By Andy Walter

NEWARK — Keyshawn Hunter usually has a unique take on things.

With Delaware playing its last football season as an FCS program, the colorful defensive tackle is calling it a ‘farewell tour.’

“This is our last time touching each one of those fields,” said Hunter. “Each game, you’re getting the last laugh. After I beat you, you’ll never see me again.
“We come to your house, we ate your food, we moved stuff around and now you’ll never see us again.”

No matter how the Blue Hens are looking at it, this is a different kind of season that they’re preparing for. Delaware is in the middle of spring practice, which concludes with the Blue-White Game on April 19.

With the Hens adding scholarships as they begin transitioning to being an FBS program, they’re still playing a CAA schedule in the fall. But they won’t be eligible for the league title or the NCAA FCS playoffs.

While Delaware is taking the approach that it’s business as usual, moving up is clearly on the players’ minds, too.

“Especially for a guy like me, I don’t have too many years left,” said senior linebacker Ty Davis. “I mean, the time’s now. .... We’ve got to step up, we’re moving to FBS in two years. We’ve got to be prepared for that. Getting prepared now will help us in the future.

“Regardless of whether we can technically win a CAA championship, we still want to go undefeated and claim ourselves as the CAA champion,” he added.

“It’s a little bit of mental battle knowing we can’t go to the playoffs and all. But the focus is still the same — we want to win every game and be the best we can.”

Defensive coordinator Manny Rojas knows there’s adjustments that the Hens will continue to make, especially in recruiting. He said every team is trying to get bigger and stronger.

“We are looking for speed, athleticism, length, as well, to go up there and compete with those teams,” he said. “You have to be able to play man coverage a little bit in the back end but really hold up in the front end against the run.”

Hunter is one of several Hens who have already played at the FBS level. He began his career at Old Dominion, seeing action in eight games in 2022.
Even at the higher level, said Hunter, football is still football.

“Competition doesn’t change, it’s the jersey that changes,” he said. “They put their helmet on just like we put our helmet on.

“When you start thinking like that, you might as well just retire from football,” Hunter added about thinking that FBS will be a lot different. “The only thing that changes is the logo and the name on the back of the jersey. They’re still men like we’re men. They still prep how we prep. It’s just who’s going to be the aggressive party that day — and I got my money on us.”

The Blue Hens’ Ty Davis will probably do a little more tackling as he moves from safety to linebacker. UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE ATHLETICS/MARK …

Davis moving up
Davis is one player who’s definitely trying to get bigger and stronger for next season.

That’s because the 6-foot-3 safety is moving up to Delaware’s bandit linebacker spot, where he’ll have more run-stopping responsibilities.

After playing at 197 pounds last fall, Davis said he’s up to 207 with the goal of being at 215 in the fall. The extra weight will help when he has to take on pulling linemen.

Because bandit needs a versatile player, Davis said “it’s the perfect position for me.”

“I don’t have to cover as much, which takes a burden off me,” said Davis. “I can more focus on being in the run, making plays underneath. I’m still being athletic enough to make plays like a safety but I don’t have to cover like a safety. It takes a load off my back.”

“He’s just got to gain some weight,” said Rojas. “If he continues to gain that weight then he’ll be a really good player for us out there. We’re excited to see his growth so far this spring.”

Delaware defensive coordinator Manny Rojas knows the Hens will have to make some adjustments as they move to FBS. University of Delaware …

Newcomers

Delaware has a couple new transfer defensive backs in spring camp in cornerback Nate Evans (North Carolina State) and safety Jason Scott (Boston College)

Rojas said the pair have adjusted to the Hens’ defensive scheme pretty quickly.

“They did a lot at their old schools so they kind of understand the concepts,” he said. “Now it’s just understanding how we play those concepts and how we deploy it. Both of them actually have done a really good job of picking it up and understanding it.

“That’s been a really good thing to see for us in being able to throw them out there and get a lot of reps so far.”

Rojas said he also likes what he’s seen from linebacker Blake Matthews (Troy) as well as returning players Hasson Manning (safety), K.T. Seay (safety), James Yelbert (defensive end), Nyaire Dommie (cornerback) and A’Khoury Lyde (cornerback).

Davis spoke up for sophomore linebacker Gavin Moul, who played in 12 games as a true freshman last fall.

“He’s all gas, no brakes,” said Davis. “Like no matter what the drill is, he’s going full speed. I see a bright future for him.”

Extra points

Mike Lude, who helped bring the Wing-T to Delaware as an assistant coach in 1951, died on March 14. A lieutenant in the U.S. Marines during World War II, Lude spent 11 seasons with the Hens before becoming the head coach at Colorado State. ... Former Delaware safety Kedrick Whitehead (Middletown) is on the roster of the UFL’s Michigan Panthers. On April 14, they face the Houston Roughnecks, who have former Blue Hen quarterback Nolan Henderson on the roster. .... Receiver Gene Coleman was waived by Houston.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter at @DSNsports.