Delaware expected to be among top CAA, FCS football teams in 2022

Much is expected of the University of Delaware football team under first-year coach Ryan Carty in 2022 and it’s apparent rival Colonial Athletic Association coaches also have a high regard for the Blue Hens.

Delaware is second behind rival Villanova in the CAA preseason poll announced Thursday morning. The Blue Hens snared seven of the available 26 first-place votes in balloting by league head coaches/media relations directors.

Rhode Island, Richmond and William & Mary round out the top five.

 The Blue Hens are beginning their first season under Carty, the former back-up UD quarterback who has spent the last 15 years on the New Hampshire and Sam Houston staffs, the past 10 as offensive coordinator.

The expanded 13-team CAA now includes newcomers Monmouth and Hampton, who each moved from Big South football, with North Carolina A&T set to follow next fall.

This came in the wake of James Madison, the CAA’s best team most of the past eight seasons, moving up to the FBS-level Sun Belt Conference.

Five Blue Hens were named to the All-CAA preseason team – wide receiver Thyrick Pitts, defensive linemen Artis Hemmingway and Chase McGowan, linebacker Johnny Buchanan and safety Kedrick Whitehead, the Middletown High grad. Honorable mention went to quarterback Nolan Henderson, the Smyrna alum, safety Noah Plack and returnman Jourdan Townsend.  

Delaware opens preseason camp Aug. 5 with its sights set on the 2022 opener at Navy on Sept. 3 (noon on CBS Sports Network).

The first home game follows against Delaware State a week later at 6 p.m. The CAA opener at Rhode Island is 1 p.m. Sept. 17.

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Delaware is coming off a 5-6 season, just the program’s 14th losing record in the last 79 seasons but eighth since 2001. It cost coach Danny Rocco his job after five seasons.