The 2023 football season presents possibilities galore — both good and bad — for the University of Delaware.
Last year, Delaware played its opening game at Navy lining up a starting defense with players who had accumulated 186 previous starts. That experience keyed an upset win and was beneficial throughout a season that concluded in the NCAA FCS playoffs.
The Blue Hens also had a quarterback in Nolan Henderson who set records and etched his name into UD’s hallowed collection of stellar QBs.
Now Delaware will have a new starter at quarterback and send out a defense with players having made roughly 25 career starts.
That’s quite a college football contrast.
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“We obviously have a long way to go right now,” second-year coach Ryan Carty said.
But, this being Delaware, Blue Hens fans and the team itself will expect nothing less than contention for the CAA title and another FCS playoff berth. Despite the challenges, those are realistic and attainable goals.
That quest begins for the Blue Hens on Monday when preseason practice starts. Here are 12 questions as they begin:
Who will be Delaware’s quarterback?
That’s the biggest and most important preseason query, with returning back-up Ryan O’Connor and JUCO transfer Zach Marker vying. Each has plenty of valuable qualities and it wouldn’t be a surprise if both see early-season duty.
O’Connor likely has a slight edge due to his experience in the program and running the offense, as he did in much of last year’s FCS playoff loss at South Dakota State. But Marker is an enthusiastic and skilled competitor who is also quite capable.
Can Delaware put together a sturdy defense?
This is easily the major concern. The Blue Hens return very little experience from a defense that was one of the best in FCS the last three years.
Certainly, in defensive coordinator Manny Rojas, Delaware has a proven coach who is quite capable of meeting that challenge, which will require knowledge as well as imagination. The trick will be putting together a smart, quick and hard-hitting outfit capable of operating as a unit decisively while blending new faces. It’s certain to be an ongoing challenge.
There certainly are plenty of promising players who’ve bided their time while backing up others in Delaware’s veteran crew over the past few years. A slew of newcomers also aims to demonstrate talents worthy of key roles, such as West Chester transfer Jackson Taylor at linebacker and Wisconsin transfer A’Khoury Lyde in the secondary.
“It’s a big challenge of getting the unity and getting all that cohesion together,” said returning defensive line starter Chase McGowan. “With guys like Dillon Trainer and Nic Ware, Ethan Saunders and Jack Hall on my side and bringing all the guys in for the summer training, I think it’ll be easy molding together.’’
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What position area deserves close preseason scrutiny?
“Safety’s a big one for us,” Carty said, and for good reason.
Delaware regularly plays three, sometimes even four, safeties. The Hens must replace two of the best in recent history in Kedrick Whitehead, now in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers camp, and Noah Plack, who is playing his final college season at UConn.
Returning regulars Ware and Ty Davis are joined by the likes of returnees Steven Rose Jr., Alex Villas and Tatnall grad Jared Duncan plus several newcomers in developing the backbone of the UD defense.
Delaware also has major holes to fill at those neighboring cornerback positions, where veterans Justis Henley, Amonte Strothers and Riah Burton have moved on.
What position area seems most settled?
Delaware is deep and proven at running back. It returns the three leading rushers from last season in Kyron Cumby, Marcus Yarns and Quincy Watson.
Plus, freshman Jo’Nathan Silver ran for 18- and 38-yard touchdowns in the spring game to show his potential and Saeed St. Fleur is an incoming freshman who bears watching.
The offensive line should also benefit from the time it has taken to build consistency and depth.
What area is vastly improved?
The kicking game, where East Stroudsburg transfer Nate Reed was 4-for-4 on field-goal tries in the spring game and is now joined by All-NEC transfer from Saint Francis Alex Schmoke.
What is the most interesting aspect of preseason?
Seeing what newcomers begin to assert themselves and earn key roles. Delaware has roughly 16 transfers plus some freshmen with the potential to contribute quickly.
What game is particularly appealing?
No doubt the Sept. 23 visit from New Hampshire, Carty’s first game against the school where he launched his coaching career from 2007-17. He coached with now-UNH coach Ricky Santos, the prolific former Wildcats quarterback who launched his epic playing career at Delaware Stadium in 2004.
Plus, New Hampshire, which shared the league title with William & Mary last year, is still very good.
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What game is most uninviting?
Sorry, but it’s the Sept. 9 visit to Penn State, which marks a historic first for Delaware. UD players are certain to relish the atmosphere and the challenge. But there are very few practical benefits. If $400,000 is the payout Delaware is getting, as some have suggested, that is quite paltry. Penn State is a Top 10 team with national title aspirations. The Blue Hens will be significantly overmatched, making this a too-risky venture. Oh, and fans will hate the drive.
Why should Delaware be better this year?
Carty is now a second-year head coach and should be more settled, comfortable and confident in his role, which carries over to the entire program.
“We’d like to be better in everything that we do,” Carty said.
What must Delaware do better than last year?
Win on the road. The Hens were 6-1 at Delaware Stadium and 2-4 away in 2022.
Can Delaware return to the FCS playoffs?
The Hens were picked to finish fourth in what is now a 15-team CAA in the preseason coaches’ poll. That may have been a tad generous but reflects the respect Delaware has long possessed among its peers.
Delaware has been a top-five preseason pick the last five fall seasons but, truth is, actually lived up to that billing only in 2017 and 2018.
While earning the automatic FCS playoff berth as CAA champ seems unlikely, Delaware should be in the running for a spot in the 24-team tourney field.
The Hens needed just seven wins the last two times they made the fall bracket (2018 and 2022). Delaware’s schedule isn’t particularly ferocious and that certainly seems doable, though eight wins are a much safer ticket to the postseason.
What would be a bad sign?
Losing the season opener at Stony Brook on Aug. 31. The Sea Wolves were unusually deficient last fall, going 1-7 in the league and 2-9 overall, and have actually endured four straight losing seasons for the first time. But they’ve added a big crew of transfers and a new offensive coordinator in an effort to reverse that trend.
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.
