By Andy Walter

NEWARK —Anwar O’Neal knew he was going to be relatively underweight last fall.

The former Middletown High standout may stand 6-foot-5. But he only weighed about 260 pounds when he started working out with Delaware’s other offensive linemen.

“Just seeing those guys, and how big and how physical they were, I knew I had to put on weight so I could really compete,” said O’Neal.

But a year and more than 30 pounds later, O’Neal tips the scales at about 292 and believes he’s put himself in position to earn some playing time.

Getting on the field won’t be easy this fall considering the Blue Hens return a number of veterans up front. UD offensive line coach Chris Rogers, though, said he’ll play anybody who’s proven they’re ready to contribute.

Rogers said he likes where the bigger and stronger O’Neal is right now. He knows that adding healthy weight hasn’t always been easy for O’Neal.

“Now he’s got that mass, you can see a difference on the field,” said Rogers. “Anwar’s going to be a star for us.”

Delaware, which opens the season on Aug. 29 by hosting Bryant, has 16 offensive linemen on its roster. That includes veterans like Bradly Anyanwu (Dover), Brock Gingrich, Patrick Shupp, Fintan Brose, Blaise Sparks and Thomas Chernasky.

O’Neal, who played in two games last fall, is going to see if there’s room for him to get on the field as well. He was a second-team All-Class 3A pick as a junior at Middletown.

His bigger physical presence makes him feel almost like a different player going into this season.

“I absolutely definitely notice a difference,” said O’Neal. “I can set down those bull rushes — any move they’ve got coming for me.

“When I was lighter, I was faster. But I wasn’t that strong. So I could sit down those moves but I would still be compressed back. But now I can sit down those moves and I won’t go anywhere.”

The fact that O’Neal now works with the Hens’ regular offensive players all the time makes a difference, too, he said.

“It’s a complete 360 for me,” said O’Neal. “Last year coming in, it was a little rough. I was learning but not as much.

“But now I feel like I can really get out there and do what I’ve got to do and dominate. I know it. I’ve got it down to a ‘T.’ I can do what I need to do.”

Considering this is only his second year in college, O’Neal said he doesn’t know how much bigger he can get.

He said UD’s trainers “play it by eye.” So far, they haven’t seen him lose his agility or speed with the added weight.

“My goal is to just keep rising and see what happens from there,” he said.
With most of Delaware’s veteran linemen in their final year of eligibility, the Hens will probably have to count on the current youngsters to step up next fall.

That’s also happens to be the Hems’ first season in Division I FBS and Conference USA.

O’Neal will likely become one of those leaders. But he said he’s just trying to live in the moment right now.

Clearly, though, O’Neal also knows that physically he’s more prepared to go up against FBS linemen now.

“I feel great about it, honestly,” he said. “Putting on that weight really gave me that confidence. I was already confident in my ability to stop people.

“But now, with the weight, I’m even more confident because I know what I can do.”

Hens counting on Dover grad

Among the veteran offensive linemen, Dover High grad Bradly Anyanwu is one of the Hens’ leaders this fall.

The 6-foot-3, 330-pounder is in his sixth season and has played in 40 games, with 20 starts.

A year ago, Anyanwu started all 11 games for Delaware at right guard.

“Bradly brings a lot of life to the locker room and the meeting room,” said Blaise Sparks, another veteran lineman. “Obviously he’s a great player, too. We definitely all love him in that room.”

“We love Bradly,” agreed Rogers. “Obviously, he’s a star for us. No one knows how to run their feet like Bradly does.

“He’s physical, he’s mean, he’s tough. He’s everything you look to coach in an offensive lineman. It’s just going to be about making sure that he understands where he’s at and getting the younger guys ready to go and being a good leader for them.”