Meet the homegrown athletes playing for Delaware football, including this starting guard

In his fifth year as part of the University of Delaware’s offensive line and a starting guard, Bradly Anyanwu feels a measure of comfort.

Now he’s poised to dish out some discomfort while protecting quarterbacks and blocking for ball-carriers when the season opens Aug. 31 at Stony Brook.

Anyanwu, a Dover High graduate, heads the list of in-state players expected to be key contributors for the Blue Hens in 2023.

The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Anyanwu has played in 29 games the last three seasons with a pair of starts in the spring of 2021 and seven more last fall. He’s part of an experienced UD offensive front that expects to be better in its second year in coach Ryan Carty’s up-tempo spread offense.

“Bradly’s extremely physical, extremely athletic,” said offensive line coach Chris Rogers, who came with Carty from Sam Houston after the 2021 fall season.

“I think the number-one thing we had to do with Bradly is we just had to calm him down. Let him understand, you’re big enough, you’re strong enough, you’re fast enough. You can’t be jumpy. You can’t be leaning on people. You just gotta trust your athleticism and he’s got as much or more than as any person I’ve coached.”

Anyanwu has now embraced that message.

“I was a little tight, trying not to mess up,” Anywanwu said of learning a new offense and working with new coaches last year. “Now I’m more comfortable. I’m just popping and playing, playing faster because I have a better understanding of the playbook.

“From year one to year two is definitely a drastic difference for not only me but the rest of the O line, even the skill players.”

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Anyanwu has been staring at right guard throughout preseason camp, usually flanked by tackle Fintan Brose on his right and center Brock Gingrich on his left. Left guard Patrick Shupp and left tackle Blaise Sparks complete the unit.

Delaware’s offense requires its linemen to be rather nimble, especially a guard such as Anywanwu who will sometimes pull and get out in the open field.

“It definitely helps,” he said, “especially in this offense, being more agile, being more fluid.”

Only two CAA teams gave up more than Delaware’s 29 sacks last year, despite having a mobile quarterback in Nolan Henderson. That’s an area where the offensive line will seek improvement.

But the Blue Hens were fourth in the CAA in total offense (408.8 yards per game), though their red-zone execution was sometimes flawed, and will aim to be even more prolific in 2023. Anyanwu will take part in that effort buoyed by the additional motivation of playing for his home-state university.”

“It means a lot,” he said. “Coming from Dover High to here is a big jump obviously. FCS football is no joke. I take a lot of pride in knowing there’s not a lot of us from the high schools in Delaware that come to UD.”

The other top Blue Hens out of First State high schools in 2023:

James Collins (WR, Mount Pleasant)

Collins has been a versatile and valuable receiver for Delaware the past two seasons and is poised to continue in that role. He has 21 career catches for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns and will also likely run the football a few times and maybe even throw it, as he had a 40-yard completion last year.

“He can play inside and outside,” wide receivers coach Terrence Archer said. “Does a good job on special teams and he’s had a really nice camp. He’s another guy who has good speed, which we like on the outside. Smart guy, knows the system well, so we expect more from James this year.”

Jared Duncan (DB, Tatnall)

The fifth-year defensive back appeared in one game in 2021, nine last year and could prove to be an even more valuable part of the rebuilt UD secondary this year. Duncan, whose dad Jamie starred at Christiana and reached the NFL, has mainly played safety during his Hens career but has lined up at cornerback during spring and now preseason practices.

He delivered some hard hits in the Blue-White intrasquad spring game in April that made an impression on both coaches and teammates.

“He’s got a lot of talent,” Delaware coach Ryan Carty said of Duncan in April. “I think for Jared it was about putting it all together. Not just being talented or hard working. Can we be both? He’s always got great energy.”

T.J. Thomas (OL, Delaware Military Academy)

Thomas is in his second season at Delaware after transferring from Georgetown, where he was a freshman and sophomore starter before being sidelined by injuries. He appeared in six games last season and has been running with the No. 2 offensive line at guard in camp, providing important depth and experience.

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Makhi Jackson (WR, Smyrna)

A fourth-year Blue Hen, Jackson had his first career catch, for 37 yards, in last year’s FCS playoff win over Saint Francis. Only Delaware’s depth and talent at the position prevent him from seeing the field more.

“Makhi, I would say, is probably the most improved guy in my room since I got here,” Archer said. “He has done an outstanding job of just showing up every day and getting better and getting better. And now he’s in a situation where we’re hoping he gets on the field more for us this year. He’s put himself in a position where he’s getting a lot more reps and when he’s getting reps he’s doing well.”

Elijah Sessoms (TE, Dover)

Sessoms red-shirted as a freshman last year but is poised to perhaps earn some playing time this fall.

There was little opportunity for him last season when Delaware had nine tight ends. But he quickly took advantage of the opportunities spring practice provided.

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“Kudos to that kid because he took as many mental reps as he could [in 2022], because when he got in spring there weren’t a lot of mental busts and he’s kinda continued that trend into fall camp,” tight ends coach Garrett Smith said.

“ . . . He’s been picking up the offense at a very high level. He’s a very, very physical player in the run game and he’s also got big strong hands and understands how to use that big body in the pass game as well.”

James Yelbert (DL, Salesianum)

Yelbert returned home after two JUCO years and is poised to perhaps be an important part of Delaware’s rotation on the defensive front, which demands depth.

“His length is great,” defensive coordinator Manny Rojas said of the 6-5, 255-pound Yelbert. “His ability to bend and sink and do some of the things that we need him to do . . . he can do all those things.”

Anwar O’Neal (OL, Middletown)

O’Neal was an FBS recruit who preferred to stay home at Delaware. He has quickly demonstrated he could be a key player in the future. O’Neal has seen time with the No. 2 offensive line in preseason at guard and tackle.

Have an idea for a compelling local sports story or is there an issue that needs public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Bradly Anyanwu among Delaware products set to boost Blue Hens football