University of Delaware Athletics
11 Football Student-Athletes Earn 2026 Pro Football Network Preseason All-CUSA Honors
8/10/2026 1:19:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football placed 11 student-athletes on the Pro Football Network Preseason All-CUSA teams, the publication announced Monday. LB Jalen Bell, OL Steven Demboski, DE Noah Matthews, and QB Nick Minicucci landed on the first team, while OL Anthony Caccese, OL Noah Rosahac, S KT Seay, RB Jo Silver, and WR Sean Wilson earned second team honors. CB Jamarion Kolagbodi and TE Elijah Sessoms rounded out the list on the third team.
Bell, a transfer from LIU, was an FCS All-American at safety last season for the Sharks before coming to UD. He led LIU with 72 tackles a year ago, adding four PBUs, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. In his first season in the 302, Bell will be moving from safety to bandit, a hybrid linebacker/safety position.
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. This preseason, Demboski has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watchlist, Outland Trophy Watchlist, CUSA Watchlist, Shriners Children 1000 Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team, and an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee.
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. This preseason, Matthews has been named to the CUSA Watchlist, Shriners Children 1000 Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA Second Team, and Phil Steele All-CUSA Third Team.
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). This preseason, Minicucci has been named to the Maxwell Award Watchlist, CUSA Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, Phil Steele All-CUSA Second Team, and the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year.
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. This preseason, Caccese has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA Second Team and Phil Steele All-CUSA Second Team.
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. This preseason, Rosahac has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA Third Team.
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. This preseason, Seay has been named to the CUSA Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, and Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team.
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 a touchdown through the air. This preseason, Silver has been named to the Shriners Children 1000 Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, and Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team.
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. This preseason, Wilson has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team and Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team.
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. This preseason, Kolagbodi has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA Third Team and Phil Steele All-CUSA Third Team.
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). This preseason, Sessoms has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA Second Team and Phil Steele All-CUSA Third Team.
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Bell, a transfer from LIU, was an FCS All-American at safety last season for the Sharks before coming to UD. He led LIU with 72 tackles a year ago, adding four PBUs, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. In his first season in the 302, Bell will be moving from safety to bandit, a hybrid linebacker/safety position.
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. This preseason, Demboski has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watchlist, Outland Trophy Watchlist, CUSA Watchlist, Shriners Children 1000 Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team, and an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee.
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. This preseason, Matthews has been named to the CUSA Watchlist, Shriners Children 1000 Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA Second Team, and Phil Steele All-CUSA Third Team.
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). This preseason, Minicucci has been named to the Maxwell Award Watchlist, CUSA Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, Phil Steele All-CUSA Second Team, and the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year.
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. This preseason, Caccese has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA Second Team and Phil Steele All-CUSA Second Team.
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. This preseason, Rosahac has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA Third Team.
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. This preseason, Seay has been named to the CUSA Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, and Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team.
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 a touchdown through the air. This preseason, Silver has been named to the Shriners Children 1000 Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, and Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team.
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. This preseason, Wilson has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team and Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team.
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. This preseason, Kolagbodi has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA Third Team and Phil Steele All-CUSA Third Team.
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). This preseason, Sessoms has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA Second Team and Phil Steele All-CUSA Third Team.
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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