Porter's Playbook | The Coaching Career of DJ Porter

Post by **Captain Canada** » 30 Aug 2025, 11:24

Yikes. Going to be one hell of a clean-up effort.

Post by **djp73** » 30 Aug 2025, 15:45

redsox907 wrote: ↑
29 Aug 2025, 21:29
setting the stage for Coach Porter to take the nest available gig, then schedule Delaware for a regular BTA session as a reminder

Not fun getting passed over like that but I just don’t think it’s possible to get hired from within

Post by **djp73** » 30 Aug 2025, 15:46

Captain Canada wrote: ↑
30 Aug 2025, 11:24
Yikes. Going to be one hell of a clean-up effort.

It’s going to be a challenge to even bring in 40 warm bodies

Post by **Soapy** » 31 Aug 2025, 08:23

you can't sign more than 35 guys in a single class anyway

Post by **djp73** » 31 Aug 2025, 08:46

Soapy wrote: ↑
31 Aug 2025, 08:23
you can't sign more than 35 guys in a single class anyway

yeah, hopefully any walk ons are useful as more than tackling dummies (they won't be)

Post by **djp73** » 31 Aug 2025, 10:25

DELAWARE RECRUITING UPDATE

HENS OVERHAUL ROSTER WITH NATION'S 54TH BEST RECRUITING CLASS

Delaware’s move into Conference USA has been accompanied by a clear message on the recruiting trail: the Blue Hens are here to compete. Tony Sanchez’s first full cycle in charge delivered the 54th-ranked class nationally, featuring the 40th-ranked high school group and the 13th-ranked transfer class, all tops in the conference.

The class is a mix of true high school signees and college transfers who arrive in Newark ready to play immediately. Delaware signed 32 players overall, with Sanchez aggressively pursuing transfers who can play immediately while also laying the foundation with high school talent.

“This was about getting the right balance,” Sanchez said. “We had to address needs with guys who’ve already played at the FBS level while also making sure we’re building for the future with high school players.”

Delaware's class includes 14 high school players. The crown jewel is ATH Ted Krumholz (Buffalo, NY, Clarence High School), a four-star signee who became Delaware’s highest-rated incoming player of the modern era. At 6’3”, 259 pounds, he has the versatility to line up at tight end, fullback, defensive end or linebacker.

Delaware also landed speed on the perimeter with WR Matthew Sash (Wake Forest, NC) and WR Lloyd Upshaw (Staten Island, NY). Both were highly productive in high school and bring different skill sets, Sash as a polished route-runner, Upshaw as a quick slot option.

In the trenches, C Damarr Moe (Pittsburgh, PA, Central Catholic High) and DT B.J. Bohanon (Omaha, NE, Westside High) headline a group of linemen expected to anchor the Blue Hens’ depth for years to come.

Of the 32 players added, the transfer class stands out most. Delaware dipped heavily into the portal, pulling from the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and Pac-12, bringing in players who can start immediately and help the Blue Hens compete for a league title in 2026.

RB Darrion Dupree (Wisconsin transfer)
One of the biggest additions to Delaware’s roster, Dupree comes in after a breakout year at Wisconsin where he rushed for 828 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025. At 5’10”, 212 pounds, he’s a compact, physical runner with the speed to break long gains. Dupree is expected to step in as the feature back for the Blue Hens, giving Tony Sanchez a proven Big Ten playmaker to lean on. His ability to handle a heavy workload makes him a centerpiece of Delaware’s title hopes in 2026.

FS Collin Gill (Charlotte transfer)
Gill appeared in multiple games with Charlotte, recording 60 tackles and an interception. At 6’0”, 215 pounds, he brings toughness and maturity to Delaware’s secondary. His versatility will allow the Hens coaching staff to move their talented group of safeties around and get them on the field in multiple personnel packages.

QB Mason Kelsay (Texas transfer)
A Delaware native returning home, Kelsay spent his first season at Texas where he did not see game action. The 6’4”, 197-pound passer has the tools to thrive in Sanchez’s offense, combining size, athleticism, and mobility. Kelsay is expected to compete with Blake Brown for the starting job this spring.

