SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The reigning NSIC Champion Augustana football team recently wrapped up its spring slate with the annual spring game on Saturday. As part of the festivities at the game, three-time NSIC Coach of the Year Jerry Olszewski announced the five players voted as team captains for the 2024 season. 

Among the five are two-time captains Peyton Buckley and Haden Wallace. The duo welcomes a group of three newcomers with Matt Francis, Kyle Graham and C.J. James. 

Buckley, a rising senior earned five different All-America accolades in 2023 including second team honors to the AFCA All-America squad. The All-NSIC defensive back led AU with 78 tackles with 7.5 marked for loss. In addition to his on field play, Buckley is also a two-time CSC Academic All-America student-athlete. 

Holding down the other captainship on the defensive side, Wallace ranked second on the team with 67 tackles enroute to First Team All-NSIC honors. A senior in 2024, Wallace intercepted three passes and forced a pair of fumbles in his first year serving as team captain. 

Francis, a graduate student for AU, saw action in all 13 games at tight end in 2023. He was on the receiving end of four receptions including the go-ahead touchdown at Winona State. In his career spanning three full seasons, Francis has seen action in 29 contests while making 14 receptions for 137 yards. 

An Academic All-District honoree, James is a veteran of 35 games for AU. At left guard, the rising senior helped protect an offense that saw a running back eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground. In addition, he blocked for a quarterback that led the NSIC and ranked 11th nationally in passing efficiency. 

The soon-to-be senior, Graham had his season cut short by a game in 2023 after rushing for four touchdowns and 188 yards. In his career, he has seen action in 34 contests while helping the Vikings win a pair of NSIC Championships. 

Augustana's 2024 season opens Sept. 7 at UMary with a second-straight road game on Sept. 14 at South Dakota State. On Sept. 21, the Vikings look to extend a six-game home winning streak in the 2024 home opener against Northern State.