Where do Blue Hens stand as CAA reveals 2023 preseason football poll?
Another football season looms and with it comes an all-too-familiar question.
Can Delaware finally shed its reputation as a competitively mediocre member of its own league?
The CAA may have a new name. But the Coastal — formerly Colonial — Athletic Association’s preseason football coaches’ poll has a rather typical look.
William & Mary, which garnered 13 of the 15 first-place votes, and New Hampshire, the 2022 co-champs, are first and second in the summer assessment (see entire poll below).
Delaware was picked fourth, while receiving one first-place vote, and will pursue a top-five finish with a completely reconstructed defense and a veteran offense led by an unproven quarterback. A slew of transfers and perhaps some incoming freshmen will be counted on to bolster the Blue Hens.
Wide receiver Jourdan Townsend and a pair of transfer specialists — kicker Alex Schmoke and punter Ryan Kost — were Delaware's lone preseason All-CAA picks. Honorable mention choices were the Brose brothers — offensive lineman Fintan and tight end Braden — along with defensive lineman Chase McGowan.
Second-year coach Ryan Carty expressed faith in his team's potential to be a CAA contender Tuesday, saying it's because he knows the people — coaches, players and support staff — involved in that quest.
"I think there's no doubt that we are certainly one of those teams that, you know, can fight and hopefully finish up in that top half," Carty said. " … The coach speak will tell you it's one day at a time and, with the amount of people that we lost that were productive and experienced, we obviously have a long way to go here in July and August.
"But the way that we've been competing, the way that we've been preparing, I do believe we're gonna go out there and fight and put a good product on the field."
The Hens start practice Monday in preparation for a season that begins Aug. 31 at CAA rival Stony Brook, which was 14th in the poll.
CAA football is now busting at the seams with 15 teams, as all-sports league members Campbell and North Carolina A&T join the fray.
As a result, CAA schools will see barely half their league rivals while playing eight-game conference schedules. The league has not split into divisions.
In addition to Stony Brook, Delaware has CAA encounters with New Hampshire (home, Sept. 23); North Carolina A&T (home, Oct. 14); Hampton (away, Oct. 21); Towson (away, Oct. 28); Elon (home, Nov. 4); Campbell (away, Nov. 11); and Villanova (home, Nov. 18).
Those teams went a collective 29-29 in league games last year, with North Carolina A&T and Campbell playing in the Big South. That means Delaware’s CAA schedule isn’t particularly sinister, which enhances its chances to compete for a high finish.
Despite its vaunted football history, large fan following, top-notch facilities and strong financial support from the university, Delaware has languished often in the league during the past dozen years.
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In 2010, Delaware shared the CAA title with William & Mary with a 6-2 mark and reached the NCAA title game. Since then, the Blue Hens are 44-48 in CAA games with just one league title. That was while going 4-0 during the abbreviated 2021 spring season, which replaced the COVID-postponed 2020 schedule and did not have a full complement of league teams.
Beyond that, Delaware has never finished better than 5-3 in CAA games during the last 11 autumns, doing that in 2011, 2017 and 2018. Its highest finish was a third-place tie in 2018.
Last season was no exception, after Delaware began the season with a stunning 14-7 win at FBS Navy. But Delaware tied for sixth place while going 4-4 in CAA games, lowlighted by a 27-7 drubbing at Elon, a failure to finish off Richmond in a 21-13 home defeat and continued disappointment against Villanova in a 29-26 setback.
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Delaware still squeaked into the FCS playoffs for just the third time in 12 years, one of five CAA qualifiers along with William & Mary, New Hampshire, Richmond and Elon. Only William & Mary got as far as the quarterfinals.
The Hens drubbed Saint Francis 56-17 in the first round before finding out how far they remain from NCAA title contention in a 42-6 loss at eventual champ South Dakota State. Delaware ended up 8-5 overall, its most wins since 2010.
Delaware will try to improve upon that with a roster loaded with question marks. McGowan and safety Nic Ware are the only returning defensive starters from the season-ending playoff loss. On offense, returnee Ryan O'Connor and JUCO transfer Zach Marker vie to replace four-year starter Nolan Henderson at quarterback while benefitting from proven teammates on the offensive line, backfield and receiver corps.
Whether or not that all makes the Blue Hens CAA contenders and an FCS Top 25 team remains to be seen.
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CAA football preseason poll
William & Mary
2. New Hampshire
3. Richmond
4. Delaware
5. Elon
6. Rhode Island
7. Villanova
8. Monmouth
9. Towson
10. North Carolina A&T
11. Albany
12. Campbell
13. Maine
14. Stony Brook
15. Hampton
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: Delaware Blue Hens appear in preseason CAA football poll