DT Francis Brewu (Pitt transfer)
DT Bryce Jenkins (Maryland transfer)
Brewu tallied 18 tackles including three for loss and a pair of sacks in limited action for Pitt last season. Brewu strength and burst make him a threat against the run and pass.
Jenkins appeared in nine games for Maryland in 2025, recording 15 tackles. At 315 pounds Jenkins looks the part of a prototypical nose tackle who will prove to be difficult to move against the run.

TE Riley Williams (Oregon State transfer)
Williams brings both production and experience from the ACC and Pac-12. In 2025, he hauled in 24 receptions for 249 yards for Oregon State, flashing soft hands and the ability to move the chains. Williams played his first two seasons at Miami where he caught 15 passes for 187 yards and a score. At 6’5” and 275 pounds, he is equally valuable as a blocker, giving Delaware’s run game a significant boost. Expect Williams to play a dual role as a safety valve in the passing attack and a tone-setter in the trenches.

OG Jevony Jackson (NC State transfer)
Jackson was a steady presence at NC State in 2025, where he appeared in all 12 games. At 6’3”, 316 pounds, he provides a blend of size and athleticism that should help Delaware solidify its offensive line. Jackson will be in the mix to start at guard immediately and could become one of the most dependable linemen on the roster.

DE Collins Acheampong (Bowling Green transfer)
At 6'7” and 275 pounds the Bowling Green transfer from Ghana has all the tools to be a disruptive force in CUSA. In 2025 he appeared in 13 games for Bowling Green, racking up 58 tackles and four sacks.

WR Yannick Smith (East Carolina transfer)
Smith arrives as one of the top receivers in Conference USA after catching 59 passes for 725 yards and 9 touchdowns at East Carolina last season. At 6’3”, 214 pounds, he combines size with playmaking ability, and his production speaks for itself. Smith projects as Delaware’s No. 1 wideout and gives the offense a true difference-maker on the perimeter.

OG Amos Talalele (Kansas State transfer)
A massive presence at 6’4”, 375 pounds, Talalele gives Delaware instant size along the offensive line. He played sparingly at Kansas State but brings Big 12 experience to the interior. Delaware’s emphasis on running the football means Talalele will have every opportunity to carve out a significant role in 2026.

CB Will Kendricks (New Mexico State transfer)
Kendricks followed head coach Tony Sanchez to Delaware. Kendricks' speed and man coverage ability makes him a favorite to take over as the top CB in 2026. At New Mexico State he recorded 16 tackles and 2 pass deflections in limited snaps.

C Sam Secrest (Louisville transfer)
OT Nikola Milovac (Kennesaw State transfer)
OG Xzavier Brown (Louisiana transfer)
OG Josh Janowski (Iowa transfer)
The offensive line was a huge priority in the offseason and between transfers and high school recruits the Hens brought in ten new players. Secrest has played sparingly in two seasons, bouncing back and forth between Louisville and Houston. His position versatility will allow him to compete for a starting job at any of the five positions along the offensive line.
Milovac, who played two seasons at USF before transferring to Kennesaw State brings NFL size and strength to the table.
Brown played in 11 games for Louisiana last season. He too brings immense size and strength to the Delaware offensive line group.
Janowski comes to Delaware from Iowa where he had yet to get on the field. When you think of Iowa football you think of hard nosed, run orientated offenses. Janowksi brings a mean streak and a Big Ten pedigree into the fold.

FS Dom Philbin (Hawaii transfer)
Philbin brings strength and size as well as strong coverage skills to an already strong safety group at Delaware. Philbin's presence should help make potential position changes for other safeties easier.

Together, these transfers form the backbone of a roster that expects to contend again in 2026.

Delaware’s balance of immediate help and developmental prospects sets them apart in Conference USA. The #13 transfer ranking nationally highlights a group that should keep the Blue Hens in contention, while the #40 high school ranking ensures the roster doesn’t become overly reliant on short-term solutions.

“Some people treat the portal as a quick fix,” Sanchez said. “For us, it’s part of the bigger picture. We want to compete for championships now while still building a foundation that lasts.”

The Blue Hens don’t plan to take a step back. With veteran reinforcements at quarterback, running back, the trenches, and the secondary, Sanchez has patched the most pressing roster holes. The high school recruits add upside, but the portal haul is what will let Delaware hit the ground running.
After finishing near the top of the league in their FBS debut, Delaware has made it clear: they expect to be in the mix for the Conference USA championship game again in 2026.

