Blue Hens may have a few more roster questions to answer this season

NEWARK — Deciding whether or not to redshirt a player is never an easy question said Ryan Carty.

But one practice into preseason camp, the Delaware football coach says anyone on the roster is in the mix for playing time right now.

With the Blue Hens ineligible to win a conference title or go to the playoffs this fall, how to use players becomes a bigger issue.

“We need to make sure that we do what’s best for the program and the student-athlete at the same time,” said Carty. “We have to make sure that we have conversations with everybody.

“They came here to play football. Sitting on the bench is not how it’s going to be successful for them or for us, most of the time. .... We’ll go through every individual and make sure we’re doing the right thing for us and for them.”

With that in mind, Delaware opened camp for its unique 2024 season on Tuesday.

As it transitions up to the NCAA Division I FBS level, the Hens will have 75 scholarship players on the squad. That’s a dozen more than Delaware could have as an FCS program but still fewer than the limit of 85 in FBS.

Considering there are 23 freshmen on the roster — all of whom can play up to four games this season and still redshirt — it might be tempting to save their year of eligibility this fall.

But Carty has said the Hens’ first goal is winning games, not necessarily just preparing for 2025. And with the NCAA Transfer Portal’s impact, there are no guarantees who is going to be on the team from one season to the next.

One other wrinkle in all this is that when Delaware first announced it was moving up, officials said UD had agreed not to use more than 63 scholarship players against CAA teams this season.

On Tuesday, however, Carty said he didn’t really know how that was going to work.

“We’re going to have 75 players on our roster and we’re going to do everything we can to win a football game,” he said. “Those other questions are for Joey ‘D’ (CAA commissioner Joe D’Antonio) and Jordan Skolnick (a UD deputy athletic director).

“Honestly, I don’t even care right now. We’re going to go try to win practice two tomorrow. I’m honestly not worried about it. I don’t think it’s going to effect us too much.”

While Delaware won’t be included in the CAA standings, it is playing nine league teams this season. The Hens open the season on Aug. 29 by hosting conference newcomer Bryant.

Transfer time

Among the 37 players that are new to the roster since the end of last season, 14 are transfers — including 11 from Division I programs.

Obviously, the Hens are hoping some of them are ready to make an immediate impact.

“Getting some of the newcomers to understand that their ability to play now is just as significant as a returner,” is the way that defensive coordinator Manny Rojas put it.

At defensive back, Delaware has seven players who transferred either this year or in the past.

“I feel as good about our corner room as I ever have,” said Rojas. “I think with the experience and the guys that are coming back, I feel really good about it.”

That list of transfers includes first-year Hens Nate Evans (North Carolina State) and Jason Scott (Boston College). Evans is a cornerback with Scott playing safety.

Rojas thinks they’re both anxious to get the chance to show what they can do.

“Now they get the chance to really go out and play,” said Rojas. “I think any time you get that opportunity back to step on the field and go play, it means more to you individually and to have fun doing it.”

New titles for assistant coaches

Terence Archer, who was an assistant coach with Carty at both Sam Houston State and Delaware, has added offensive coordinator to his job titles. He’s also assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.

Likewise, quarterbacks coach Sean Goldrich is now passing game coordinator.
Carty said he’ll still be calling the plays during games but spreading out some of his other duties should free him up.

“With the success that we’ve had here, it’s hard to keep people that are really talented,” said Carty. “I think the next step in their progression, both of them, was to have  little bit more of a coordinator title.

“I think the amount that I can off-load to them, in particular during game weeks, is really going to help me game plan better. It’s going to help me with the circumference of the whole program — making sure that we’re more focused on everything we need to be focused on and not burn out.”

Extra points

*Former receiver Jourdan Townsend is going to be a graduate assistant coach.

*Running back Marcus Yarns continues was one of 35 FCS players nationally named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List. The award goes to the national offensive player of the year in FCS.