As the second half of the Delaware State football season (along with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) schedule begins, now is a good time to look back at the first half of the season with grades for each unit of the team, which sits at 4-2 heading into Saturday afternoon’s conference battle at Howard University. The Hornets are close to their first winning season since 2012, but to achieve that milestone, some slight adjustments need to be made. Here’s how DelState grades out through the first half of 2022.
Offense
Quarterbacks: Junior Jared Lewis came into the season as the starter, but a nagging hip injury has forced DSU to turn to redshirt freshman C.J. Henry, a former Delaware High School Offensive Player of the Year at Hodgson. Henry has performed well when given time to throw, as was the case with Lewis. This slight dilemma could carry over in 2023 if Henry finishes the season strong. Needless to say, it’s nice to have two quarterbacks capable of guiding your offense. Grade: B
Running Backs: The Hornets are third in the MEAC in rushing, with Milford alum Marquis Gillis, originally a defensive back, assuming lead ball carrier duties. Gillis leads the team in rushing attempts (70), yards (354) and touchdowns (3). Wade Inge provides speed and Thomas Bertand-Hudon is the goal line/short yardage specialist, giving Delaware State a nice change of pace in their hopes of wearing down opposing defenses. Grade: B
Receivers: Wesley transfer Jerrish Halsey (15 rec., 319 yds., four TDs) leads this unit, with senior Devin Curry and freshman Rahkeem Smith pitching in as well. The Hornets must get more from other sources – DSU tight ends have only caught five passes all season long. With a redshirt freshman at quarterback for the time being, safety valves will be important to sustaining an offense and you can’t depend on running backs alone for it. Grade: C+
Offensive line: This unit has been hit hard by injuries and as a result, the Hornet offense has found it tough to sustain drives and put points on the board. Sophomore Isaiah Cook is the only offensive lineman to have played in all six games this season. Good health and reps build continuity, which is just as important to an O-Line’s success as any blocking scheme. Without it, the Hornets must count their blessings that they’re 4-2. Grade: Incomplete
Special teams
Punting/kicking: Matt Noll will likely earn first-team All-MEAC honors and should get a few votes for team MVP as his booming kicks for an average of 42.2 yards have kept opposing offenses from short drives against an overworked DelState defense. Freshman kicker Nathan Wilson is 15 of 17 on PATs and 4 for 6 on field goals from shorter range. Long-range kicker Jonathan Cardoza-Chicas has a 54-yarder to his credit, so that could come in handy at some point this season for Delaware State. Grade: A+
Returns: The MEAC is not a kick returner’s paradise, so it’s a testament that Wade Inge (second in the MEAC in kickoff return yardage) and Charles Peeler (tops in punt returns) are pacing the Hornets in a category that doesn’t really exist across the league. Peeler and Inge are both speedsters who if they get just one good wall of protection this year could break a big play and that would be huge for DSU. Grade: B
Defense
Defensive line: The Hornets’ rotation of Isaiah Williams, Omakus Langley II, Corey St. John and Kevin DeShields has been as strong as required to keep running backs from piling up yards – the DSU run defense is tops in the MEAC, allowing just 95 yards a game on the ground. The Hornet front also is a part of a league-leading 17 sacks. If the Hornets can keep this pace up, especially with explosive North Carolina Central looming, this unit could carry the team to great heights. Grade: A+
Linebackers: Senior Brooks Parker (Delmar) is the veteran guide to a group that features an awesome array of sophomores – Ronald Holmes, Charles Brown Jr., Aiden Weber and Maurio Goings. The Hornet linebackers defend the run as well as anybody and are competent in pass coverage. The more experience the younger players get, the more dangerous the unit will become. A scary thought for MEAC offensive coordinators. Grade: A
Defensive backs: Losing Esaias Guthrie to the transfer portal was a huge blow to the Hornet secondary, but the troops that remain have settled in. Junior Andrew Reese is third in the MEAC in interceptions (two) and junior Romell Harris-Freeman along with senior J.D. Grainger (Caravel) and Charles Peeler) have combined for 17 pass breakups so far. This unit is the question mark on the Hornet defense and yet, they’re still stronger than most DB rosters around the conference. Grade: B-
Coaching: Rod Milstead told the News Journal after a 35-19 win over Virginia-Lynchburg that his team had to be ready to play and that was on him. After the Merrimack game, the Hornets have taken the coach’s words to heart, starting the game ahead and staying there in wins over Robert Morris and Norfolk State. The defense is led by veteran coordinator Andre Creamer while the offensive staff will have to work together to make up for the untimely loss of offensive coordinator Bryan Bossard. Grade: B
Overall: 4-2 is likely the best DelState could ask for heading into the meat and potatoes of their conference schedule. Two more wins would wrap up that long-sought winning season, but for a conference title and a trip to Atlanta, they’ll have to improve offensive line play, cut down on the few mistakes they make on defense and continue to start games strong. With a young team learning to start fast and finish strong, a MEAC title could be just beyond their reach, but a winning season would go a long way to putting the sting back in the Hornets. Grade: B-