2026 Delaware Recruiting Class

Player	POS	Rating	National	State	Position	Class	Height	Weight	Hometown	Previous School
Darrion Dupree	HB	***	232	8	53	Sophomore	5'10”	212	Chicago, Illinois	Wisconsin
Collin Gill	FS	***	317	10	14	Sophomore	6'0”	215	Fort Washington, Maryland	Charlotte
Mason Kelsay	QB	***	329	1	50	Freshman	6'4”	197	Bridgeville, Delaware	Texas
Ted Krumholz	ATH	****	336	4	29	High School	6'3”	259	Buffalo, New York	Clarence High School
Francis Brewu	DT	***	381	17	23	Sophomore	6'1”	275	Westerville, Ohio	Pittsburgh
Bryce Jenkins	DT	***	390	14	25	Freshman	6'5”	315	Hyattsville, Maryland	Maryland
Riley Williams	TE	***	411	2	14	Junior	6'5”	275	Portland, Oregon	Oregon State
Miles Omiyale	TE	***	438	52	18	High School	6'5”	251	Atlanta, Georgia	Walton High School
Matthew Sash	WR	***	452	21	93	High School	5'11”	173	Wake Forest, North Carolina	Wake Forest High School
Phil East	OLB	***	456	3	36	High School	6'1”	230	Draper, Utah	Corner Canyon High School
Lloyd Upshaw	WR	***	504	6	106	High School	5'6”	164	Staten Island, New York	Staten Island High School
George Melifonwu	OG	***	560	12	23	High School	6'3”	308	Oxford, Mississippi	Oxford High School
Jevony Jackson	OG	***	588	6	10	Sophomore	6'3”	316	Vancouver, Washington	NC State
Greg President	HB	***	693	12	99	High School	5'11”	187	Rochester, New York	Monroe High School
Collins Acheampong	DE	***	695	3	29	Sophomore	6'7”	275	Cape Coast, Ghana	Bowling Green
Yannick Smith	WR	***	700	13	84	Sophomore	6'3”	214	Summerville, South Carolina	East Carolina
Damarr Moe	C	***	702	9	17	High School	6'2”	305	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Central Catholic High School
Amos Talalele	OG	***	702	48	18	Sophomore	6'4”	375	Santa Clara, California	Kansas State
Larry Azur	QB	***	753	1	47	High School	6'3”	190	Fairmont, West Virginia	Fairmont Senior High School
Antoine Perkins	SS	***	852	10	21	High School	5'10”	184	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	New Berlin West High School
Terrence Kosar	C	***	916	118	24	High School	6'0”	302	Spring, Texas	Spring High School
Gage Keiser	MLB	***	942	15	60	High School	6'2”	228	Montvale, New Jersey	Saint Joseph Regional High School
Alfonso Arora	QB	***	1031	20	70	High School	6'5”	199	Hightstown, New Jersey	Hightstown High School
B.J. Bohanon	DT	***	1048	3	48	High School	6'1”	317	Omaha, Nebraska	Omaha Westside High School
Will Kendricks	CB	***	1159	7	114	Sophomore	5'11”	179	Albuquerque, New Mexico	New Mexico State
Sam Secrest	C	***	1337	31	31	Sophomore	6'6”	300	Indianapolis, Indiana	Louisville
Nikola Milovac	OT	***	1377	17	39	Sophomore	6'6”	315	Indjija, Serbia	Kennesaw State
Xzavier Brown	OG	***	1505	15	46	Sophomore	6'6”	320	Ashdown, Arkansas	Louisiana
Josh Janowski	OG	***	1535	39	52	Freshman	6'2”	281	Frankfort, Illinois	Iowa
Dom Philbin	FS	***	1668	230	77	Freshman	6'0”	195	Corpus Christi, Texas	Hawaii
Garrison Shead	WR	**	1924	57	362	Junior	6'3”	198	Princeton, New Jersey	Lackawanna Community College
Alex Moody	OT	**	2468	69	151	Junior	6'5”	320	Richland, New Jersey	Lackawanna Community College

