Both could have gone elsewhere and perhaps had a clearer path to playing time.
The lure of the local team was too much for two Salesianum School senior football standouts to refuse.
Two-way end Nate Ray, projected as a defensive player in college, and kicker James Collins both will go to Delaware as pay-your-own-way preferred walk-ons. That was an invitation neither could refuse.
The two joined soccer two-time state player of the year Jake Ross, bound for West Virginia, at an after-school celebration Wednesday.
“Better competition. I wanted to play at the highest level I could possibly play,” said Ray, a Wilmington resident who was offered scholarships by FCS schools Wagner, Merrimack and St. Francis and Division II West Chester and Kutztown.
Both were recruited by Delaware assistant coach Andrew Pierce, who came from South Jersey and became one of the best walk-ons in UD history. He rushed for 4,459 career yards, No. 2 in school history.
“He told me if I go in and compete the same way I did at Sallies I’ll do fine,” Ray said.
Salesianum coach Bill DiNardo has no doubt Ray, one of the rare four-year starters in Sallies history, can contribute at Delaware.
SIGNING DAY HAUL:Ten transfers, high school duo join Delaware football
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Ray may not be as tall as prototype edge rushers, “but he’s got the fast twitch,” DiNardo said. “He can put on weight. He can do a lot of things. He’s a great defensive end.”
DiNardo also lauded the relentlessness and athleticism of Ray, the state Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 who also made frequent tough catches on offense and is now on the Sals’ basketball team.
Collins joins a suddenly deep kicking crew at Delaware, which just added transfer Alex Schmoke, a two-time first-team All-Northeast Conference pick at St. Francis, and Nate Reed, who punted and kicked off for East Stroudsburg in 2021.
“I want to go down there and prove I’m a top guy,” said Collins, a Newark resident who was also wooed by James Madison and Temple.
Only Rhode Island (four) had fewer field goals than Delaware’s six among the CAA’s 13 teams last season. Delaware made just two — on eight tries — the first 10 games before junior Brandon Ratcliffe kicked 32- and 25-yarders in the regular-season finale at Villanova and 27- and 39-yarders in the FCS round-of-16 playoff defeat at South Dakota State.
Ratcliffe, who went 4-for-7 on field goals in 2022, shared kicking duties with true freshmen Garrett Bennion and Andrew MacMillan. They each made one of three — Bennion a 24-yarder against Towson and MacMillan a 39-yarder versus Morgan State.
The trio also shared extra-point duties, going 23-for-25 (Bennion), 11-for-11 (Ratcliffe) and 10-for-10 (MacMillan). Ratcliffe and MacMillan are presumably returning but Bennion left UD in January for a two-year Church of Latter Day Saints mission.
Delaware also averaged 53.6 yards on kickoffs with a 37.8-yard net, which includes return yardage, both of which ranked 12th in the CAA. The three also shared that job.
Collins, Delaware’s top high school kicker, made all 27 of his extra-point tries in 2022 and 15 of 20 field-goal tries including a 46-yarder. He also had 31 touchbacks on kickoffs.
“He was money,” DiNardo said.
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.
