University of Delaware Athletics
Five Football Student-Athletes are Headed to the NFL
4/27/2026 5:53:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – Five University of Delaware football Fightin' Blue Hens are headed to the NFL after CB Nate Evans signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent and OL Fintan Brose (Las Vegas Raiders), DT Nick Karika (New York Jets), S Mysonne Pollard (Tennessee Titans), and K Nate Reed (Las Vegas Raiders) were invited to rookie mini camps.
Evans played in 24 games with 15 starts over two seasons for the Blue & Gold. The Virginia Beach, Va. native, who began his career at NC State, was a 2024 All-CAA Honorable Mention selection in his first season in the 302. In 2025, Evans started all 13 games for UD, leading the team with eight PBUs. His collegiate career was capped off by a victory in the 68 Ventures Bowl where he was named the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Defensive MVP.
Brose played in 56 games with 39 starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens. His 56 games played are third most in program history, just in front of his older brother, Braden, who appeared in 55 games. The Irwin, Pa. native was a three-time all-conference selection, including a 2025 Conference USA First Team nod. In his final season with the Hens, Brose started all 13 games, with starts at three different positions along the offensive line. An East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 selection, Brose allowed only two sacks all season, with none in the final nine games, according to Pro Football Focus. In Brose's six-year tenure, UD went 45-24, including the team's first-ever FBS bowl win in the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl.
Karika appeared in 35 games with six starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens. The St. James, N.Y. native began his career at Wagner before transferring to Delaware in 2023. Over three seasons for UD, the defensive tackle notched 27 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, and 3.0 sacks with a pair of forced fumbles. A true student-athlete, Karika was a 2025-26 Conference USA Academic Honor Roll selection.
Pollard appeared in 24 games with 13 starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens across two seasons. A 2025 Conference USA All-Conference Second Team selection as a kick returner, Pollard started all 13 games at safety in 2025 while providing a boost on special teams. The Norwalk, Conn. native recorded 66 total tackles, 2.5 TFLs, a team-high four INTs, one PBU, and two forced fumbles as a senior, while returning 15 kickoffs for 384 yards with a long of 51 yards.
Reed played in 46-career games with 35 of those coming for Delaware over three seasons. The Manheim, Pa. native was the first-ever Fightin' Blue Hens' specialist to be selected to attend the NFL Specialist Showcase at the NFL Combine in 2026. The 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Second Team All-America selection made his mark on the record book in 2025, setting the record for kicking points in a game (19), as well as kicking the most touchbacks in program history (101). He went 3-for-3 on onside kicks this past season, helping Delaware become just the fourth team in the last 10 seasons to do so, and the only one to have a 100-percent success rate. He tied a program record of four field goals in two games this season, en route to earning an All-CUSA Second Team laurel. He earned three all-conference honors in his tenure, capping his career by being named the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Special Teams MVP.
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Evans played in 24 games with 15 starts over two seasons for the Blue & Gold. The Virginia Beach, Va. native, who began his career at NC State, was a 2024 All-CAA Honorable Mention selection in his first season in the 302. In 2025, Evans started all 13 games for UD, leading the team with eight PBUs. His collegiate career was capped off by a victory in the 68 Ventures Bowl where he was named the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Defensive MVP.
Brose played in 56 games with 39 starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens. His 56 games played are third most in program history, just in front of his older brother, Braden, who appeared in 55 games. The Irwin, Pa. native was a three-time all-conference selection, including a 2025 Conference USA First Team nod. In his final season with the Hens, Brose started all 13 games, with starts at three different positions along the offensive line. An East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 selection, Brose allowed only two sacks all season, with none in the final nine games, according to Pro Football Focus. In Brose's six-year tenure, UD went 45-24, including the team's first-ever FBS bowl win in the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl.
Karika appeared in 35 games with six starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens. The St. James, N.Y. native began his career at Wagner before transferring to Delaware in 2023. Over three seasons for UD, the defensive tackle notched 27 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, and 3.0 sacks with a pair of forced fumbles. A true student-athlete, Karika was a 2025-26 Conference USA Academic Honor Roll selection.
Pollard appeared in 24 games with 13 starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens across two seasons. A 2025 Conference USA All-Conference Second Team selection as a kick returner, Pollard started all 13 games at safety in 2025 while providing a boost on special teams. The Norwalk, Conn. native recorded 66 total tackles, 2.5 TFLs, a team-high four INTs, one PBU, and two forced fumbles as a senior, while returning 15 kickoffs for 384 yards with a long of 51 yards.
Reed played in 46-career games with 35 of those coming for Delaware over three seasons. The Manheim, Pa. native was the first-ever Fightin' Blue Hens' specialist to be selected to attend the NFL Specialist Showcase at the NFL Combine in 2026. The 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Second Team All-America selection made his mark on the record book in 2025, setting the record for kicking points in a game (19), as well as kicking the most touchbacks in program history (101). He went 3-for-3 on onside kicks this past season, helping Delaware become just the fourth team in the last 10 seasons to do so, and the only one to have a 100-percent success rate. He tied a program record of four field goals in two games this season, en route to earning an All-CUSA Second Team laurel. He earned three all-conference honors in his tenure, capping his career by being named the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Special Teams MVP.
TICKET INFORMATION
Get your 2026 Delaware Football season tickets now by visiting 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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