Post by **djp73** » 31 Aug 2025, 11:07

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRAP-UP

CONFERENCE USA REPORT

DELAWARE COMMIT TED KRUMHOLZ IS THE LONE 4 STAR TO SIGN WITH A CUSA TEAM

CUSA Recruiting Update
Delaware Sets the Standard

Delaware dominated Conference USA’s 2026 recruiting cycle, finishing with the 54th-ranked class nationally, far ahead of the rest of the league. The Blue Hens signed 32 players (the largest haul in the conference), highlighted by one 4-star and a staggering 29 three-star prospects. Their class score of 183.55 comfortably tops runner-up Middle Tennessee (173.60). For a second-year FBS program, this is a massive statement: Delaware isn’t just surviving in C-USA, they’re building a roster capable of competing for championships right away.

"We knew we had to make a big impact with our recruiting class." Offensive coordinator and Co-Head of Recruiting DJ Porter explained. "Having 40 players leave a program is a huge amount of talent and continuity leaving so we're very pleased with this class. We're excited to get these guys on campus and to build on what we were able to accomplish here last season. We're not a flash in the pan."

Middle Tennessee and Liberty Solid, but a Step Behind
Middle Tennessee’s class ranks second in the league and 61st nationally. With 19 three-stars, the Blue Raiders prioritized depth and quality across the board. Liberty finished close behind with 22 signees, including 14 three-stars and 7 two-stars, giving them a top-75 national class. Both programs recruited well, but neither matched Delaware’s volume or top-end talent.

UTEP Leads the Next Tier
UTEP signed 22 players, ranking 79th nationally. The Miners’ 13 three-star signees give them a strong middle-class roster boost, though they lag behind Delaware and MTSU in terms of sheer numbers and high-impact prospects.

The Rest of the League Struggled
From Western Kentucky (99th nationally) down, the gap widens significantly. Louisiana Tech added 25 players but leaned heavily on two- and one-star recruits. FIU signed 24 players but just 3 of them were three-stars. Programs like Sam Houston, Missouri State, Kennesaw State, and New Mexico State filled numbers but largely with low-rated prospects, leaving them at the bottom of the national rankings.

Conference Takeaway
Delaware is clearly the recruiting power in Conference USA as no other team landed a class inside the national top 60.

Middle Tennessee and Liberty form the “next tier,” strong enough to challenge but lacking the Blue Hens’ star power.

The bottom half of the league remains in a talent deficit, leaning heavily on developmental players.

For Delaware, the message is clear: they are recruiting like a future contender, not just a newcomer. With their combination of transfers and high school signees, the Blue Hens enter 2026 positioned not only to contend for the league crown but to build long-term staying power in the FBS.

CUSA Recruiting Rankings

Rank	Team	Total	4★	3★	2★	1★	Points
54	Delaware	32	1	29	2	0	183.55
61	Middle Tenn	26	0	19	3	4	173.60
72	Liberty	22	0	14	7	1	167.15
79	UTEP	22	0	13	4	5	162.90
99	W. Kentucky	16	0	9	7	0	147.80
101	Louisiana Tech	25	0	8	7	10	147.70
114	Jax State	18	0	7	6	5	138.15
118	FIU	24	0	3	18	3	131.05
129	Sam Houston	18	0	1	13	4	112.45
131	Missouri State	19	0	1	12	6	111.40
133	Kennesaw St.	20	0	0	13	7	106.95
134	New Mexico St.	21	0	0	9	12	97.20

