By Andy Walter

Everyone agrees that U.S. college athletics just entered a new era on Thursday.

It’s just that nobody has any idea what that era will look like.

The NCAA announced on Wednesday that college athletes can now make money off their name and image while still in school.

The change went into effect immediately, with several popular student-athletes signing contracts with various companies on Thursday.

It’s more difficult to imagine the change having a big impact in the state of Delaware, which, of course, doesn’t have any Power 5 conference schools.

But clearly past marquee UD athletes like Elena Delle Donne and Joe Flacco could have benefited from it.

University of Delaware athletic director Chrissi Rawak, who oversees 600-plus student athletes, issued a statement on the situation.

“While it is not clear how this will impact college athletics and we will certainly learn a lot over the coming months, we are encouraged that this is a step in the right direction to provide our student-athletes with the same opportunities as all other students specific to their NIL,” she was quoted.

UD’s statement said it will follow the Colonial Athletic Association’s policy on the matter. The university said it will also work with faculty members “to determine training and education that is more specific to those student-athletes looking to maximize their name, image, and likeness in a variety of ways.”

Right now, there’s no shortage of speculation of how this will all play out.

Will individual sponsorship deals become part of recruiting packages? Will the richest schools get boosters involved and simply out-bid other schools for recruits?

Will some student-athletes start doing or saying things simply to boost their own personal brands?

Of course, at the pro level, most athletes seem to be able to balance their individual brand with the team’s goals.

At smaller schools, like the ones in Delaware, you might simply see a local athlete in an ad for a local restaurant or car dealership once in a while.

There clearly are going to be some interesting stories coming down the road, though.

Taylor going into 49ers’ Hall

Former Delaware State football star John Taylor is going into the San Francisco 49ers’ Hall of Fame.

“John was an electric wide receiver with some of the most memorable plays in franchise history,” 49ers CEO Jed York said in a statement.

The lanky receiver/punt returner played on three Super Bowl championship teams in nine seasons after the Niners took him in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Joe Montana in the final seconds of the 49ers’ Super Bowl XXIII win over the Bengals in 1989.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Taylor was selected to the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team as a punt returner. For his career, he had 347 catches for 5,598 receiving yards and 43 touchdowns.

Taylor was also the first player in NFL history with two touchdown receptions of 90-or-more yards in a game.

Taylor is already a Hall of Fame inductee at Delaware State, the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Collick, Sowerby honored

Former Delaware State football coach Bill Collick, along with past Hornets’ cross country coach Fred Sowerby, are among the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s 50th Anniversary Legends of Coaching.

Collick led the Hornets to five MEAC football titles during his tenure from 1985 to ‘96. Delaware State’s all-time football wins leader, he ranked second in MEAC coaching wins (48) when he left the post.

Collick coached 63 All-MEAC first-team players, six NCAA Division I-AA/FCS All-America honorees and 20 players who signed professional contracts. In 1985, he was selected as the MEAC Coach of the Year.

In addition, Collick led the Delaware State wrestling team to its lone MEAC championship in 1984.

A member of the MEAC Hall of Fame, he’s also a member of the DSU and Delaware Sports Museum halls of fame.

Sowerby led Delaware State to a combined 10 MEAC cross country championships, leading the Hornet women to conference titles in 1984-87 and ‘90 and the men to first-place finishes in 1984-87 and ‘89.

5 Hornets named to Top 50

Scott Martin, the all-time home run, RBI and doubles leader in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference history and Brett Underwood, the league’s career hits leader, head the list of five Delaware State players on the MEAC’s Top 50 All-Time Baseball Team.

The Hornets are also represented on the list by Ryan Haas, Aaron Nardone and Eric Gass.

Martin, a three-time first-team All-MEAC selection (2001-03), still holds the MEAC’s all-time records with 55 home runs, 236 RBI and 68 doubles.

Underwood, also a three-time first-team All-MEAC honoree (2002-04), is the league’s all-time record holder with 272 hits. He just finished his tenure as Wesley College’s head coach.

Haas was the 2012 MEAC Player of the Year and a two-time All-MEAC first-team selection (2011, 2012).

A two-time All-MEAC first-team honoree, Nardone is also the league’s career leader with 17 triples.

Gass was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1989 MEAC Championship Tournament. He struck out a then school-record 14 batters in the Hornets’ championship game win over Howard.

Notes

First-year Smyrna High quarterback Cameron Edge was reportedly one of only seven quarterbacks in the class of ‘23 to receive a scholarship offer from LSU. He also attended an elite camp there. ... Elijah Allen, the former Dover High basketball All-Stater, has entered his name in the transfer portal after one season at Wagner. He averaged 6.8 points as a freshman for the Seahawks. ... Former Wesley College and Woodbridge High linebacker standout Mike Brewer has landed at Division II Shippensburg. ... Wesley cornerback Ryan Clemmons announced on social media that he is transferring to Delaware State. ... Smyrna High senior running back Wayne Knight said he’s up to 10 college offers, including recent ones from Maine and Long Island.