By Andy Walter

NEWARK — Ryan O’Connor is Delaware’s most experienced quarterback.

But he knows he’s not the Blue Hens’ only current QB who’s proven he’s capable of starting and winning a game.

And that’s fine with him.

“It’s just good to have a competitive quarterback room,” said O’Connor. “I know they’re working to be better and that’s pushing me to be better. If I’m not doing that then I’m going to be left behind.”

Certainly a great deal has changed for Delaware’s quarterback room in the past year.

When the season started last fall, O’Connor was the only Blue Hen QB who had taken a snap in a game. Now, in spring practice, the Hens have four experienced quarterbacks, including three who have started and posted victories.

After O’Connor, Delaware has Zach Marker — who’s still recovering from knee surgery — Nick Minicucci and Daniel Lipovski. In part due to injuries, O’Connor, Marker and Minicucci all started games last fall.

Obviously, Delaware coach Ryan Carty is happy to have experienced depth at the position.

“It makes it less scary and a little less stressful,” Carty joked. “It’s always the most important position on the field. ... It’s the one.

“The more people we have that are proven to be capable football players in football games — which is the hard part — the better. I’d say we have four people who can go in and win a football game for us.”

Of course, it’s not only having plenty of insurance policies in case of injury but the competition for playing time that should make the Hens better at quarterback.

Carty wants his QBs to embrace the challenge.

“It will certainly do one of two things,” said Carty. “It will raise the level of everybody or you’ll be able to see who really can’t handle that type of pressure. You’re going to see it pretty quickly when you compete really hard and you have a bunch of talent.

“You’re going to find the guys who want that — that eat that up. And that’s usually who are going to do well in the game, too. ... If that pressure’s on, it’s going to be even harder when the fans are out there and the lights are on.”

Nick Minicucci won an FCS playoff game for Delaware last fall as a freshman quarterback. Delaware Athletics photo/Donna McBride

O’Connor is still the clear front-runner to be the starter at this point, although Marker was impressive last fall when he was healthy.

Right now, Marker is ahead of schedule in his injury rehab. Carty said the former junior-college transfer from Iowa might even return in time for preseason camp in August — although there won’t be a rush to get him back before he’s ready.

O’Connor, who has had to deal with injuries, too, said he’s gotten bigger and stronger, putting on 10-15 pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame.

More than anything, though, he said he’s been working on the mental part of playing quarterback.

O’Connor said he wants to be quicker at reading the defense, both right before the snap and just after it.

“I feel sometimes I was hanging on things last year when I didn’t need to be — when I knew they wouldn’t be open,” he said. “I’m looking at it just to go through my progressions when really I can be like, ‘All right, I know this isn’t going to be open pre-snap. Let me read this.’

“That’s probably the biggest thing. I feel like I’ve definitely grown in that area — I think we all have in the quarterback room.”

In his two seasons, O’Connor has completed 56 percent of his passes for 2,274 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 14 games.

Blue Hen coach Ryan Carty likes having plenty of competition at quarterback. Delaware Athletics photo/Donna McBride

“Guys who can scare people getting off the bus at quarterback,” he said.
Carty said he likes the development from O’Connor during spring practice. Delaware’s spring game is slated for April 19 at 7 p.m.

“He’s one of those student-athletes who just really loves getting better, getting coached and doing his best to work on it the next time he’s out there,” Carty said about O’Connor. “You can see it. It comes through on the film.”

And if he’s got to be continually earning playing time at the Hens’ crowded quarterback spot, O’Connor says that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

“It’s awesome because you never want to stay the same,” he said. “You’re either getting worse or better. There’s always something.

“I can just see the growth and that’s definitely in part to having a competitive room. ... It’s awesome, it’s great to have. We wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Delaware’s tight ends, including Dover’s Elijah Sessoms (88) and Sussex Central’s Alton Dennis (40), meet after a practice in Delaware Stadium. …

Downstate tight ends

Dover High grad Elijah Sessoms continues to solidify his position now that he’s a veteran tight end for the Hens.

“I think Elijah’s been doing really well,” said Carty. “He’s kind of taken the next step in becoming a more complete tight end. He’s a great person, a great teammate and knows it all.”

Sessoms has been joined by another former Henlopen Conference standout, Alton Dennis, from Sussex Central at tight end. The senior had previously played linebacker for Delaware.

“He’s picked it up very well,” said Carty. “He’s out there giving us reps and getting better each day. We’re really thankful to have him on the team in that role.”

Extra points

•The Hens have lost former starting running back Kyron Cumby to the transfer portal. The grad student, who also spent time at Texas Tech and Illinois, ran for 1,019 yards with seven touchdowns while adding 24 receptions for 179 yards.

•Delaware also has freshman Demarcus Creecy at QB after he transferred from the U.S. West Point Prep. The Hens had recruited the Florida native coming out of high school.

•Former Blue Hen center Gino Gradkowski, who spent six seasons in the NFL, is the offensive line coach for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.

• UD had six players named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society: Chandler Harvin, Ethan Saunders, Jackson Taylor, Dillon Trainer, Alex Villas and Kym Wimberly.