Manti Te'o and Brandon Mebane began the season as defensive team captains.

After Te'o was lost for the season with a Week 3 Achilles injury, Melvin Ingram ascended into captaincy in late September.

Now that Mebane is out for the year with a biceps injury, the Bolts once again needed to name a new captain.

Head Coach Mike McCoy named his replacement on Thursday, and it's a player who has experience in the leadership position. DT Corey Liuget will don the "C" over the final five weeks of the regular season.  The defensive tackle previously served as captain for the 2015 campaign.

"Corey has done a great job this entire year," McCoy said.  "His energy and excitement is phenomenal.  Corey shows up every day to work, and he leads. He and Brandon were the leaders up front, and they competed against one another each day at practice.  Corey brings a lot of energy on the field, and you love his attitude.  He deserves it."

The 6-2, 300-pound six-year veteran has rebounded nicely after an injury plagued 2015 season.  Liuget leads all San Diego defensive linemen with 36 total tackles.  He ranks second on team with seven tackles for loss while his 25 pressures are the third most on the Bolts.

McCoy made the announcement following Thursday's practice, resulting in a round of applause from Liuget's teammates.

"That's because of what Corey means to us," Damion Square explained.  "He deserves it.  He puts in the work, and he's important to this franchise.  This team has invested a lot in him, and he deserves to be the leader of our (defense).  We looked at him as one already."