Post by **djp73** » 31 Aug 2025, 14:59

DELAWARE FOOTBALL NEWS

HENS RELEASE FIRST 2026 ROSTER

##	Last	First	POS	Height	Weight	Class
0	Krumholz	Ted	TE/DE	6'3”	259	FR
1	Brown	Blake	QB	6'1”	217	SR (RS)
2	Arora	Alfonso	QB	6'5”	199	FR
3	Manning Jr	Hasson	S	5'11”	186	SR
4	Worley	Dillon	S	6'2”	212	SR
5	Wright	Kion	DE	6'3”	246	JR (RS)
6	Cox Jr	Kshawn	CB	5'10”	177	SR
6	Tyree	Nick	WR	5'8”	169	SO (RS)
7	Amankwaa	Thomas	WR	6'0”	212	SR (RS)
7	Seay	KT	S	6'2”	191	SR
8	Gill	Collin	S	6'0”	217	JR (RS)
9	Kelly	Ja'Carree	WR	5'8”	171	SR
10	Philbin	Dom	S	6'0”	200	SO (RS)
11	Acheampong	Collins	DE	6'7”	277	JR (RS)
12	Kelsay	Mason	QB	6'4”	200	FR (RS)
13	Azur	Larry	QB	6'3”	190	FR
14	Ali	Kahlil	CB	6'1”	195	SO (RS)
15	Smith	Yannick	WR	6'3”	217	JR
16	Upshaw	Lloyd	WR	5'6”	164	FR
17	Lloyd	Tre	QB	6'1”	196	SO (RS)
18	Bredell	Jake	TE	6'5”	242	JR (RS)
19	Sash	Matthew	WR	5'11”	173	FR
20	Cuttino	Meikhi	MLB	6'3”	208	SO (RS)
21	Kendricks	Will	CB	5'11”	180	JR (RS)
22	Keiser	Gage	MLB	6'2”	228	FR
23	Spak	Nate	S	6'3”	197	SR
24	Perkins	Antoine	S	5'10”	184	FR
25	Dupree	Darrion	HB	5'10”	218	JR
25	Lee	Azir	CB	6'0”	167	SO (RS)
26	Spiller	Greg	HB	6'0”	201	SO (RS)
27	Graham	AJ	S	6'1”	184	FR (RS)
28	President	Greg	HB	5'11”	187	FR
29	Domnie	Nyair	CB	5'9”	176	FR (RS)
30	Wynn	T.T.	WR	6'0”	199	FR (RS)
33	Scott	Trace	DT	6'4”	252	SO (RS)
34	McConomy	Daniel	HB	5'9”	165	SO (RS)
35	Moul	Gavin	MLB	6'0”	228	SR
35	Redd	Oliver	HB	5'10”	170	JR
36	Alexander	Makai	OLB	6'1”	230	JR
38	Royal	Kingsley	S	5'11”	189	JR
40	East	Phil	OLB	6'1”	230	FR
41	Glass	Brock	P	6'1”	203	JR (RS)
42	Adebayo	Alex	S	5'11”	172	FR (RS)
43	Brown	Luke	WR	5'10”	191	SO (RS)
44	Singleton	Kaeden	DE	6'2”	241	SO (RS)
46	Puryear	Julius	OLB	6'2”	224	SO
53	Melifonwu	George	OG	6'3”	308	FR
54	Cobbs	Alexander	OLB	6'3”	228	SO (RS)
55	Jackson	Jevony	OG	6'3”	318	JR (RS)
56	Carmon	Mekhi	OLB	6'2”	192	JR (RS)
57	Jenkins	Bryce	DT	6'5”	317	SO
57	Vitko	Noah	LS/FB/TE	6'0”	239	SR
58	Gallagher	Colin	MLB	6'1”	223	SO (RS)
59	Moe	Damarr	C	6'2”	305	FR
62	Caccese	Anthony	OG	6'6”	282	JR (RS)
63	Janowski	Josh	OG	6'2”	283	SO (RS)
64	Luggo	Jay	OT	6'4”	302	FR (RS)
65	Brown	Xzavier	OG	6'6”	323	JR (RS)
67	Moody	Alex	OT	6'5”	320	JR
68	Kosar	Terrence	C	6'0”	302	FR
73	Dotson	Deon	C	6'3”	283	SO
74	Secrest	Sam	C	6'6”	301	JR (RS)
75	Rosahac	Noah	OT	6'6”	304	SO
76	Milovac	Nikola	OT	6'6”	316	JR (RS)
77	Talalele	Amos	OG	6'4”	377	JR (RS)
78	Malone	Derrick	DE	6'5”	267	SO (RS)
79	Colson	Nick	OG	6'3”	305	SR (RS)
80	McKinley	Matt	WR	6'0”	181	SO (RS)
82	Omiyale	Miles	TE	6'5”	251	FR
83	Thomas	Calvin	WR	6'2”	190	FR (RS)
87	Lewis	Donovan	WR	5'9”	186	SR
88	Shead	Garrison	WR	6'3”	198	JR
89	Ray	Nate	DE	6'3”	247	JR (RS)
89	Williams	Riley	TE	6'5”	277	SR
92	Sholder	Skyler	K	5'10”	189	SO (RS)
95	Brewu	Francis	DT	6'1”	278	JR
99	Bohanon	B.J.	DT	6'1”	317	FR

