University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Donna McBride
Football Season Preview: Offense
8/26/2021 4:30:00 PM | Football
The 2021 Delaware football season is right at our fingertips and we can feel it. With the sun shining bright on the practice fields adjacent to Delaware Stadium, fall camp has brought the heat in more ways than one.
With the ball whipping through the Newark air, wide receivers are making one-handed catches, running backs are finding holes to squeak through, the tight end/fullback combination is keeping the defense on its toes, the offensive line is sturdier than ever, and offensive coordinator Jared Ambrose has a smile on his face as the excitement of Sept. 2 nears.
With all but one starter returning on offense, "we grew a lot more holistically with our knowledge of football," said Ambrose. "You know all the guys' strengths and weaknesses. Continuity is always a good thing in any realm of football. Being able to get coach these guys again is huge. It also helps them know what to expect from us. It's a two-way street."
With the familiar faces of the blue and gold and the success of last season still fresh in the air, the Blue Hens were voted to finish second in the league by the coaches and media after going 4-0 in league play.
Speaking of friendly faces, the two captains on offense for the 2021 fall season are running back Dejoun Lee and quarterback Nolan Henderson. Lee, the reigning Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Offensive Player of the Year, and Henderson the first-team all-conference quarterback from the spring have both established themselves as leaders.
"It wasn't hard for the two of them to continue on that path after the spring," Ambrose reflected. "The thing that I'm most impressed with leadership-wise is that they've both cultivated more leaders. In great teams the leaders create leaders and they've done a good job with that. They've found guys in each position group and have encouraged them to take ownership of the group and be their own captain of the group."
Henderson enters the season as the starting QB after starting every game in the spring for Delaware. He completed 135 of 191 passes for 1,482 with 10 touchdown passes. Henderson also added 101 yards on the ground for a pair of rushing touchdowns.
"When you're a QB that knows you're the starter/captain it can be a double edge sword. There's a different level he can take himself to after getting so many reps as a starter. He can really create his own speed of the game."
Backing up Henderson will be Zach Gwynn.
"Zach was the guy who stepped in when Nolan had an equipment malfunction," said Ambrose. "He's held that spot down during camp and has done really well. He's grown as a football player and we know that when Zach gets to go in the game he's going to handle his business."
Speeding past defenders at the speed of light is Mr. Speedy Gonzalez himself aka Dejoun Lee. He produced 564 rushing yards on 120 attempts. With a season-long rush of 74 yards, Lee scored six touchdowns and added 119 receiving yards.
"Dejoun is definitely a focal point. The thing people don't understand about Dejoun is that he's equal to if not better as a person than he is a football player," Ambrose expressed. "He's a unique young man and is passionate about everything. He's driven. He always has a hunger to get better and that bleeds into other people. The running backs have been a special group since I've been here. There's never a moment where he's not all in or absolutely trying to maximize every moment he can do to help us win. Not just as a running back but as a teammate. That raises the level of everyone's game."
One unit in particular that has been sparking multiple conversations during camp is the wide receivers. The list of players that have stepped up and are ready to show out is a mile long. From returning starters Thyrick Pitts, who led the group with a trio of touchdowns and 451 yards, to Gene Coleman II, who had 433 yards, we could sit here all day and tally off the depth of this group. Which is what Ambrose did.
"Coach Rocco says all the time, 'the best ability is availability'. To be able to keep these guys healthy and on the field always helps. We feel like we've really strengthened the position to where we're between 8-9 guys deep that can play competitive snaps. This is a ball distribution offense. Our strength is in our numbers," said Ambrose.
The tight end/fullback group or YUF as the Blue Hens have it listed is a unique system seen a lot at the professional level. Y is the tight end that plays on the ball next to the tackle. The U would be the tight end that plays off the ball in a utility fashion, even side to side, and the F is the old-school hardnose fullback.
"We give each of those guys a different number of jobs," said Ambrose. "You can take a guy like Bryce De Maille and his blocking strengths do well there. Same thing with Braden Brose who has grown immensely as a player. From 5-foot-7 guys to 6-foot-1, we're just asking them to do different jobs."
All-American David Kroll guides the offensive line once again.
"David has come a long way and played a lot of football," said Ambrose. "What he does well as a leader is applying pressure on the others. He's got a big personality and he's a big human being. He's opened up as a vocal leader which has been good for the younger guys. David creates a peer expectation and has the resume to do that with all the games he's played and the battles he's fought."
Whether it's capitalizing on fourth down conversions or controlling the clock, the Delaware football offense is ready to take the field in one week. See you in Maine! Go #BlueHens
Offensive Starters Returning (10)
Thyrick Pitts, WR
Gene Coleman II, WR
Luke Frederick, TE
Ben Trent, RT
Carter Lynch, RG
Dejoun Lee, RB
Nolan Henderson, QB
David Kroll, LT
Stevon Brown, LG
Mickey Henry, C
Â
Offensive Starters Lost (1)
Dillon Zimmerman, WR
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With the ball whipping through the Newark air, wide receivers are making one-handed catches, running backs are finding holes to squeak through, the tight end/fullback combination is keeping the defense on its toes, the offensive line is sturdier than ever, and offensive coordinator Jared Ambrose has a smile on his face as the excitement of Sept. 2 nears.
