Questions. Every college football team has them.
Often, the answers begin to surface in the spring.
The University of Delaware’s 2023 season will begin to bloom when spring drills commence Saturday and conclude with the annual Blue-White intrasquad game Friday night, April 21, at Delaware Stadium.
After going 8-5 and reaching the FCS playoffs in 2022, Delaware must begin the process of replacing a horde of experienced players who were also key contributors on the 2021 spring NCAA semifinal squad.
Here are five key questions as that process begins:
Who will be the quarterback?
That will be the most common query right up until Delaware is set to start the 2023 schedule Aug. 31 at CAA rival Stony Brook.Nolan Henderson, Delaware’s starter since the fourth game of the 2019 season, became one of the Blue Hens’ all-time most accomplished quarterbacks and will be difficult to replace.
Ryan O’Connor, who stepped in when Henderson was hurt in last year’s NCAA playoff loss at South Dakota State, brings proven experience and familiarity with coach Ryan Carty’s uptempo spread offense.
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The only other scholarship quarterback in spring drills is Iowa Central Community College transfer Zach Marker. He has the experience of 20 junior-college games in which he threw for 1,597 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran for 665 yards with six TDs, promising statistics for someone at the helm of Carty’s system.
Delaware also has true freshman walk-on recruit Noah Sanders, a promising prospect who’d gotten some FBS and Ivy League interest in high school in Virginia. He is a multi-threat quarterback who threw for 1,361 yards and ran for 420 as a high school senior.
“We’re looking forward to the spring with all those guys,” Carty said. “ . . . Who is gonna be the guy who is going to give us the best chance to beat Stony Brook? That’s going to be the charge for us as coaches over the next couple of weeks, couple of months and obviously into the fall.”
How does Delaware rebuild that defense?
The 11 defensive starters for Delaware in the season opener at Navy last year had 186 previous starts, a big reason the Blue Hens upset the Mids 14-7 in a win that, ultimately, put them in the NCAA playoffs.
Only one of those 11 starters, cornerback Amonte Strothers, is back from a defense that was among the best nationally in FCS.
That’s how significant the task is facing defensive coordinator Manny Rojas and his coaches and players.
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“There’s a lot of production that left,” Carty said. “And a lot of leadership that left.
“Those are the things that we’re going to need to keep developing. But I also think there’s some exciting things about that with guys who’ve been waiting in the wings and guys who are new to the program now and will be new in the fall.”
Certainly, Delaware has other players who have been important defensive contributors and return, such as linemen Jack Hall and Chase McGowan and safeties Ty Davis and Nic Ware. Others have potential and now get the opportunity to show it.
But this will be a monumental undertaking, making it one of the most important spring sessions for a Delaware defense in years.
What offensive position has questions?
While the offensive line will continue to earn scrutiny as an area that needs to get better and deeper, wide receiver is the position area on offense that will bear watching this spring.
Delaware loses one of the most reliable receivers in its history in Thyrick Pitts. Brett Buckman, who tied for third on the team with 39 receptions last season, recently announced he was entering the portal as a grad transfer. VMI transfer Michael Jackson Jr. was a reliable target in his final season.
So who will join Jourdan Townsend and Chandler Harvin as the Blue Hens’ go-to pass catchers?
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Cincinnati transfer JoJo Bermudez, just a freshman, is as promising a prospect Delaware has had at this position in years, considering the recruiting interest he warranted in high school.
Transfer Kym Wimberly from Harvard, where he was second-team All-Ivy last year, also brings valuable experience and ability.
There are also numerous promising returnees, such as James Collins, Jalyn Witcher and Makhi Jackson, aiming to earn more opportunities.
What defensive position has the most questions?
Delaware had been very good and very deep at linebacker in recent years. Now the Hens have nothing but question marks.
There is potential, however.
Dillon Trainer has been waiting for his chance and now gets it and converted H-back Mateo Vandamia will be needed much more this year than last year. Can freshman Gavin Moul step in?
Delaware’s most intriguing transfer addition may be Jackson Taylor, the Division II All-American who was an absolute terror at West Chester. He had 262 tackles with 39 for lost yardage in 34 games with six fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and three interceptions.
How those skills handle the better competition he’ll face in FCS may have much to do with the Blue Hens’ success in 2023.
Who are some players worth watching?
Aside from those already mentioned, does former starter Patrick Shupp after injury troubles last year become a more integral member of the offensive line, which must replace the versatile and reliable Stevon Brown?
Can Shoes Brinkley, perhaps the most talented player in the 2021 recruiting class, step in at cornerback after getting some true-freshman experience last year?
Where do Keeno Arrington and the other mid-year transfers fit on the rebuilding defense? Can freshman Dominick Brogna be among those who step in up front on defense?
Three high school seniors who graduated early and have already enrolled will attract attention — running back Saeed St. Fleur, wideout Jacarree Kelly and safety Kelvin Seay.
“There’s unknowns, that’s for sure,” Carty said. “But that’s college football. Can you replace the talent and can you kind of reinvigorate that culture, that experience, that production?
“It gives us the chance to re-enforce, from the ground up, the things we believe in foundationally and I think that’s pretty awesome.”
Have an idea for a compelling local sports story or is there an issue that needs public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com
