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<p>Bill O&#8217;Brien wasn&#8217;t much for cutesy motivational ploys. But while trying to build a program through harsh sanctions, the former Penn State coach did allow for one semantic trick in particular.</p><p>Seeking to bolster a thin roster with local players, O&#8217;Brien made it a point to change &#8220;walk-ons&#8221; to &#8220;run-ons,&#8221; hoping to make the term sound more enticing for non-scholarship players.</p><p>One of those guys was Von Walker, an undersized but athletic prospect from nearby Mill Hall. Walker made enough of an impression to play as a true freshman in 2013.</p><p>Now he&#8217;s just the eighth player in Penn State football&#8217;s 130-year history to be named a captain for multiple seasons.</p><p>Walker received that honor on Tuesday as he was voted by teammates to the position along with fellow seniors Brandon Bell and Brian Gaia for the 2016 season.</p><p>&#8220;These captains are proven leaders on and off the field and have been outstanding representatives of our program,&#8221; Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said in a school release. &#8220;These are guys that have our program&#8217;s best interest in mind and they bring us together as a group.&#8221;</p><p>The selections represented key veterans on offense (Gaia), defense (Bell) and special teams (Walker).</p><p>Since arriving on campus, Walker has been a running back and a return man to now a linebacker and a mainstay on kick coverage units. He earned a scholarship from Franklin before the start of last season.</p><p>Walker joins former teammate Christian Hackenberg (2014-15) in a rare club. The only other Lions player to serve as a captain twice in this century was Paul Posluszny (2005-06).</p><p>Prior to that, Mike Reid and Steve Smear were both captains in 1968 and 1969. The others to accomplish the feat are Bas Gray (1924-25), Bob Higgins (1917, 1919) and George Linsz in the first two years of the program (1887-88).</p><p>Not too shabby.</p><p>As for his fellow leaders, Bell and Gaia are both known for their ability to keep things loose in the locker room.</p><p>Bell arrived in Happy Valley at the same time as Walker and also saw the field right away. Known as the team&#8217;s best blitzer, Bell is also often tasked with covering tight ends and running backs.</p><p>Entering his third year as a starter, Bell has battled nagging injuries during his career but has still been one of the team&#8217;s top big-play manufacturers on defense, having forced three fumbles a year ago to go with 5.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.</p><p>On the other side of the ball, Gaia will be asked to anchor the offensive line under new position coach Matt Limegrover. A starting guard each of the last two seasons, Gaia has moved to center for this, his fifth year in the program.</p><p>Penn State&#8217;s next announcement could be coming soon. Franklin and his staff must choose between Trace McSorley and Tommy Stevens to start at quarterback, with the head coach scheduled to speak to reporters after practice on Wednesday evening.</p><p>The Lions are moving into game preparation mode as they get ready to open the season Sept. 3 against Kent State at Beaver Stadium.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_walker-mug.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">Walker </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_walker-mug.jpeg</photo0><caption0>Walker </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_AP_63451462142.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Von Walker (left) made some history Tuesday when he was elected a Penn State captain along with Brandon Bell and Brian Gaia. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_AP_63451462142.jpg</photo1><caption1>Von Walker (left) made some history Tuesday when he was elected a Penn State captain along with Brandon Bell and Brian Gaia. </caption1><photoCredit1>Keith Srakocic | AP file photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Derek Levarse</p><p>dlevarse@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Penn State names Gaia, Bell, Walker as 2016 captains