University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mikey Reeves
16 Football Student-Athletes Earn 2026 Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference USA Honors
7/9/2026 3:40:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football placed 16 student-athletes on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference USA teams, the publication announced. OL Steven Demboski, QB Nick Minicucci, LB Gavin Moul, S KT Seay, RB Jo Silver, and WR Sean Wilson landed on the first team, while CB Kshawn Cox Jr., OL Anthony Caccese, DE Noah Matthews, and TE Elijah Sessoms earned second team honors. PR Bryson Graves, CB Jamarion Kolagbodi, LB Blake Matthews, and OL Noah Rosahac were named to the third team, as P Josh Cupitt and LB Colin Gallagher garnered fourth team laurels to round out the list.
Delaware's 16 honorees are tied with Kennesaw State for second most among CUSA teams, trailing only Liberty (17).
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 after UConn after making his season debut in the 44-41 OT win after missing the first two games due to injury. 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.
Minicucci, a 2025 Second Team All-CUSA selection and 68 Ventures Bowl Offensive MVP, spearheaded a Fightin' Blue Hen offense that finished with a bowl win in its first FBS season. In 2025, 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 with 20 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs (first since 1969). 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).
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 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 over 10+ tackles. In addition to his open-field prowess that stopped the opposing attack, he also 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 Overall 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, rushing 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.
Cox Jr. started 11 games for the Hens last season at cornerback in his first season as a full-time starter. The Bridgeville, Del. native recorded 30 tackles, 0.5 TFL, and two PBUs in 2025.
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.
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).
Graves readies for his first season in Newark after appearing in 38 games with 13 starts at Coastal Carolina. He totaled 64 receptions for 672 yards and four touchdowns. On special teams, he returned 24 punts for 133 yards with 20 of his returns coming in 2025 with a 9.0 average return. In 2025, he led the team in receptions (35) and receiving yards (330).
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.
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 becoming career marks.
Rosahac appeared in all 13 games with 11 starts last season, spending a majority of his time coming at right tackle. The Jim Thorpe, Pa. native was phenomenal in pass protection in his first season in the 302, allowing only one sack all season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Cupitt, who missed all of 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.
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Delaware's 16 honorees are tied with Kennesaw State for second most among CUSA teams, trailing only Liberty (17).
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 after UConn after making his season debut in the 44-41 OT win after missing the first two games due to injury. 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.
Minicucci, a 2025 Second Team All-CUSA selection and 68 Ventures Bowl Offensive MVP, spearheaded a Fightin' Blue Hen offense that finished with a bowl win in its first FBS season. In 2025, 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 with 20 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs (first since 1969). 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).
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 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 over 10+ tackles. In addition to his open-field prowess that stopped the opposing attack, he also 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 Overall 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, rushing 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.
Cox Jr. started 11 games for the Hens last season at cornerback in his first season as a full-time starter. The Bridgeville, Del. native recorded 30 tackles, 0.5 TFL, and two PBUs in 2025.
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.
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).
Graves readies for his first season in Newark after appearing in 38 games with 13 starts at Coastal Carolina. He totaled 64 receptions for 672 yards and four touchdowns. On special teams, he returned 24 punts for 133 yards with 20 of his returns coming in 2025 with a 9.0 average return. In 2025, he led the team in receptions (35) and receiving yards (330).
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.
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 becoming career marks.
Rosahac appeared in all 13 games with 11 starts last season, spending a majority of his time coming at right tackle. The Jim Thorpe, Pa. native was phenomenal in pass protection in his first season in the 302, allowing only one sack all season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Cupitt, who missed all of 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.
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 Fightin' Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
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