Local College Notebook: Rocco: Hens, Henderson have a ‘high ceiling’

By Andy Walter

Danny Rocco says he knows what Nolan Henderson is capable of.

There are times when the Delaware quarterback seems like just a highlight-reel play waiting to happen.

“Watch the Rhode Island game from last year (in 2019),” said Rocco, the Blue Hens’ football coach. “He makes two plays in that game where you’re like, ‘Oh wow.’ Like, I don’t know who can make that play.’

“We all know that Nolan is an ‘Oh wow’ player,” Rocco added. “He is. ... Those players are still out there.”

Rocco was making the point that he knows that Henderson and Delaware’s offense still haven’t shown everything they’re capable of in their first two games.

The No. 11 Hens (2-0) might need more in today’s noon CAA showdown at No. 18 Rhode Island (2-0).

Delaware has put up 68 points in its first two games. But with both contests under control pretty early, the Hens also haven’t been pushed to their limit, either.

Rocco, though, say he sees a lot of potential — especially on offense.

“At our best, we are really good,” he said. “I’ve had teams that are good because they’re consistent. Or they’re solid because they’re fundamentally sound. Their ceiling is only so high.

“This team has a high ceiling. This is a team that’s capable of doing a lot of things really well.”

As for Henderson, the Smyrna High grad has completed 34-of-51 passes for 361 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He’s also flashed his trademark escapability but has only 33 yards and a TD on 12 carries to show for it.

But Rocco says he’s confident that Henderson is capable of doing more if that’s what’s needed in the moment.

“The big, long explosive (plays) haven’t been there quite as much as I see them in practice,” Rocco said about his teams’ offense overall. “You see those things in practice on a pretty consistent basis. I’ve seen Nolan hit Thyrick (Pitts) down the field numerous times where literally I say, ‘That’s about as good as it gets.’

“You’d like to think, in those moments when you need that, it’s there.”

Bowe shines for Coppin

Former Milford High softball standout Nia Bowe continues to put up impressive numbers at Coppin State.

Now a redshirt junior, Bowe was recently named the MEAC Player of the Week. In a four-game series at Delaware State, she went 11-for-17 with four runs scored, two home runs and eight RBI.

That included one game in which Bowe went 4-for-4 with two homers and five RBI.

Bowe currently leads the MEAC with a .419 batting average and ranks third with a .605 slugging percentage. As a freshman in 2018, Bowe was a second-team All-MEAC selection after leading the Eagles with a .364 batting average and a school-record 11 home runs.

Notes

Former Dover High baseball standout Dom Velazquez has a team-high 23 strikeouts in 15 innings as a freshman pitcher at Delaware. ... The Delaware State women’s golf team placed fourth out of 11 teams with a 326 at the Fairleigh Dickinson shoot-out. Juniors Nattavadee Khunsri and Taylor Simoneau tied for fifth place after shooting 78s. ... While the 32 runs that Delaware State put up in a 32-11 baseball win over Mount St. Mary’s earlier this year were impressive, they actually weren’t a school record. The Hornets’ record for runs in a game is 34 vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore in 2000. ... The two half-court buzzer-beaters that Delaware women’s basketball player Tyi Skinner hit last weekend in one WNIT game earned the freshman guard the top play (s) on ESPN’s SportsCenter. ... Delaware State’s women’s volleyball team has earned a spot in the MEAC Tournament for the first time in 10 years by clinching second place in the MEAC North. ... The Wesley College field hockey program, which has played its final game, finishes with a record of 285-215 under 26-season head coach Tracey Short. ... Three former Delaware football players have signed with new NFL teams: QB Joe Flacco (Eagles), defensive lineman Zach Kerr (49ers) and long-snapper Joe Furtunato (Packers).