Post by **djp73** » 31 Aug 2025, 18:01

2026 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL TEAM PREVIEW SERIES

DELAWARE BLUE HENS

NATIONAL FORECAST: 97 | CUSA PREDICTION: 1 | 2025 RECORD: 11-3, 7-1 CUSA

Head Coach: Tony Sanchez, 1st Season, 26-58 Career
Offensive Coordinator: DJ Porter, 2nd Season
Defensive Coordinator: Manny Rojas, 7th Season

Delaware WR Ja'Carree Kelly

Delaware burst onto the scene with an 11-3 record in their first season as an FBS program. Their surprising season included an upset win over Colorado and a win over San Diego State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Despite their success the offseason was chock full of turmoil. A staggering 29 players graduated and 11 more elected to leave via the portal. Head coach Ryan Carty left for a job at Northwestern. Enter Tony Sanchez, once a hot commodity who has struggled to find any real success, likely getting his last shot at a college head coaching job.

With the roster upheaval and a shuffle at the top of the coaching staff the Hens look to the few returning starters and some stability from assistant coaches DJ Porter and Manny Rojas. Porter has already made an impact as the new Co-Head of Recruiting, helping Sanchez to not only retain all the recruits who were signed under Carty, but also securing the nations 54th-ranked overall class. Delaware hit the portal hard, signing the 13th-ranked class while bolstering depth with the 40th-ranked high school class.

“As good as Porter is as an offensive coordinator he may be even more valuable as a recruiter, as shown by the class he largely assembled.” Explained an athletic director from a rival CUSA school.

OFFENSE

Despite losing Zach Marker who was their starting QB last year as well as two possible successors in EJ Archield Jr and Braden Streeter the Hens' QB situation could actually be improved this season. Texas transfer Mason Kelsay returns to his home state after a redshirt year with the Longhorns, learning behind Arch Manning. He'll likely battle Blake Brown for the starting job. Depth is decent behind the two with a pair of three star true freshmen (Larry Azur and Alfonso Arora) along with returning sophomore Tre Lloyd. Kelsay is the most athletic of the bunch while Brown is a more polished passer.

Delaware lost 1,480 yards and 16 touchdowns worth of runningback production with RB1 Jo Silver graduating and presumed 2026 starter Saeed St. Fleur transferring out.

Enter Darrion Dupree, who ran for over 800 yards and 13 scores with Wisconsin last year. At nearly 220 pounds Dupree looks the part of a workhorse back. Behind Dupree depth is a concern with Oliver Redd's 57 yards the most on the roster.

As far as skill positions go Delaware's biggest hit came at WR where three of their top four producers (Jake Thaw, Nicholas Laboy, and Max Patterson) have all moved on after combining for 1,946 yards and 14 touchdowns. Ja'Caree Kelly is the top returning player at the position, accounting for 571 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the teams' fourth receiver in 2025.

The receiver room has been bolstered with the additions of three star freshmen Matthew Sash and Lloyd Upshaw as well as ECU transfer Yannick Smith, who caught 59 passes for 725 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. JUCO transfer Garrison Shead was also signed. Delaware will need some of their experienced returning receivers to develop into contributors if the position is to be a strength this season.

At tight end the Hens lost roughly half of the positions 2025 production with the graduation of Elijah Sessoms, who caught 26 passes for 349 yards and a pair of scores. Jake Bredell, now a junior, caught 24 passes for 333 yards but failed to find the endzone. Porter and Sanchez aggressively pursued former Oregon State TE Riley Williams in the portal. Williams is an imposing presence, standing 6'5” and tipping the scales at 275 pounds. Despite his size he was productive as a pass catcher for the Beavers, totaling 249 yards on 24 receptions.

