University of Delaware Athletics
2022 Football Season Preview
8/30/2022 5:03:00 PM | Football
A new era of Delaware football begins on Saturday as the Blue Hens play their first contest under Head Coach Ryan Carty when the squad travels to Navy. Kickoff in Annapolis is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Offense
Delaware will feature a new-look offense in 2022 as Carty, the 2020-21 FCS Offensive Coordinator of the Year while at Sam Houston, takes the reigns. The Blue Hens return seven starters from last year’s offense, highlighted by quarterback Nolan Henderson who earned All-CAA First Team honors during the spring 2020-21 season. Wide Receiver Thyrick Pitts has had a reception in 30-consecutive games, which is fifth all-time in UD history, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
Defense
The Blue Hen defense returns eight starters from a season ago Delaware defensive returners, including five 2021 All-CAA selections and 72-percent of the squad’s total tackles. Delaware’s three safeties - Noah Plack, Kedrick Whitehead and Joe Zubillaga - have combined to appear in 102 games over the past four seasons together. At linebacker, the trio of Johnny Buchanan, Drew Nickles and Liam Trainer bring more than 100 games of experience.
Special Teams
The special teams unit is where the Blue Hens have the most new faces. Jake Reed returns as the team’s longsnapper, while transfer punter Ben Dinkel (South Dakota State) and Brandon Ratcliffe will each take over kicking duties.
A successful Saturday in the Stadium!#BleedBlue302 | #BlueHens | #BuckleUp pic.twitter.com/6lYuCpHXFy
— Delaware Football (@DelawareFB) August 14, 2022
Newcomers
The Blue Hens have a total of 31 newcomers, accounting for 29-percent of the roster. There are 19 freshmen donning the Blue & Gold for the first time this fall across eight different position units.
Carty and his staff have also brought in 12 transfers that will all look to make an immediate impact in all phases of the game. Included in the group of transfers are six wide receivers, three offensive lineman, a running back, a defensive back and a punter.
Preseason Honors
Delaware had a league-high five student-athletes selected to the All-CAA Preseason Team, which was announced during the league’s virtual media day on July 28.
Wide receiver Thyrick Pitts earned his second-straight nod to the preseason team while defensive back Kedrick Whitehead led a quartet of Blue Hens on the defensive side. He was joined by linebacker Johnny Buchanan as well as defensive linemen Artis Hemmingway and Chase McGowan.
Going into 2022, fifth-year safety Kedrick Whitehead, a five-time All-American, has been named a Preseason All-American by HERO Sports, Stats Perform and Athlon Sports. The Middletown, Delaware native was also named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, given to the best defensive player in FCS at the end of the season. He was one of 35 players on the original watch list and becomes the first Blue Hen to be considered for the award since Troy Reeder and Nasir Adderly, now teammates on the Los Angeles Chargers, were both finalists in 2018.
In the CAA Preseason Poll, Delaware received seven first-place votes and 235 points overall to finish second behind only Villanova.
In the national polls, the Blue & Gold are ranked No. 19 in both the Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches FCS Preseason Polls. The Blue Hens are also ranked No. 15 in the HERO Sports Preseason FCS Poll and No. 20 in the 2022 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason Top 25.
Schedule
Delaware will open the 2022 season with its 34th all-time game against an FBS opponent when the Blue & Gold travel to Navy. The Blue Hens are 15-18 all-time games against FBS programs, which is the third-most wins by any FCS program. UD most recent FBS victory came over the Midshipmen in 2007 when UD defeated Navy 59-52 behind Joe Flacco’s four touchdown passes and four rushing scores by Omar Cuff.
The Blue Hens will also host a pair of non-conference opponents, starting with the Route 1 Rivalry against Delaware State on September 10. Another MEAC foe in Morgan State will visit Delaware Stadium on October 22.
Delaware’s conference schedule will feature four home games and four road contests against CAA opponents. Fans will have the opportunity to see the Blue Hens take on new CAA members Hampton (Sept. 24) and Monmouth (Nov. 5) in Newark along with longtime conference rivals Towson (Oct. 1) and Richmond (Nov. 12). UD’s road opponents will include Rhode Island (Sept. 17), William & Mary (Oct. 8), Elon (Oct. 29) and Villanova (Nov. 19) for the annual Battle of the Blue.
