. Entering his fourth year in Evanston, Gallagher has amassed 195 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in his career. The Raynham, Massachusetts, native started in all 11 games he played in last season, leading the team in total tackles (100), placing him fifth in the Big Ten. Gallagher was named to the preseason All-Big Ten Third Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Azema, who appeared in three games last season before suffering a season-ending injury, recorded 20 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. In 2021, he finished fourth on the team in solo tackles (47) and total tackles (72), and tied a team-high with two forced fumbles.
After backing up Evan Hull last season, Porter is poised to be the feature back for the 2023 Wildcats. Porter is Northwestern's leading returning rusher this season, totaling 286 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns in 2022. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native burst onto the scene in 2020, rushing for a combined 301 yards and four touchdowns in the final three games of the against Illinois, Ohio State (Big Ten Championship) and Auburn (Citrus Bowl).
Priebe is one of four offensive players who started in six or more games in 2022. Priebe appeared in 26 games during his first three seasons in Evanston, starting in 16 contests, which ranks as the fifth-most career starts on the team.
Mangieri leads all Wildcats in career starts with 25, producing 142 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 47 career games.
Northwestern will kick off the 2023 season at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 3 at Rutgers. The game will air on CBS.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ FootballFootball - Western Illinois at Northwestern Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, September 06
Football - 'Cats Roll Western Illinois, 42-7 in Home Opener (9/5/25)
Saturday, September 06
Football - Week 2 Monday Press Conference (9/1/25)
Monday, September 01
Football - Northwestern at Tulane Postgame Press Conference (8/30/25)
Saturday, August 30
