Salesianum grad returns to Delaware after junior college stint to bolster Blue Hens

James Yelbert Jr. has found his way back home to play college football and is poised to become a major contributor on the University of Delaware defense.

But the Wilmington resident and Salesianum school graduate needed to leave the First State to earn that opportunity.

That two-year junior-college venture has made Yelbert far more ready, from both football and academic standpoints, to seize the chance that now greets him.

The Blue Hens opened preseason camp this week without the experience and know-how that made the Blue Hens’ defense among the best at the NCAA FCS level the past three seasons.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Yelbert is among those whose capabilities boost Delaware’s rebuilding efforts.

“His ability to potentially grow even more from a physicality standpoint and put weight on and put muscle on is really going to give us a chance to play with a defensive end like some of the bigger BCS schools have,” Delaware defensive coordinator Manny Rojas said Wednesday.

Yelbert now must hone his skills and learn the nuances of what is typically a 3-man front for Delaware.

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After spending a year each in the Hutchinson (Kansas) and Iowa Central community college programs, each loaded with Division I prospects, Yelbert feels he’s put down the right foundation.

He red-shirted in Kansas and got some playing time in Iowa. Yelbert has three years of eligibility at Delaware.

“I had to get away from home,” he said. “I had to get away from, you know, the same thing. Delaware is a small state so I had to get away from being in the middle of everything, breaking habits, and it took going away to go through that struggle.

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“It wasn't easy. I expected to go to junior college and play right away. It didn't happen that way. It really gave me time to focus on what was really the most important to me.”

Delaware gave Yelbert cursory recruiting interest when he was at Salesianum, where he also starred in basketball. His potential was evident though, as FBS schools Indiana and Central Michigan plus the FCS likes of Delaware State and several of Delaware’s CAA rivals offered scholarships.

But his schoolwork wasn't up to snuff then. Yelbert needed to “get it right the second time,” he said, by improving his academic standing, so junior college was the proper path.

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He still had another year of eligibility at Iowa Central and likely could have made himself a more sought-after prospect this fall had he returned. But Delaware and Utah State came calling this spring and the choice was easy.

Delaware, he said, was “where I could maximize my potential the most. I felt like with this new environment at Delaware, it was a better fit for me. And I want to say my relationship with the coaches was already a lot better than anybody I had met in Utah, and Utah is really far away. I’m a Delaware guy through and through so I just felt like it was time for me to come home.”

On its defensive front, Delaware returns All-CAA pick Chase McGowan and Jack Hall, who is poised to earn more snaps after battling injuries and being behind more experienced players the last few years. In nose man Keyshawn Hunter, Delaware has someone who could be one of its most impactful transfers after his move from Old Dominion.

Delaware has long relied on a steady rotation of many defensive linemen. It will need the likes of Yelbert, another JUCO transfer DaMarcus Thompson, Wagner transfer Nick Karika, plus returnees Ethan Saunders, Dominick Brogna, Melkart Abou-Jaoude and others to man those roles.

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“His potential is through the roof,” defensive line coach Sam Daniels said of Yelbert. “He can really do everything. Smart kid, retains information. We just gotta make sure we get him enough reps and we’ll just see where it goes.”

That will come from Yelbert making the best use of his size by become even bigger – 265 pounds, he hopes -- stronger, more flexible, quicker and more knowledgeable.

Rojas said he did a room check one night at the dormitory in which players are staying during preseason camp and Yelbert “doesn’t fit into the beds,” he said.

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Yelbert was teammates with Delaware quarterback Zach Marker at Iowa Central last year. On the defensive side, he benefited most, he said, from having many older players to learn from on a deep roster, high-level coaching and competitive demands.

It required a serious, diligent approach. He expects that will help his transition to earning a role with the Blue Hens.

Yelbert is a product of Saint Mary Magdalen in New Castle County’s Catholic Youth Ministries sports program and had long strived to play college football. He’ll do so close to those roots.

“I kinda realized I missed home a lot,” Yelbert said, “and Delaware had a coaching change [after the 2021 season], a new coaching staff came in, and I felt like I really wanted to be a part of a new system. I decided it was the best thing for me to come back home and maximize my potential here.”

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: Salesianum grad James Yelbert home to play Delaware Blue Hens football