Homegrown Hero: Dominic DeLuca one of several locals to captain PSU
From 1936-1950, Penn State had five captains from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area.
The Greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region has been kind to Penn State, where numerous local legends have become national icons.
“Any time we can get a kid from the hard coal region — particularly that area — we want him,” head coach Joe Paterno said in 1985. At the time, Penn State had five Wyoming Valley products in Todd Moules (Meyers), Darren Hamilton (Meyers), Lance Hamilton (Meyers), Bob Ontko (Wyoming Valley West) and Mark Sickler (Wyoming Area).
Dominic DeLuca, a Burlsworth Trophy nominee from West Pittston who starred in front of 106,000-plus fans at Penn State’s first College Football Playoff game, is the latest Nittany Lion whose play and backstory have captured the imagination of college football fans nationwide.
DeLuca’s captain status sets him apart from most of his predecessors from the Wyoming Valley. DeLuca is among a select few who served as a permanent team captain — permanent meaning full-season — and he earned the distinction twice.
Keep scrolling to read about the handful of local Lions who preceded DeLuca as team captains.
1936 (3-5) — Chuck Cherundolo
Cherundolo was born in Old Forge. He was one of eight centers on Collier’s weekly’s All-East team in 1936. Cherundolo, a two-time Pro Bowler, played and coached many years in the NFL. He was selected in 2007 to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ legends team, honoring the franchise’s best players from 1933 through 1970.
1937 (5-3) — Sam Donato
A longtime football coach at West Scranton High School, Donato was born in Dunmore. He played halfback at Penn State. Donato coached West Scranton from 1946-1971. He and his son, Nick Donato, formerly of North Pocono and Scranton Prep, are both members of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
1942 (6-1-1) — Lou Palazzi
Palazzi was a graduate of Dunmore High School. He played two seasons in the NFL as a center for the New York Giants. Palazzi was an NFL official from 1951-1981, umpiring three Super Bowls and other significant games like the 1958 NFL Championship.
1948 (7-1-1) — Joe Colone
Colone, a graduate of Berwick High School, was a kicker and running back for the Nittany Lions. He played in the famed 1948 Cotton Bowl, a 13-13 tie against SMU. Under his captaincy in 1948, Colone led Penn State to a national ranking as high as No. 5. He served as Berwick’s head football coach from 1952-1954.
1950 (5-3-1) — Owen Dougherty
Dougherty was a Dunmore native and Dunmore High School alumnus. He was a starting back in 1950, which was legendary Rip Engle’s first year as Penn State’s head football coach. Dougherty went on to coach baseball and football at IUP.
1962 (9-2) — Joe Galardi
A center out of Dickson City High School, Galardi played for Penn State in three bowl games. As a sophomore, he played in the Nittany Lions’ 41-12 win against Oregon in the Liberty Bowl. As a junior, he helped Penn State beat Georgia Tech, 30-15, in the Gator Bowl. His senior year, Penn State lost the Gator Bowl, 17-7, against Florida.
1985 (11-1) — Todd Moules
An outstanding wrestler and football player at Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre, Moules played offense and defense at Penn State. He was a starting offensive guard in 1985, when Penn State’s 11-game winning streak propelled it to the No. 1 ranking at the end of the regular season.
1994 (12-0) — Bucky Greeley
Greeley, who graduated from Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre, was one of five captains on the legendary 1994 team, headlined by fellow captain and quarterback Kerry Collins. Greeley, a center, played three seasons with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
1997 (9-3) — Phil Ostrowski
Ostrowski, who graduated from Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre, was a first-team All-Big 10 guard in 1997. He helped the Nittany Lions spend most of the season in the top 10, including several weeks at No. 1. Ostrowski was a fifth-round draft pick by San Francisco and played three seasons with the 49ers.
2012 (8-4) — Matt McGloin
Born and raised in Scranton, McGloin graduated from West Scranton High School. He was the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback during the emotional 2012 season and graduated with a handful of school passing records. McGloin was awarded the Burlsworth Trophy and went on to play four seasons with the Oakland Raiders.
2021 (7-6) — Jaquan Brisker
A native of Western Pennsylvania, Brisker made his mark in Northeastern Pennsylvania with the Lackawanna College football team. He was an NJCAA All-American for the Falcons, who he led to an 11-0 season and El Toro Bowl victory. Brisker was a second-round NFL Draft pick and has played 35 games with the Chicago Bears.
2022 (11-2) — Ji’Ayir Brown
Originally from Trenton, New Jersey, Brown played with Brisker and had an excellent two-year run at Lackawanna College under legendary head coach Mark Duda. Brown capped his Penn State career by being named Defensive Most Valuable Player of the 2023 Rose Bowl, a 35-21 win against Utah. He is in his second season with the 49ers.
2023 (10-3) & 2024 (TBD) — Dominic DeLuca
DeLuca capped his high school football career with a PIAA state championship, the first ever for his Wyoming Area Warriors. He tore his ACL during the game but still managed to throw two touchdowns and run for another score in the come-from-behind win. While he began his career at Penn State as a walk-on, DeLuca has seen significant time as a starter on defense and special teams. Wearing the coveted “No. 0” jersey, he intercepted two passes in Penn State’s first CFP win against SMU.
* Larry Vorhis, captain of the 1909 team, was born in New York, but lived for several years and ultimately died in Wilkes-Barre
Sources: Penn State Football 2024 Media Guide; various newspaper and public records