University of Delaware Athletics
14 Football Student-Athletes Earn 2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-CUSA Laurels
6/10/2026 5:00:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football landed 14 student-athletes on the Phil Steele Preseason All-CUSA teams, the publication announced Wednesday. OL Steven Demboski, LB Gavin Moul, S KT Seay, RB Jo Silver, and WR Sean Wilson landed on the first team, while OL Anthony Caccese, QB Nick Minicucci, and LS Maddox Sills earned second team honors. CB Jamarion Kolagbodi, DE Noah Matthews, and TE Elijah Sessoms were named to the third team, as P Josh Cupitt, LB Colin Gallagher, and LB Blake Matthews garnered fourth team laurels to round out the list.
Delaware's 14 honorees are the third most among CUSA teams, trailing only Jax State and FIU, which are tied for first with 15.
Demboski, a 2025 Second Team All-CUSA selection, played and started in 11 games at center last season. According to PFF, he did not allow a sack all season in his first year as the full-time starter. He was named the CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week for week three, after making his season debut in the 44-41 OT win. Under his leadership, the Delaware rushing attack had its best game on the ground, accounting for five rushing touchdowns and 247 rushing yards for an average of 5.5 yards per attempt in the team's first-FBS home win.
Moul, who was an All-CUSA honorable mention selection in 2025, earned all-conference honors for the second-straight season last year after starting all 13 games at linebacker for the Fightin' Blue Hens. He recorded 111 tackles, becoming the 37th player in program history to record at least 100 tackles in a season for the Blue & Gold. He also had six games with 10 or more tackles. In addition to his open-field prowess, he recorded 6.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, a touchdown, and three PBUs. The recovered fumble was returned for his first-career touchdown in the win over UTEP.
Seay, a 2025 First Team All-CUSA selection, played and started all 13 games as a junior at safety. He followed up a stellar 2024 season by tying for the sixth-most INTs in CUSA (3) and finishing with the 11th-most tackles (91). Seay finished with the most solo tackles on the squad with 62. His 2025 season was highlighted by a career-high 13 tackles against UConn and a career-high 3.5 TFLs at Jax State, a mark that tied for the second most by a CUSA player that season.
Silver, the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl MVP, was a member of the Doak Walker Award watchlist last season, an award that goes to the best running back in the country. He appeared in 11 games with nine starts, and rushed for a team-best 652 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 29 catches for 222 yards and touchdown through the air.
Wilson burst onto the scene as a starter in his first full season in 2025. He led the team with 68 catches for 877 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards are freshman records for the Hens. Across conference action, Wilson had a stretch of three-consecutive games with 100+ receiving yards, becoming the first Fightin' Blue Hen to do so since Aaron Love had four-straight 100-yard games in 2006. He set career bests with 162 yards and nine catches at Sam Houston.
Caccese solidified himself as a starter on the offensive line for the Hens last season, starting all 13 games. He was prolific in pass protection, allowing only three sacks all season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Minicucci, the 2025 Second Team All-CUSA selection and 68 Ventures Bowl Offensive MVP, spearheaded a Blue Hen offense that finished with a bowl win in its first FBS season. Minicucci led CUSA in passing yards (3,683), completions (322), attempts (512), passing yards/game (283.3), total offense (3,918), and total offense per game (301.4). He connected with 10+ receivers in seven games, eight or more in 10 of 13 games, and seven in all 12 regular-season games. On the ground, the signal caller tied for fourth in the conference with 10 rushing touchdowns. Minicucci became the second QB in program history and first since 1969 with 20 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs. He ranked among the nation's best in passing yards (sixth), pass yards per game (eighth), total yards (eighth), and total yards per game (ninth).
Sills appeared in 10 games as a true freshman last season, snapping on field goals and extra points.
Kolagbodi, a 2025 CUSA All-Freshman Team selection, appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman for the Blue Hens last season, making three starts. He finished the season with 28 total tackles, 1.0 TFL, one INT, six PBUs, and one forced fumble.
N. Matthews, who enters his second season in Newark after transferring from Kentucky, appeared in all 13 games with 12 starts last season for the Blue & Gold. He finished the 2025 campaign with 31 total tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, five QB hurries, and one PBU.
Sessoms became the full-time starter at tight end for UD in 2025, starting all 13 games. He recorded career bests in receptions (22), receiving yards (190), and touchdowns (2).
Cupitt, who missed last season due to injury, was Delaware's primary punter in 2024 after transferring from Towson. In his first season in Newark, the Reading, Pa. native punted 27 times for 1,160 yards, averaging 43.0 yards per punt, including 10 punts of 50+ yards.
Gallagher appeared in all 13 games at linebacker and on special teams for the Hens in 2025, finishing the season with 24 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, and a QB hurry.
B. Matthews broke out as a starter last season for the Blue & Gold, appearing in 12 games with nine starts at linebacker. He ended the season with 54 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs, four PBUs, and four QB hurries, all career marks.
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