University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mikey Reeves
Football Position Previews: Linebackers and Specialists
8/13/2025 4:20:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team is preparing for its first year at the FBS level, a historic season that kicks off at home against Delaware State on Thursday, August 28 at 7 p.m. Throughout fall camp, positional previews will be posted online to spotlight the different units that make up the 2025 Fightin' Blue Hens.
LINEBACKERS
Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Rocco DiMeco leads both the special teams corp. and linebacker unit in his third season with the Blue Hens.
"They're very consistent right now," DiMeco said. "They have a really good grasp of the defense, I think that's the biggest thing. They communicate really well, and they're just on the same page."
Sixth-year graduate Dillon Trainer and junior Gavin Moul lead the way for the room. Trainer has played in 43 career games with 20 starts at UD, while Moul led the team in tackles last year with 71. Moul earned Preseason All-Conference USA honors from Athlon Sports (Second Team) and Phil Steele (Second Team) as well as being on the CUSA Preseason Watchlist. Trainer found himself on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference USA Third Team.
Marje Mulumba and Blake Matthews also bring experience to the room, playing in 34 and 26 games, respectively. Anthony Crenshaw Jr. and Mekhi Carmon both played in all 11 games last season for UD.
Colin Gallagher, Chris Collot, Meikhi Cuttino, and Sean Quick provide depth as returnees, while Iowa Central CC transfer Jawarren Corbin, freshman Gevaris Lassiter (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Bishop McNamara) and freshman Julius Puryear (Stuart, Fla. / Jensen Beach) joined the room this season.
SPECIALISTS
"They're both going to kickoff and kick field goals," DiMeco said in relation to Nate Reed and Skyler Sholder. "Nate also has the ability to punt. [Brenden Lach] is a kid who has a ton of upside and he's done it in games. He's got a ton of leg potential."
Nate Reed is the incumbent place kicker with Skyler Sholder backing him up. Reed has suited up in 33 career games for the Hens, while Sholder has appeared in two games. Reed earned Preseason All-Conference USA honors from Phil Steele (Fourth Team) as well as being on the CUSA Preseason Watchlist. Reed set the Delaware single-season record for touchbacks in 2024 with 47, in addition to going 7-for-10 on field goals and 35-for-39 on PATs.
Michigan Tech transfer punter Brenden Lach will serve as the primary punter for UD this season with Josh Cupitt scheduled to miss the entire season due to injury. Lach has appeared in 29 games at Michigan Tech, including 22 consecutive.
Noah Vitko will be the long snapper after 15 games for the Hens in his career. Freshman Bodie Frederick (Bethany Beach, Del. / Cape Henlopen) is the backup.
TICKET INFORMATION
Don't miss your chance to be part of the action at Delaware Stadium this fall. Get your single-game tickets for the 2025 Delaware home football season today!
Season tickets offer the best seats at the best price for every home game and come with great benefits, such as ticket priority for away games and invites to exclusive member-only events. Partial Plans offer fans flexible options and price savings over individual games.
For more information or to secure your seats, visit BlueHens.com/fbtickets.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware football, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
LINEBACKERS
Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Rocco DiMeco leads both the special teams corp. and linebacker unit in his third season with the Blue Hens.
"They're very consistent right now," DiMeco said. "They have a really good grasp of the defense, I think that's the biggest thing. They communicate really well, and they're just on the same page."
Sixth-year graduate Dillon Trainer and junior Gavin Moul lead the way for the room. Trainer has played in 43 career games with 20 starts at UD, while Moul led the team in tackles last year with 71. Moul earned Preseason All-Conference USA honors from Athlon Sports (Second Team) and Phil Steele (Second Team) as well as being on the CUSA Preseason Watchlist. Trainer found himself on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference USA Third Team.
Marje Mulumba and Blake Matthews also bring experience to the room, playing in 34 and 26 games, respectively. Anthony Crenshaw Jr. and Mekhi Carmon both played in all 11 games last season for UD.
Colin Gallagher, Chris Collot, Meikhi Cuttino, and Sean Quick provide depth as returnees, while Iowa Central CC transfer Jawarren Corbin, freshman Gevaris Lassiter (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Bishop McNamara) and freshman Julius Puryear (Stuart, Fla. / Jensen Beach) joined the room this season.
SPECIALISTS
"They're both going to kickoff and kick field goals," DiMeco said in relation to Nate Reed and Skyler Sholder. "Nate also has the ability to punt. [Brenden Lach] is a kid who has a ton of upside and he's done it in games. He's got a ton of leg potential."
Nate Reed is the incumbent place kicker with Skyler Sholder backing him up. Reed has suited up in 33 career games for the Hens, while Sholder has appeared in two games. Reed earned Preseason All-Conference USA honors from Phil Steele (Fourth Team) as well as being on the CUSA Preseason Watchlist. Reed set the Delaware single-season record for touchbacks in 2024 with 47, in addition to going 7-for-10 on field goals and 35-for-39 on PATs.
Michigan Tech transfer punter Brenden Lach will serve as the primary punter for UD this season with Josh Cupitt scheduled to miss the entire season due to injury. Lach has appeared in 29 games at Michigan Tech, including 22 consecutive.
Noah Vitko will be the long snapper after 15 games for the Hens in his career. Freshman Bodie Frederick (Bethany Beach, Del. / Cape Henlopen) is the backup.
TICKET INFORMATION
Don't miss your chance to be part of the action at Delaware Stadium this fall. Get your single-game tickets for the 2025 Delaware home football season today!
Season tickets offer the best seats at the best price for every home game and come with great benefits, such as ticket priority for away games and invites to exclusive member-only events. Partial Plans offer fans flexible options and price savings over individual games.
For more information or to secure your seats, visit BlueHens.com/fbtickets.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware football, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
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