The 2015 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by third-year head coach Dave Brock, the Fightin' Blue Hens compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing in a four-way tie for seventh in the CAA. The team played home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

Schedule

Coaching staff Name Position Year Alma mater Dave Brock Head coach 2013 Salisbury (1994) Sean Devine Offensive coordinator/offensive line 2013 Colby (1994) Tim Weaver Co-defensive coordinator/linebackers 2013 Davidson (1990) Dennis Dottin-Carter Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line 2013 Maine (2002) Brian Ginn Quarterbacks 2000 Delaware (2000) Bryan Bossard Wide receivers 2014 Delaware (1988) Tony Lucas Running backs 2013 Columbia (2003) Eddie Allen Special teams coordinator/tight ends 2014 New Haven (2003) Henry Baker Cornerbacks 2011 Maryland (2003) Tom McEntire Safeties 2013 Thiel (2006) Jerry Oravitz Associate Director of Athletics for Football Administration 1997 Salisbury (1984) David Baylor Player Development 2006 Bentley (1997) Jude Moser Administrative Assistant

Preseason Recruiting class Delaware announced signing a class of 22 incoming freshmen on February 4, 2015.

Game summaries Jacksonville

Passing leaders: Kade Bell (JU): 25–43, 269 yd., 1 TD, 1 INT; Blake Rankin (UD): 6–10, 60 yd. Rushing leaders: Wes Hills (UD): 16 car., 88 yd.; Kade Bell (JU): 8 car., 28 yd. Receiving leaders: Andy Jones (JU): 9 rec., 118 yd., 1 TD; Diante Cherry (UD): 5 rec., 68 yd. Jacksonville Statistic Delaware 17 First downs 14 5–16 3rd Down 6–15 1–1 4th Down 0–0 339 Total yards 297 269 Passing 134 25–43 Comp–Att 10–20 5.8 Avg. 6.1 1 Interceptions 0 70 Rushing 163 26 Attempts 42 2.7 Avg. 3.9 12–90 Penalties 6–41 1 Turnovers 2 0 Fumbles 2 28:34 T.O.P. 31:26

Lafayette

Passing leaders: Blake Searfoss (LC): 13–24, 171 yds., 1 INT; Joe Walker (UD): 4–15, 58 yds. Rushing Leaders: Kareem Williams (UD): 14 car., 93 yds.; DeSean Brown (LC): 17 car. 84 yds. Receiving Leaders: Matt Mrazek (LC): 3 rec., 68 yds.; Ryley Angeline (UD): 1 rec., 41 yds. Lafayette Statistic Delaware 15 First downs 15 5–16 3rd Down 6–16 0–0 4th Down 0–1 270 Total yards 315 215 Passing 58 18–33 Comp–Att 4–15 6.5 Avg. 3.9 1 Interceptions 0 55 Rushing 257 31 Attempts 53 1.8 Avg. 4.8 2–20 Penalties 4–23 1 Turnovers 0 0 Fumbles 0 25:31 T.O.P. 34:29

Villanova

Villanova ended their 2014 season with an NCAA Quarterfinal loss to Sam Houston State. Passing leaders: John Robertson (VU): 14–24, 208 yds., 1 TD; Joe Walker (UD): 13–28, 94 yds., 1 INT Rushing Leaders: Jalen Randolph (UD): 14 car., 84 yds., 1 TD; Gary Underwood (VU): 9 car. 34 yds. Receiving Leaders: Kevin Gulyas (VU): 8 rec., 152 yds., 1 TD; Diante Cherry (UD): 8 rec., 78 yds. Delaware Statistic Villanova 21 First downs 18 9–20 3rd Down 5–14 2–3 4th Down 4–4 299 Total yards 355 94 Passing 265 13–30 Comp–Att 18–30 3.1 Avg. 8.8 1 Interceptions 0 205 Rushing 90 51 Attempts 28 4.0 Avg. 3.2 4–37 Penalties 8–70 1 Turnovers 1 0 Fumbles 1 35:31 T.O.P. 24:29

