University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mark Campbell
League-High Eight Blue Hens Named to CAA Preseason Team, UD Picked to Finish Second
7/27/2021 9:05:00 AM | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – With a little over a month to go before Delaware kicks off the 2021 season, the defending conference champions recorded a league-high eight preseason all-conference honors and were voted to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) by league head coaches and media relations directors.
Reigning conference offensive player of the year running back Dejoun Lee earned preseason All-CAA honors after registering 564 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns a year ago. All-American offensive lineman David Kroll received preseason accolades along with first team all-conference honorees quarterback Nolan Henderson and wide receiver Thyrick Pitts.
All-American safety Kedrick Whitehead leads the defensive honorees. First-Team All-CAA performers cornerback Nijuel Hill and linebacker Johnny Buchanan earned preseason accolades, while Chase McGowan, a second team all-conference selection from last season rounded out the honorees.
Wide receiver Gene Coleman II and tight end Bryce De Maille received honorable mention recognition.
Delaware, who finished last season ranked No. 4 with a 7-1 overall record and an FCS semifinal playoff appearance, received seven first-place votes for a total of 222 points for a predicted second-place finish. James Madison was voted to win the CAA title with 231 points, including 15 first-place votes. Villanova rounded out the top 3 vote-getters with 194 points.
The Blue Hens enter the 2021 campaign as the reigning CAA Champions with a four-game conference win streak. Delaware is scheduled to open the 2021 season on the road at Maine on Sept. 2. The game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
OFFENSE
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Nolan Henderson, Delaware Jr. QB 6-1 195 Smyrna, Del./Smyrna
Dejoun Lee, Delaware Sr. RB 5-7 185 Springfield, Va./Lake Braddock
Thyrick Pitts, Delaware Jr. WR 6-3 200 Manassas, Va./Forest Park
David Kroll, Delaware Sr. OL 6-7 315 Reston Va./South Lakes
DEFENSE
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Chase McGowan, Delaware So. DL 6-1 240 Stafford, Va./North Stafford
Johnny Buchanan, Delaware Jr. LB 6-0 230 Brick, N.J./St. John Vianney
Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware Jr. S 5-11 195 Middletown, Del./Middletown
Nijuel Hill, Delaware Sr. CB 5-10 185 Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall
Honorable mention: Gene Coleman II, WR, Delaware; Bryce DeMaille, TE.
2021 CAA Preseason Poll
Reigning conference offensive player of the year running back Dejoun Lee earned preseason All-CAA honors after registering 564 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns a year ago. All-American offensive lineman David Kroll received preseason accolades along with first team all-conference honorees quarterback Nolan Henderson and wide receiver Thyrick Pitts.
All-American safety Kedrick Whitehead leads the defensive honorees. First-Team All-CAA performers cornerback Nijuel Hill and linebacker Johnny Buchanan earned preseason accolades, while Chase McGowan, a second team all-conference selection from last season rounded out the honorees.
Wide receiver Gene Coleman II and tight end Bryce De Maille received honorable mention recognition.
Delaware, who finished last season ranked No. 4 with a 7-1 overall record and an FCS semifinal playoff appearance, received seven first-place votes for a total of 222 points for a predicted second-place finish. James Madison was voted to win the CAA title with 231 points, including 15 first-place votes. Villanova rounded out the top 3 vote-getters with 194 points.
The Blue Hens enter the 2021 campaign as the reigning CAA Champions with a four-game conference win streak. Delaware is scheduled to open the 2021 season on the road at Maine on Sept. 2. The game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
OFFENSE
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Nolan Henderson, Delaware Jr. QB 6-1 195 Smyrna, Del./Smyrna
Dejoun Lee, Delaware Sr. RB 5-7 185 Springfield, Va./Lake Braddock
Thyrick Pitts, Delaware Jr. WR 6-3 200 Manassas, Va./Forest Park
David Kroll, Delaware Sr. OL 6-7 315 Reston Va./South Lakes
DEFENSE
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Chase McGowan, Delaware So. DL 6-1 240 Stafford, Va./North Stafford
Johnny Buchanan, Delaware Jr. LB 6-0 230 Brick, N.J./St. John Vianney
Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware Jr. S 5-11 195 Middletown, Del./Middletown
Nijuel Hill, Delaware Sr. CB 5-10 185 Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall
Honorable mention: Gene Coleman II, WR, Delaware; Bryce DeMaille, TE.
2021 CAA Preseason Poll
- James Madison (15 first-place votes) 231
- Delaware (7 first-place votes) 222
- Villanova 194
- Richmond (2 first-place votes) 169
- New Hampshire 135
- Rhode Island 121
- Towson 115
- UAlbany 114
- Maine 99
- Stony Brook 73
- William & Mary 61
- Elon 50
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TE
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ FootballDelaware Football Postgame Press Conference - 68 Ventures Bowl vs. Louisiana - 12/17/25
Friday, December 19
Delaware Football Postgame Press Conference - UTEP 11/29/25
Saturday, November 29
Delaware Football Weekly Press Conference - Week 14
Monday, November 24
Delaware Football Weekly Press Conference - Week 13
Tuesday, November 18
