After FCS playoff ouster, a checklist for Blue Hens in eyeing 2023 season

For the first time in 12 years, a University of Delaware football season ended in December.

That was certainly a sign of progress for the Blue Hens under first-year coach Ryan Carty, the ex-Delaware quarterback.

But an 8-5 record – also the Hens’ winningest in a dozen years – contained a vast concoction of highlights, such as the season-opening win at Navy, and lowlights, including yet another defeat against Villanova.

It did result in a berth in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, which separates good seasons from bad ones at Delaware. It was capped by Saturday’s 42-6 loss at South Dakota State in the round-of-16 that demonstrated quite clearly how far Delaware is from national title contention, and playing a game in January.

And since NCAA championships remain the program’s primary pursuit, at least until Delaware makes a likely inevitable climb to the Football Bowl Subdivision in the next few years, there is considerable work to be done.

That, of course, will begin with a 2023 season in which Delaware will return some experienced, proven players but also have some very good ones to replace, including first-team All-CAA defenders Johnny Buchanan and Kedrick Whitehead and, quite possibly, standout quarterback Nolan Henderson.

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The Colonial Athletic Association is expected to announce each school’s 8-game league schedule for what will be a 15-team conference next season sometime in the next six weeks. In nonconference games, Delaware is at Penn State on Sept. 9 but hasn’t announced its other two, both likely at home.

“It’ll be interesting to see what we look like come next fall, because it’ll be different, that’s for sure” Carty said.

Here are five important topics on the checklist as the Blue Hens look ahead to 2023.

Decide who plays quarterback

Henderson could return for a seventh season because he red-shirted in 2017, the 2021 spring didn’t count against anyone’s eligibility and his four-game injury-shortened fall 2021 season warranted an NCAA waiver.

The Smyrna graduate’s return would certainly be welcomed. He has cemented himself on the list of Delaware’s most accomplished quarterbacks.

Henderson’s 56 career TD passes are topped only by Matt Nagy’s 58. His 32 this season set a school record. Henderson’s 6,413 career passing yards are surpassed only by Nagy, Joe Flacco, Bill Vergantino and Trent Hurley.

But if Henderson is inclined to see what opportunities the portal presents or give the pros a shot now, that certainly is understandable. A broken fibula ended his day on the first series at South Dakota State Saturday.

Red-shirt freshman Ryan O’Connor played most of the rest of the game until being unable to get up due to a concussion after he was hit hard sliding to complete a run with 1:07 left. The frightening injury, which appeared to cause O’Connor’s body to shake, led to the game being ended there. O’Connor was carted off the field and taken to a hospital, where he stayed Saturday night as his neurological condition was assessed before returning to Delaware Sunday.

“He’s on the mend and back to himself,” Carty said Monday. “I got a chance to FaceTime with him and chat with him and he was being his fun self. He is a fun kid. It was good to see him back to being normal.”

O’Connor was not available for comment.

“Scary, for sure,” Carty said of the situation. “Emotional. It was tough. We’re happy and glad and thankful and blessed that he’s OK. It was a tough ordeal for a little bit there.”

O’Connor completed 10 of 21 passes for 104 yards in the most extensive duty of his college career.

“I was excited for him the way he handled it,” Carty said. “I don’t think the moment was too big for him . . . It was fun to see him have a couple throws that he put on people and [he] played tough.”

It’s too early, Carty added, to assess what impact the injury may have.

Zach Gwynn and Anthony Paoletti also have eligibility left. Delaware has a scholarship freshman in Noah Sanders and two quarterback recruits – Daniel Lipovski of Lake Braddock (Virginia) and Nicholas Minicucci IV from Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey – coming in.

This is a position area that could very likely be beefed up via the transfer portal.

“We’re gonna bolster that however we can,” Carty said.

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Get better up front

The only way Delaware will be able to compete with the likes of South Dakota State and North Dakota State, which has won nine of the last 11 FCS titles, is to get bigger, stronger and more physical on both its offensive and defensive lines.

That was quite evident in Saturday’s loss and the spring 2021 33-3 defeat at South Dakota State.On offense, that’ll mean more protection for the quarterback and a better chance to run the football and control the clock.

Most of Delaware’s offensive linemen return.

“I think our offensive line was our most improved position from the year before,” Carty said, “and from the beginning of the season to the end of it . . . I think that could be one of the strengths of our team come next season. I think it has to be in order for us to be good.”

Delaware is No. 1 in the CAA in total defense and passing defense but also allowed a league low 3.7 yards per carry on the ground.

“We didn’t tackle well Saturday,” Carty said of the South Dakota State game. “ . . . That’s partly fundamental and things like that but it’s also getting the right people who are good at tackling and getting them on the field.”

Carty added that, while Missouri Valley Football Conference schools have no trouble locating those big, tough linemen in their Midwestern recruiting footprint, Delaware certainly can also in its Mid-Atlantic recruiting zone.

“You can find really good offensive linemen around here as well,” he said.

The transfer portal is, usually, your friend

Delaware improved its wide receiver, backfield and offensive line depth through transfer-portal pickups before this season, including getting its leading rusher Kyron Cumby and big-play receiver Chandler Harvin.

The portal must yield several key additions for the Blue Hens going into next season. Any position area would benefit, with offensive and defensive linemen and possibly a quarterback being particular targets.

One portal occupant, Rutgers defensive end Shawn Collins, who played in six games this season, already tweeted he’s gotten a UD offer. So did R.J. Martinez, starting quarterback the past two years at Northern Arizona.

But Delaware could also lose some very important players, with first-team All-CAA safety Noah Plack putting his name in the portal Monday along with back-up offensive lineman James Prince.

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Be better in second year

This was Carty’s first year as a head coach, which was also no doubt a learning experience for him personally as well as a newly constructed staff.

The spread offense Carty employs and calls should operate more smoothly in year two.

“We need to continue to build on the explosiveness in our offense,” Carty said, referring to both the personnel and the playbook.

Likewise, on defense, coordinator Manny Rojas and his staff must continue to tinker with their schemes and approach, which has typically involved a 3-man front, and make the best use of its personnel.

Improve the kicking game

One of the ironies of the Delaware football season was how the Hens had just two field goals (on eight tries) the first 10 games then made four the last three games (on five tries).

Brandon Ratcliffe converted those. Freshmen Garrett Bennion and Andrew MacMillan had also each kicked a field goal and made extra points before that.

Next year Delaware needs to have a more reliable field-goal threat and put the offense in fewer difficult down-and-distance situations.

Delaware will graduate reliable punter Ben Dinkel, with the aforementioned three and incoming Nate Reed, who punted for East Stroudsburg in 2021, being possible replacements.

Delaware also must replace reliable long-snapper Jake Reed, who got hurt recovering a fumbled punt return at the start of the South Dakota State game and didn’t return.

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

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware football Blue Hens 2023 college football FCS