Saving his best for final season, Marcus Yarns hopes to add to prolific Delaware career

Delaware’s final season as an FCS program is also Marcus Yarns’ last as a Blue Hen.

But the running back from Salisbury, Maryland, hopes to show he deserves to keep playing football once this year ends.

“As far as playing at the next level, I would love to and it’s always been a dream of mine to go to the NFL,” Yarns, the Parkside High graduate, said.

When Delaware begins preseason practice Tuesday morning, finding ways to get the football into the hands of Yarns will surely be a focus heading toward the Thursday, Aug. 29 season opener against Bryant.

Among best in nation

Yarns certainly put down a solid foundation last season for 10-4 Delaware, which he led with 939 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

He had four 100-yard games and his 6.90-yards-per-carry average ranked fourth nationally in FCS.

“The best guys, we gotta make sure we put the ball in their hands,” Delaware coach Ryan Carty said. “Marcus is obviously one of the best guys in the country at that.”

Yarns’ speed, elusiveness and versatility also keyed the Hens’ passing attack, as his 24 catches covered 311 yards with three TDs. His 18 touchdowns were No. 2 among FCS players nationally.

The 5-foot-11, 183-pound Yarns hopes his 2023 success is a springboard to an even better 2024, and that begins with being a smarter player.

“This year my preparation has been probably a little different,” he said. “I’m still trying to gain weight, get stronger, get faster.

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“But I’m really just working on my mental [approach], just knowing the ins and outs of the game so I can make the game come easier to me.”

Covering some ground

Yarns was a second-team All-Coastal Athletic Association choice last year and a preseason first-team pick this year, while also being named a preseason All-American by FCS Football Central.

His four 100-yard efforts last year were in Delaware’s first six games, and Yarns was periodically limited by injuries at other times.

But his season including plenty of prolific moments.

Yarns’ 66-yard touchdown gallop at Penn State was Delaware’s longest running play, and the lone bright spot in a 63-7 loss.

He also had the longest pass pickup on a 75-yard catch and run for a touchdown on Delaware’s first play in its 51-13 rout at Towson.

Yarns was CAA co-offensive player of the week after that game, getting a career-best 105 receiving yards and 63 rushing yards with four more TDs. The five TDs equaled the second highest single-game output in UD history, topped only by Omar Cuff’s seven at William & Mary in 2007.

In 2022, Yarns had Delaware’s longest running play, an 82-yard sprint for a touchdown against Delaware State, and his 72-yard reception for a touchdown against Morgan State was the Hens’ second-longest pass play that year.

No interest in portal

Delaware is moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision next year as a Conference USA member. The Hens are, therefore, ineligible for the 2024 NCAA playoffs.

Knowing 2024 would be his last season, Yarns certainly put himself in position last year to perhaps earn an FBS opportunity. But the transfer portal did not lure him away.

“The loyalty and the amount of, I don’t want to say love but, well it is love, actually,” he said of his decision to stay at Delaware.

“Just the community and everyone being genuine and the coaches being great coaches, on and off the field. That just kept me grounded and kept me wanting to play for coach Carty and the University of Delaware.”

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Saving his best for final season, Marcus Yarns hopes to add to prolific Delaware career