With the incredible amount of talent that is leaving for the NFL this year, it got me thinking about who might step up as the team leaders for next season. Most captains tend to fit into one of three categories: Senior leaders; Junior multi-year starters who at minimum lead by example; emotional/locker room leader - a la Kam Babb.

Looking at next year's team, while there is talent all over the board, few have had the impact that you tend to see from a future captain.

Defensively, the easy answers are Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs. Styles will be a three-year starter here and one of the more respected upper-classmen on the team, despite only being 20 years old. And while Downs is only a Junior, and this will be just his second year on the team, his work ethic and football acumen seem to make him a logical choice.

Offensively, the easiest choice would be Tate, as he will be a second-year starter/three-year contributor, and the elder statesman of the best position group on the team. But after him, other options are harder to find. Smith is only a true sophomore, so I'm not sure he'll be called upon for the job (plus, would we have a second guy from the same position room?). Same with Sayin (assuming he wins the QB job). The tackles will be in their first season here, so not them. Which leaves us with the IOL. Is there a captain amongst Tegra, Hinzman, and Montgomery? Hinzman has the most experience, but he has also spent ample time in the doghouse. Tegra could be a two-year starter but was easily the least consistent member of last year's line and isn't guaranteed to beat out Serevield. And Luke might be the best potential leader, but has the least experience.

Finding another defensive player worthy of the role seems easier. Jackson and Curry could each be fine options, and Iggy will be a three-year starter here, but in any case that could lead to the defense outnumbering the offense 3-1 in leadership. And, in Iggy's case, would place two of those leaders in the same position room (which I find unlikely). 

So I'm interested to hear opinions. Is there a guy I'm forgetting about who would make an easy choice? Have you heard of there being an emotional leader on the team, like Babb, who would make a good choice despite not having your typical on-the-feild production to back it up? Or do you think we could simply see fewer captains than usual or an odd disparity between the number of offensive and defensive captains?