By Andy Walter

NEWARK — One way or another, the Delaware football team knows it has to improve its kicking game.

The Blue Hens may have taken a big step in that direction on Tuesday.

Salesianum’s James Collins, considered the top high school kicker to come out of the state in several years, announced that he has verbally committed to the Blue Hens.

A senior last fall, Collins can officially sign with Delaware in February.

Delaware has apparently also added the CAA’s top punter to its roster. Monmouth’s Ryan Kost, who was a first-team All-CAA pick this season, announced that he is going to use his final season of eligibility with the Hens.

On top of that, William & Mary kicker/punter Ethan Chang announced that he has received a scholarship offer from Delaware. Chang, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, was 18-of-24 on field goal attempts last season.

Chang hit a 57-yarder in a win over Stony Brook and made a pair of field goals in a win over the Hens — although he did have two other kicks blocked in that game.

As a senior for the Sals, Collins was 15-of-20 on field goal attempts with a long of 46. He hit all 27 of his PAT kicks and had 31 touchbacks on kickoffs.

Collins also had a scholarship offer from Delaware State and took an official visit to Temple.

Delaware used three kickers last season, making only 6-of-13 field goal attempts.

Kost averaged 48.1 yards on 30 punts for Monmouth last season with 12 of 50 yards or more.