Three star freshman Miles Omiyale was also brought into the fold. Freshman DE/TE Ted Krumholz could also be a factor. Returning senior Noah Vitko's primary role is as the team's long snapper but he did see some snaps as a tight end and fullback in 2025.

Delaware's entire starting offensive line from 2025 is gone with four of them graduating and Anwar O'neal transferring out.

“We took a big swing at rebuilding that offensive line group.” DJ Porter said. “That was our biggest need coming into this season.”

The swing was indeed large, with the Hens bringing in ten new offensive linesmen, a mix of high school players and transfer portal finds. Top incoming players are former NC State guard Jevony Jackson, former Kansas State guard Amos Talalele and former Louisville and Houston C/G/T Sam Secrest. Returning players Noah Rosahac and Anthony Caccese hope to battle for starting positions in the spring.

On paper the talent is there for Delaware to have one of the best offenses in the conference. It will be up to Sanchez and Porter to get them playing as a unit to live up to that potential.

DEFENSE
Manny Rojas had the Delaware defense cooking last season as they kept the Hens in most games that they played, giving up more than 24 points in just two games. With a large roster turnover it will be up to Rojas to integrate new faces and introduce new schemes to ensure that the Hens defense doesn't see a drop off in performance in 2026.

The Defensive line will have all new starters in 2026 with five players from last season graduating and two more departing via the portal. The top four defensive tackles from the 2025 depth chart have all graduated, including Keyshawn Hunter who led the team with 6.5 sacks in 2025. Porter, despite being an offensive coordinator, made the position a priority in the transfer portal.

The results speak for themselves. Porter was able to sign two defensive tackles that were listed in the top 400 of the recruiting class. Francis Brewu came over from Pitt and is joined by Bryce Jenkins from Maryland. The duo tips the scales at over 600 pounds combined. The combination of Jenkins' size (317 pounds) and strength and Brewu's agility could be the best combination of interior defensive linesmen in the conference this season. Delaware has been heavy on tree man fronts the past few seasons but the influx of talent could allow them to run more four man fronts in 2026. Those two are joined by freshman B.J. Bohanon, a three star ranked 1048th in the nation, and the lone returning player at the position Trace Scott. While the position features talented players at the top depth is a concern.

On the ends of the line it's more of the same story with all the players who took snaps at the position last year having moved on. Ted Krumholz, the only four star rated player to sign with a CUSA team, is expected to play immediately with former Bowling Green transfer and Ghana native Collins Acheampong likely to be the other starter. Collins possesses NFL size at 6'7” and 275 pounds. Krumholz quick first step makes him a viable edge rusher against CUSA competition but he will need to improve against the run. Kaeden Singleton, Nate Ray, Kion Wright and Derrick Malone all return, how they're able to contribute in 2026 remains to be seen.

Six linebackers from the 2025 roster have moved on but the position still benefits from experience on the roster with Julius Puryear (15 tackles, 1 sack) and Gavin Moul (61 tackles) having both played significant roles in 2025. Three star freshmen Phil East (#456 nationally) and Gage Keiser (#942) come in as reinforcements. Meikhi Cuttino and Mekhi Carmon are expected to battle for the third “starting” spot while returning linebackers Makai Alexander, Colin Gallagher and Alexander Cobbs will hope to push for playing time and contribute on special teams.

The secondary may be the strength of the defense with just three players leaving the group in the offseason. Keontae Jenkins (59 tackles, 3 interceptions) was the teams' top cornerback in 2025, he has graduated. The strong trio of safeties Hasson Manning Jr, Kingsley Royal and KT Seay all return. Rojas has mentioned trying to get those three on the field together as much as possible in 2025, leading to speculation that position changes could be in order for one or more of them.

Will Kendricks, a transfer brought in from New Mexico State, is the lone addition at cornerback while transfer safeties Collin Gill (Charlotte) and Dom Philbin (Hawaii), and freshman Antoine Perkins (*** #852) provide depth on the back half.

Kendricks is expected to battle for a starting CB position with Kahlil Ali, a starter in 2025, and Kshawn Cox Jr who was a rotational piece last season

Much like the offense the defensive side of the ball looks to be improved, at least on paper. Rojas will be tasked with getting the best players on the field in the best positions to try to match last years performance when many experts said that the Delaware defensive unit outplayed their abilities.

