University of Delaware Athletics
Football has Six Named to CSC Academic All-District Team
1/5/2024 1:26:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team had six student-athletes recognized on the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Team, announced by the organization last month. Keeno Arrington, Kaelin Costello, Ethan Saunders, Jo'Nathan Silver, Dillon Trainer and Alex Villas all earned their first selections.
To be eligible, a nominee must be a starter or important reserve, must have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate studies and is at least a sophomore academically and athletically.
Arrington, a communications major, had a strong first season for the Blue & Gold. He appeared in all 13 games with two starts in the defensive backfield and ranked among the team leaders with 37 tackles, including a season-high eight tackles at Campbell.
Costello, a sports management major, was again a key fixture on Delaware's special teams units. He appeared in 12 games and finished with six tackles including two solo takedowns against Elon.
Saunders, an economics major, was a team captain in 2023 and appeared in all 13 games with one start on the defensive line. He registered 19 tackles, including three tackles in four different games, and had 4.0 TFLs, a sack and four quarterback hurries.
Silver, a health behavior science major, became a regular in Delaware's running attack in 2023 appearing in all 13 games. He rushed 33 times for 162 yards and scored his first career touchdown against Saint Francis. He set career highs with seven rushes for 76 yards in UD's first-round playoff victory over Lafayette.
Trainer, a health behavior science major, was a team captain in 2023 and started all 13 games at linebacker. He ranked second on the defense with 66 tackles on the season, including 5.5 TFLs and 1.0 sacks. He had a season-high eight tackles against both Hampton and Elon and returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown against Saint Francis.
Villas, a communications major specializing in public relations, became a key part of the UD secondary in his second season in Newark. He finished with 33 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, a forced fumble and four pass breakups. He had a season-high five tackles against both New Hampshire and North Carolina A&T.
The Blue Hens wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. Delaware's offense scored at least 40 points in five games this year and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions.
Delaware will officially join Conference USA on July 1, 2025 as a full-league member. As they begin the two-year transition process, the Blue Hens will play an FCS schedule in 2024 that will be announced in the coming weeks. Deposits for 2024 season ticket packages are available now.
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