University of Delaware Athletics
Lee, Rocco Highlight Blue Hens’ 16 CAA Honors
4/21/2021 3:00:00 PM | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – The CAA has announced that University of Delaware head coach Danny Rocco has been named the Coach of the Year and redshirt senior Dejoun Lee is the conference's Offensive Player of the Year.
"We are excited to be able to recognize a number of our student-athletes as All-CAA performers," Rocco said. "This has been an extremely difficult season for both our players and coaches and we have demonstrated both the grit and perseverance, working through the unknowns of the spring season. Our strength remains in our unity and I am extremely proud of this team for both its commitment, as well as its performance."
A total of 14 Blue Hens make up the sixteen honors taken home by Delaware on Wednesday, the most by any CAA institution this spring.
Rocco earned his fifth conference coach of the year honor, earning his seventh career conference championship and first at Delaware. He is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award and won AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year honors. He has the Blue Hens in the playoffs in two out of the last three seasons.
The Blue Hens had four offensive First Teamers, highlighted by Lee's Player of the Year honor. The Springfield, Virginia native rushed for just shy of 500 yards in five games on 77 carries with five going for touchdowns. He broke off a 221 yard afternoon at then No. 18 Rhode Island, the second-most in a single game this season in all of FCS. Lee was also selected as the first team kick returner, starting his resume early by taking the season-opening kickoff back for an 87-yard touchdown.
Lee ranks sixth in the country with 152.2 all-purpose yards per game and is a finalist for the Walter Payton Offensive Player of the Year award.
Redshirt junior Nolan Henderson is the All-CAA First-Team quarterback after an efficient spring, throwing for 988 yards and completing over 70% of his passes, ranking fourth in the nation in pass efficiency. He was second in the CAA with nine touchdown passes and most recently had a 20-of-24 outing against then No. 10 Villanova for a career-high 270 yards to help the Blue Hens clinch the CAA title.
One of Henderson's favorite targets joins him on the All-CAA First Team as wide receiver Thyrick Pitts checked in at second in the CAA in receiving yards per game. Pitts has caught a pass in 17-straight games for the Blue Hens and went over 1,000 career receiving yards in the win over Villanova. On the season, he hauled in 22 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns.
Delaware is represented by two offensive lineman as senior David Kroll was selected to the All-CAA First Team and redshirt junior Mickey Henry is honored on the Second Team. Kroll has appeared in 39 career games, starting all five this spring at left tackle for the Blue Hens. Henry has started each game at center and the duo has helped Delaware pave the way for Lee and company, and rank 21st in FCS in rushing offense and helped Henderson be one of the nation's most efficient passers.
On the defensive side, Delaware earned three first-teamers, led by junior Johnny Buchanan at linebacker, starting in the middle of the Blue Hens' defense for all five games. He made a team-high 27 tackles this spring, including six his last time out at Villanova.
Redshirt senior Nijuel Hill has been selected to the All-CAA First Team back-to-back interceptions in the final two regular-season games. He made 14 tackles on the season while helping the Delaware defense rank fourth in FCS in passing defense, allowing just 116.2 yards per game.
Junior Kedrick Whitehead follows up his Third-Team appearance from 2019 with a First-Team selection this spring after playing a key role in Delaware forcing at least one turnover in each game this season. He forced two fumbles and recovered one, which put an end to Rhode Island's first possession of the game to take control early in the Blue Hens' first road test of the season. Whitehead made 18 tackles this spring, including 1.5 tackles for loss with two pass breakups.
Senior Gene Coleman II was selected to the All-CAA Second Team at wide receiver making 23 catches for 229 yards and scored the first offensive touchdown of the spring. Last time out, he made seven catches for 78 yards at Villanova and ranks 29th all-time in Delaware history with 72 career catches.
Junior Bryce De Maille caught seven passed with two receiving touchdowns and a rushing score to be selected as an All-CAA Second-Team tight end. For his career, De Maille has touched the ball 27 times, finding the end zone on nine of those touches. He scored his first career rushing touchdown on his first career rush against Stony Brook and scored a critical touchdown off a Henderson pass against Villanova.
A pair of defenders also received Second-Team honors as sophomore Chase McGowan is a defensive lineman selection and redshirt sophomore Noah Plack earned a spot at safety.
McGowan seemed to live in opponent's backfields, making six tackles with five going for loss in five games. He also made four sacks, including three at Rhode Island. Plack made his presence felt in the final two games of the season, combining for 15 tackles at Delaware State and Villanova. He forced a fumble on the season and was second on the team in tackles with 24.
Sophomore Ryan Coe rounds out Delaware's honorees, earning a Second-Team selection at kicker. Coe has perfect on extra points and was 8-for-12 on field goal tries. He had a strong start to the season, making three against Maine, including a career-long 45 yarder. Coe has also been crucial in the kick-off game, with 15 touchbacks in five games.
Lee is the first Blue Hen to win Offensive Player of the Year since quarterback Pat Devlin took home the honors in 2010, while Rocco is the first Delaware head coach to receive conference coach of the year since Tubby Raymond was Yankee Conference Coach of the Year in 1991.