SPECIALISTS
Delaware's special teams was a weak spot last season with kicker Nate Reed connecting on less than 50% of his field goal attempts, while Jake Cupitt, the team’s punter, averaged under 36 yards per punt, often putting the defense in unfavorable field position.

Despite both of those players moving on the Hens did not bring in new recruits at either position, instead relying on the holdovers already on the roster.

Sophomore Skyler Sholder got a number of looks last season while Reed struggled but never saw any game action. Hens's special teams coordinator Rocco DiMeco praised Sholder's accuracy and noted that he really improved toward the end of last season and has been hard at work over the winter.

Punter Brock Glass is a relative unknown but DeMeco says he too has been steadily improving over the winter.

Both the kick return and punt return jobs are up for grabs as Jake Thaw has graduated and DiMeco has expressed a desire to have someone other than the teams most experienced WR Ja'Carree Kelly back to return kicks.

FINAL ANALYSIS
Delaware burst onto the scene in 2025, picking up 11 wins and putting Conference USA, and the nation, on notice. With 2025 CUSA Champions UTEP having departed it looks as though the door is wide open for Delaware to stake their clam as the best team in CUSA in just their second season in college football's top division.

“The season they had last year and the way they were able to restock that roster puts them well ahead of the rest of the conference in terms of talent.” A former CUSA head coach said. “There are some question marks around Sanchez and if maybe they should have promoted one of their guys so if they don't perform on the field that could be the reason.”

2025 Season Schedule and Results – 11-3(7-1)
August 28 vs Delaware State W 24-9
September 6 at Colorado W 31-29
September 13 vs UConn W 24-20
September 20 at FIU W 27-24
October 3 vs Western Kentucky W 28-10
October 15 at Jacksonville State W 28-14
October 22 vs Middle Tennessee W 31-24
November 1 at Liberty W 31-10
November 8 vs Louisiana Tech W 24-21
November 15 at Sam Houston W 20-13
November 22 at Wake Forest L 21-34
November 29 vs UTEP L 14-17
December 12 vs UTEP L 7-24 (CUSA Championship)
December 22 vs San Diego State W 17-7 (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)

2026 SCHEDULE
Sat Aug 29 12:00pm at Virginia
Thu Sep 3 7:30pm vs Coastal Carolina
Sat Sep 12 12:00pm at Vanderbilt
Sat Sep 19 2:00pm at Middle Tennessee
Sat Sep 26 2:00pm vs New Mexico State
Sat Oct 3 3:15pm vs Liberty
Sat Oct 10 7:30pm at Jacksonville State
Sat Oct 17 2:30pm at Louisiana Tech
Sat Oct 24 1:00pm vs Kennesaw State
Sat Oct 31 12:00pm vs Rutgers
Sat Nov 7 7:30pm at Sam Houston
Sat Nov 28 3:00pm vs Missouri State

TOP 10 HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITS
(Per On3)
1. Ted Krumholz, DE/TE **** #336
2. Miles Omiyale, TE *** #438
3. Matthew Sash, WR *** #452
4. Phil East, OLB *** #456
5. Lloyd Upshaw, WR *** #504
6. George Melifonwu, OG *** #560
7. Greg President, HB *** #693
8. Damarr Moe, C *** #702
9. Larry Azur, QB *** #753
10. Antoine Perkins, S *** #852

SCOUTING THE BLUE HENS
"I think they surprised a lot of folks last year with the big wins over Colorado and UConn. The injuries and lack of depth seemed to catch up with them later in the season but they still managed 11 wins which some programs will never see. They lost a ton in the offseason but I think they crushed it in recruiting. If you look at the gap in the recruiting classes between them and everyone else in the conference it's easy to think that they could be running that conference for the next several years and maybe be looking for a new home before too long. If Sanchez can finally put it all together and lean on those two great coordinators I think the sky's the limit."
— An opposing CUSA assistant coach

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 31 Aug 2025, 20:46

need to run the option with Kelsay he a speedy boi

did you figure out how you were going to manage the goat sim defense, or just make it extremely difficult for you offensively again? Cause depending on that will change how the season will go. Another 11 win season is def do-able but not if you've got to overcompensate the offensive difficult.

Login • Register