University of Delaware Athletics
Football is All Systems Go for 2023 Season
8/29/2023 6:58:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – Following a successful first season under head coach Ryan Carty that included the program's 18th appearance in the FCS Championship, the University of Delaware football team is set to turn the page to 2023. The Blue Hens open the 132nd season in Delaware history on Thursday evening when the squad travels to Stony Brook for a 7 p.m. CAA matchup.
The Blue & Gold was picked to finish fourth in the CAA Coaches' Preseason Poll, receiving 149 points overall and one first-place vote. Three Blue Hens earned spots on the Preseason All-CAA Team led by Jourdan Townsend at wide receiver after earning all-conference nods each of the past two seasons. Additionally, newcomers Alex Schmoke (placekicker) and Ryan Kost (punter) both earned preseason All-CAA and All-America honors after decorated 2022 seasons. Kost was an All-CAA First Team selection last year while at Monmouth.
Three more Blue Hens – tight end Braden Brose, offensive lineman Fintan Brose and defensive lineman Chase McGowan - were preseason honorable mention selections. McGowan, a three-time All-CAA selection, has led the UD defense in sacks each of the past two years. Fintan Brose earned all-conference honors last season in his first season on the offensive line.
Delaware returns eight starters on an offense that averaged 28.2 points per game and 408.8 yards of total offense in 2022. UD's rushing attack brings back its top three rushers from a year ago in Kyron Cumby, Marcus Yarns and Quincy Watson, while the receiving corps brings back its top receiver in terms of receiving yards (Jourdan Townsend) and yards per catch (Chandler Harvin). Townsend and Harvin combined to haul in 13 total touchdowns in 2022. The offensive line also has a veteran group as four of the five starters from last fall return in 2023.
The defense, which led the CAA in several categories last year including scoring defense (18.2 ppg) and total defense (282.3 ypg), has to replace nine starters. McGowan and safety Ty Davis are the two returning starters, but the Blue Hens have a lot of veteran depth including key role players from a year ago like defensive lineman Jack Hall and safety Nic Ware.
There are plenty of new faces to learn this year as the Blue Hens have welcomed 45 newcomers to the roster. The coaching staff brought in 24 freshmen as members of the UD Class of 2027 as well as 21 transfers from other institutions. The list of transfers includes eight coming from other FCS programs, five out of FBS programs, a Division II All-American and a Division III All-American.
After opening the season with two-straight games on the road, the Blue Hens will return home to Delaware Stadium for a four-game homestand, starting with a September 16 contest against Saint Francis in a rematch of last year's 56-17 UD victory in the first round of the FCS Championship. Other home matchups will include New Hampshire (Sep. 23), Duquesne (Oct. 7), North Carolina A&T (Oct. 14), Elon (Nov. 4) and Villanova (Nov. 18). Season ticket memberships, flexible partial plans and individual game tickets for all six of UD's home games are on sale now.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware football, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
The Blue & Gold was picked to finish fourth in the CAA Coaches' Preseason Poll, receiving 149 points overall and one first-place vote. Three Blue Hens earned spots on the Preseason All-CAA Team led by Jourdan Townsend at wide receiver after earning all-conference nods each of the past two seasons. Additionally, newcomers Alex Schmoke (placekicker) and Ryan Kost (punter) both earned preseason All-CAA and All-America honors after decorated 2022 seasons. Kost was an All-CAA First Team selection last year while at Monmouth.
Three more Blue Hens – tight end Braden Brose, offensive lineman Fintan Brose and defensive lineman Chase McGowan - were preseason honorable mention selections. McGowan, a three-time All-CAA selection, has led the UD defense in sacks each of the past two years. Fintan Brose earned all-conference honors last season in his first season on the offensive line.
Delaware returns eight starters on an offense that averaged 28.2 points per game and 408.8 yards of total offense in 2022. UD's rushing attack brings back its top three rushers from a year ago in Kyron Cumby, Marcus Yarns and Quincy Watson, while the receiving corps brings back its top receiver in terms of receiving yards (Jourdan Townsend) and yards per catch (Chandler Harvin). Townsend and Harvin combined to haul in 13 total touchdowns in 2022. The offensive line also has a veteran group as four of the five starters from last fall return in 2023.
The defense, which led the CAA in several categories last year including scoring defense (18.2 ppg) and total defense (282.3 ypg), has to replace nine starters. McGowan and safety Ty Davis are the two returning starters, but the Blue Hens have a lot of veteran depth including key role players from a year ago like defensive lineman Jack Hall and safety Nic Ware.
There are plenty of new faces to learn this year as the Blue Hens have welcomed 45 newcomers to the roster. The coaching staff brought in 24 freshmen as members of the UD Class of 2027 as well as 21 transfers from other institutions. The list of transfers includes eight coming from other FCS programs, five out of FBS programs, a Division II All-American and a Division III All-American.
After opening the season with two-straight games on the road, the Blue Hens will return home to Delaware Stadium for a four-game homestand, starting with a September 16 contest against Saint Francis in a rematch of last year's 56-17 UD victory in the first round of the FCS Championship. Other home matchups will include New Hampshire (Sep. 23), Duquesne (Oct. 7), North Carolina A&T (Oct. 14), Elon (Nov. 4) and Villanova (Nov. 18). Season ticket memberships, flexible partial plans and individual game tickets for all six of UD's home games are on sale now.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware football, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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