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 defending champ 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 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.