The win over Villanova helped Delaware clinch the CAA Championship and a berth in the FCS Playoffs, beginning Saturday when the Blue Hens host Sacred Heart at Delaware Stadium at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found here and the game can be seen on ESPN3.
For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook.
"We are excited to be able to recognize a number of our student-athletes as All-CAA performers," Rocco said. "This has been an extremely difficult season for both our players and coaches and we have demonstrated both the grit and perseverance, working through the unknowns of the spring season. Our strength remains in our unity and I am extremely proud of this team for both its commitment, as well as its performance."
A total of 14 Blue Hens make up the sixteen honors taken home by Delaware on Wednesday, the most by any CAA institution this spring.
Rocco earned his fifth conference coach of the year honor, earning his seventh career conference championship and first at Delaware. He is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award and won AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year honors. He has the Blue Hens in the playoffs in two out of the last three seasons.
The Blue Hens had four offensive First Teamers, highlighted by Lee's Player of the Year honor. The Springfield, Virginia native rushed for just shy of 500 yards in five games on 77 carries with five going for touchdowns. He broke off a 221 yard afternoon at then No. 18 Rhode Island, the second-most in a single game this season in all of FCS. Lee was also selected as the first team kick returner, starting his resume early by taking the season-opening kickoff back for an 87-yard touchdown.
Lee ranks sixth in the country with 152.2 all-purpose yards per game and is a finalist for the Walter Payton Offensive Player of the Year award.
Redshirt junior Nolan Henderson is the All-CAA First-Team quarterback after an efficient spring, throwing for 988 yards and completing over 70% of his passes, ranking fourth in the nation in pass efficiency. He was second in the CAA with nine touchdown passes and most recently had a 20-of-24 outing against then No. 10 Villanova for a career-high 270 yards to help the Blue Hens clinch the CAA title.
One of Henderson's favorite targets joins him on the All-CAA First Team as wide receiver Thyrick Pitts checked in at second in the CAA in receiving yards per game. Pitts has caught a pass in 17-straight games for the Blue Hens and went over 1,000 career receiving yards in the win over Villanova. On the season, he hauled in 22 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns.
Delaware is represented by two offensive lineman as senior David Kroll was selected to the All-CAA First Team and redshirt junior Mickey Henry is honored on the Second Team. Kroll has appeared in 39 career games, starting all five this spring at left tackle for the Blue Hens. Henry has started each game at center and the duo has helped Delaware pave the way for Lee and company, and rank 21st in FCS in rushing offense and helped Henderson be one of the nation's most efficient passers.
On the defensive side, Delaware earned three first-teamers, led by junior Johnny Buchanan at linebacker, starting in the middle of the Blue Hens' defense for all five games. He made a team-high 27 tackles this spring, including six his last time out at Villanova.
Redshirt senior Nijuel Hill has been selected to the All-CAA First Team back-to-back interceptions in the final two regular-season games. He made 14 tackles on the season while helping the Delaware defense rank fourth in FCS in passing defense, allowing just 116.2 yards per game.
Junior Kedrick Whitehead follows up his Third-Team appearance from 2019 with a First-Team selection this spring after playing a key role in Delaware forcing at least one turnover in each game this season. He forced two fumbles and recovered one, which put an end to Rhode Island's first possession of the game to take control early in the Blue Hens' first road test of the season. Whitehead made 18 tackles this spring, including 1.5 tackles for loss with two pass breakups.
Senior Gene Coleman II was selected to the All-CAA Second Team at wide receiver making 23 catches for 229 yards and scored the first offensive touchdown of the spring. Last time out, he made seven catches for 78 yards at Villanova and ranks 29th all-time in Delaware history with 72 career catches.
Junior Bryce De Maille caught seven passed with two receiving touchdowns and a rushing score to be selected as an All-CAA Second-Team tight end. For his career, De Maille has touched the ball 27 times, finding the end zone on nine of those touches. He scored his first career rushing touchdown on his first career rush against Stony Brook and scored a critical touchdown off a Henderson pass against Villanova.
A pair of defenders also received Second-Team honors as sophomore Chase McGowan is a defensive lineman selection and redshirt sophomore Noah Plack earned a spot at safety.
McGowan seemed to live in opponent's backfields, making six tackles with five going for loss in five games. He also made four sacks, including three at Rhode Island. Plack made his presence felt in the final two games of the season, combining for 15 tackles at Delaware State and Villanova. He forced a fumble on the season and was second on the team in tackles with 24.
Sophomore Ryan Coe rounds out Delaware's honorees, earning a Second-Team selection at kicker. Coe has perfect on extra points and was 8-for-12 on field goal tries. He had a strong start to the season, making three against Maine, including a career-long 45 yarder. Coe has also been crucial in the kick-off game, with 15 touchbacks in five games.
Lee is the first Blue Hen to win Offensive Player of the Year since quarterback Pat Devlin took home the honors in 2010, while Rocco is the first Delaware head coach to receive conference coach of the year since Tubby Raymond was Yankee Conference Coach of the Year in 1991.
The win over Villanova helped Delaware clinch the CAA Championship and a berth in the FCS Playoffs, beginning Saturday when the Blue Hens host Sacred Heart at Delaware Stadium at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found here and the game can be seen on ESPN3.
For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook.
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