With all but one starter returning on offense, "we grew a lot more holistically with our knowledge of football," said Ambrose. "You know all the guys' strengths and weaknesses. Continuity is always a good thing in any realm of football. Being able to get coach these guys again is huge. It also helps them know what to expect from us. It's a two-way street."
With the familiar faces of the blue and gold and the success of last season still fresh in the air, the Blue Hens were voted to finish second in the league by the coaches and media after going 4-0 in league play.
Speaking of friendly faces, the two captains on offense for the 2021 fall season are running back Dejoun Lee and quarterback Nolan Henderson. Lee, the reigning Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Offensive Player of the Year, and Henderson the first-team all-conference quarterback from the spring have both established themselves as leaders.
"It wasn't hard for the two of them to continue on that path after the spring," Ambrose reflected. "The thing that I'm most impressed with leadership-wise is that they've both cultivated more leaders. In great teams the leaders create leaders and they've done a good job with that. They've found guys in each position group and have encouraged them to take ownership of the group and be their own captain of the group."
Henderson enters the season as the starting QB after starting every game in the spring for Delaware. He completed 135 of 191 passes for 1,482 with 10 touchdown passes. Henderson also added 101 yards on the ground for a pair of rushing touchdowns.
"When you're a QB that knows you're the starter/captain it can be a double edge sword. There's a different level he can take himself to after getting so many reps as a starter. He can really create his own speed of the game."
Backing up Henderson will be Zach Gwynn.
"Zach was the guy who stepped in when Nolan had an equipment malfunction," said Ambrose. "He's held that spot down during camp and has done really well. He's grown as a football player and we know that when Zach gets to go in the game he's going to handle his business."
Speeding past defenders at the speed of light is Mr. Speedy Gonzalez himself aka Dejoun Lee. He produced 564 rushing yards on 120 attempts. With a season-long rush of 74 yards, Lee scored six touchdowns and added 119 receiving yards.
"Dejoun is definitely a focal point. The thing people don't understand about Dejoun is that he's equal to if not better as a person than he is a football player," Ambrose expressed. "He's a unique young man and is passionate about everything. He's driven. He always has a hunger to get better and that bleeds into other people. The running backs have been a special group since I've been here. There's never a moment where he's not all in or absolutely trying to maximize every moment he can do to help us win. Not just as a running back but as a teammate. That raises the level of everyone's game."
One unit in particular that has been sparking multiple conversations during camp is the wide receivers. The list of players that have stepped up and are ready to show out is a mile long. From returning starters Thyrick Pitts, who led the group with a trio of touchdowns and 451 yards, to Gene Coleman II, who had 433 yards, we could sit here all day and tally off the depth of this group. Which is what Ambrose did.
"Coach Rocco says all the time, 'the best ability is availability'. To be able to keep these guys healthy and on the field always helps. We feel like we've really strengthened the position to where we're between 8-9 guys deep that can play competitive snaps. This is a ball distribution offense. Our strength is in our numbers," said Ambrose.
The tight end/fullback group or YUF as the Blue Hens have it listed is a unique system seen a lot at the professional level. Y is the tight end that plays on the ball next to the tackle. The U would be the tight end that plays off the ball in a utility fashion, even side to side, and the F is the old-school hardnose fullback.
"We give each of those guys a different number of jobs," said Ambrose. "You can take a guy like Bryce De Maille and his blocking strengths do well there. Same thing with Braden Brose who has grown immensely as a player. From 5-foot-7 guys to 6-foot-1, we're just asking them to do different jobs."
All-American David Kroll guides the offensive line once again.
"David has come a long way and played a lot of football," said Ambrose. "What he does well as a leader is applying pressure on the others. He's got a big personality and he's a big human being. He's opened up as a vocal leader which has been good for the younger guys. David creates a peer expectation and has the resume to do that with all the games he's played and the battles he's fought."
Whether it's capitalizing on fourth down conversions or controlling the clock, the Delaware football offense is ready to take the field in one week. See you in Maine! Go #BlueHens
Offensive Starters Returning (10)
Thyrick Pitts, WR
Gene Coleman II, WR
Luke Frederick, TE
Ben Trent, RT
Carter Lynch, RG
Dejoun Lee, RB
Nolan Henderson, QB
David Kroll, LT
Stevon Brown, LG
Mickey Henry, C
Â
Offensive Starters Lost (1)
Dillon Zimmerman, WR
Â
Players Mentioned
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TE
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TE
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QB
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QB
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