There was a time when Delaware was one of the top football programs in Division II college football.
And, for the past few decades, the Blue Hens have had one of the top programs in Division I-AA (FCS).
Now, Delaware is taking another step up.
This summer, BuffZone will preview each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2025 season and in this installment we look at Delaware, which is making the transition to the FBS this fall. After facing rival Delaware State in their opener, the Blue Hens will visit Folsom Field on Sept. 6 in Week 2.
After winning the D-II title in 1979, Delaware jumped to I-AA in 1980 and was routinely in the playoffs, including four times from 2018-23. The Blue Hens reached the I-AA/FCS title game four times, winning the championship in 2003.
Ineligible for the playoffs last year because of the transition to the FBS, Delaware still went 9-2 and will now join Conference USA with hopes of maintaining its winning ways.
“Thanks to our recently opened Whitney Athletic Center and improvements to Delaware Stadium and other facilities, we are confident that we have the infrastructure in place at UD to compete with the very best in college football and simultaneously witness the growth of our other intercollegiate programs in the department,” athletic director Chrissi Rawak said during a press release announcing Delaware’s move on Nov. 28, 2023. “UD Athletics continues to ascend, and Blue Hen football is prepared to take the next step and lead the way.”
C-USA has been the landing spot for recent programs moving up from the FCS. Last year, Kennesaw State went 2-10 in its first FBS season. In 2023, Jacksonville State went 9-4 and Sam Houston 3-9 in their jump from FCS to C-USA. This year, Missouri State joins Delaware in the move from the FCS to C-USA.
How the Blue Hens fare remains to be seen, of course, but they are bringing back several veterans to help head coach Ryan Carty in the transition.
Carty, who has led Delaware to at least eight wins in each of his three seasons, has some experience at quarterback, but it’s unclear who will start.
Senior Zach Marker and junior Nick Minicucci are battling for the job, and it’s possible both will play. Marker, who began his career in junior college, has made six starts in his two years at Delaware and appeared in just four games last year before redshirting. Minicucci has made six starts in his career, five of them last year.
Although three different quarterbacks started last year, Delaware ranked 12th in the FCS in scoring (34.9 points per game) and 11th in total yards (434.9 per game). The Blue Hens were top 30 in both passing and rushing.
Despite losing their top receiver and rusher, the Blue Hens have some talent ready to emerge. Running back Jo’Nathan Silver (462 yards, 4 TD) and receivers Jake Thaw (41 catches), Max Patterson (25 catches) and Ja’Carree Kelly (17 catches) are looking for breakout seasons.
Former CU tight end Caleb Fauria returns to Folsom Field after earning third-team all-conference honors last year with the Blue Hens, who also return three starting linemen.
Defensively, Delaware was 19th in the FCS in points allowed (21.0) and 21st in yards allowed (319.6) in 2024 and was especially stingy against the run, ranking ninth (107.0).
A unique defense with three linemen and three safeties, the Blue Hens return seven starters, including all three safeties; that group is led by KT Seay. Nose tackle Keyshawn Hunter, linebackers Gavin Moul and Dillon Trainer, and defensive end Noah Matthews (a transfer from Kentucky) are key players, as well.
Delaware might be in a good spot to compete in C-USA. A rare trip to the west to face CU won’t be easy for the Blue Hens, but with a winning tradition and several veterans on the roster, they also won’t be an easy out.
Delaware head coach Ryan Carty reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Delaware Blue Hens
Head coach: Ryan Carty, 4th season (26-11)
2024 season: 9-2, 6-2 Coastal Athletic Association
Series with CU: First meeting
Matchup with the Buffs: Saturday, Sept. 6, 1:30 p.m. MT (Fox) at Folsom Field in Boulder
5 Guys to Watch
TE Caleb Fauria: A former Buff who spent four years in Boulder (2020-23), Fauria had a breakout season last year for the Blue Hens. He was third-team All-CAA after making 10 starts and catching 12 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.
QBs Zach Marker and Nick Minicucci: Both started multiple games last year. Marker threw for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions, while Minicucci threw for 825 yards, 10 TDs and three interceptions and is more of a running threat.
LB Gavin Moul: Led the Blue Hens with 71 tackles last year and was second on the team with six tackles for loss. He also had two interceptions and six QB hurries and earned All-CAA honorable mention in his first year as a starter.
S KT Seay: Earned third-team All-CAA last year while posting 38 tackles, four interceptions and two pass breakups. He has started 21 of his 23 games at Delaware, posting 37 tackles and an interception in 2023.
WR Jake Thaw: He was second on the team with 41 receptions for 334 yards and five touchdowns. Thaw was also second-team All-CAA at punt returner (12.0 average on nine returns). He played four seasons (2020-23) at Michigan and was the Wolverines’ primary punt returner during their 2023 national title season.
Good to know
• CU was originally slated to play Houston on Sept. 6, as the start of a home-and-home non-conference set agreed upon in 2018. However, with Houston joining the Big 12 in 2023 and CU joining in 2024, that set was canceled. CU filled the open date with this matchup against Delaware.
• Fauria’s father, Christian, played tight end for CU in the early 1990s and was a third-team All-American and first-team All-Big Eight performer in 1994. A second-round pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, Christian Fauria played 13 years in the NFL.
• Carty played quarterback at Delaware from 2002-06, and was a teammate of current Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco in his last two years. In 2006, Flacco was the starter and Carty was a team captain.
• Since Division I split into subdivisions in 1978, Delaware is 16-19 against FBS teams. It’s most recent games against Power Four teams, however, were a 63-7 loss at Penn State on Sept. 9, 2023, and a 45-13 loss at Rutgers on Sept. 18, 2021.
• This will be the longest road trip for a regular season game in Delaware history. The Blue Hens have played just three games in their history west of Colorado: the 1974 Division II title game in Sacramento; and I-AA/FCS playoff games in Missoula, Mont., in 1993 and 2023.
Portal movement
The Blue Hens had just a few losses to the transfer portal, but a couple of big ones: linebacker Ty Davis (now at Temple) and edge Melkart Abou-Jaoude (North Carolina). Davis was Delaware’s third-leading tackler and Abou-Jaoude the top pass rusher. Delaware was able to add some depth with a few Power Four transfers: receiver Brandon Rehmann (West Virginia), edge Noah Matthews (Kentucky), safeties Kahlil Ali (Boston College) and Thomas Amankwaa (Rutgers), and offensive linemen Noah Rosahac (Syracuse).