North Carolina

North Carolina ended their 2014 season with a loss in the Quick Lane Bowl to Rutgers. This was the first Delaware football game in the state of North Carolina. Passing leaders: Mitch Trubisky (UNC): 17–20, 312 yds., 4 TD; Joe Walker (UD): 4–10, 24 yds., 1 INT Rushing Leaders: Thomas Jefferson (UD): 22 car., 163 yds., 2 TD; Elijah Hood (UNC): 14 car. 61 yds. Receiving Leaders: Mack Hollins (UNC): 3 rec., 100 yds., 2 TD; Tre Brown (UD): 1 rec., 9 yds. Thomas Jefferson was named CAA Rookie of the Week Delaware Statistic North Carolina 15 First downs 29 2–11 3rd Down 10–13 2–3 4th Down 0–0 303 Total yards 568 24 Passing 377 4–10 Comp–Att 23–33 2.4 Avg. 11.1 1 Interceptions 0 279 Rushing 191 49 Attempts 35 5.7 Avg. 5.5 5–60 Penalties 2–20 1 Turnovers 1 0 Fumbles 1 34:18 T.O.P. 25:42

William & Mary

Passing leaders: Steve Cluley (W&M): 8–20, 168 yds., 1 TD; Joe Walker (UD): 6–17, 71 yds., 1 TD Rushing Leaders: Thomas Jefferson (UD): 28 car., 174 yds.; Kendall Anderson (W&M): 23 car. 101 yds. Receiving Leaders: DeVonte Dedmond (W&M): 1 rec., 57 yds., 1 TD; Jamie Jarmon (UD): 7 rec., 56 yds. Thomas Jefferson was named CAA Rookie of the Week William & Mary Statistic Delaware 14 First downs 26 2–9 3rd Down 10–17 0–0 4th Down 0–2 290 Total yards 418 168 Passing 71 8–20 Comp–Att 9–17 8.4 Avg. 4.2 0 Interceptions 0 122 Rushing 347 28 Attempts 65 4.4 Avg. 5.3 2–20 Penalties 5–46 1 Turnovers 0 1 Fumbles 0 18:48 T.O.P. 41:12

Rhode Island

Passing leaders: Paul Mroz (URI): 9–22, 90 yds.; Joe Walker (UD): 9–22, 71 yds., 3 INT Rushing Leaders: Harold Cooper (URI): 28 car., 123 yds., 1 TD; Joe Walker (UD): 13 car. 76 yds. Receiving Leaders: Khayri Denny (URI): 3 rec., 34 yds.; Que'Shawn Jenkins (UD): 1 rec., 28 yds. Delaware Statistic Rhode Island 14 First downs 16 3–14 3rd Down 4–17 0–2 4th Down 1–2 283 Total yards 239 78 Passing 90 9–23 Comp–Att 9–22 3.2 Avg. 3.8 3 Interceptions 0 205 Rushing 149 41 Attempts 45 5.0 Avg. 3.3 9–120 Penalties 4–24 3 Turnovers 0 0 Fumbles 0 29:44 T.O.P. 30:16

New Hampshire

New Hampshire ended their 2014 season with a CAA championship and an NCAA Semifinal loss to Illinois State. Passing leaders: Sean Goldrich (UNH): 18–33, 129 yds., 1 TD, 1 INT; Joe Walker (UD): 7–11, 71 yds. Rushing Leaders: Kareem Williams (UD): 16 car., 140 yds., 1 TD; Dalton Crossan (UNH): 10 car., 24 yds. Receiving Leaders: Thomas Jefferson (UD): 2 rec., 41 yds.; Kyon Taylor (UNH): 3 rec., 35 yds. Thomas Jefferson was named CAA Rookie of the Week New Hampshire Statistic Delaware 9 First downs 17 3–15 3rd Down 10–18 4–5 4th Down 0–0 183 Total yards 355 133 Passing 71 19–24 Comp–Att 7–11 3.8 Avg. 5.5 1 Interceptions 0 50 Rushing 284 22 Attempts 55 2.3 Avg. 5.2 4–30 Penalties 5–37 2 Turnovers 0 1 Fumbles 0 22:19 T.O.P. 37:41

Towson

Passing leaders: Connor Frazier (TU): 25–34, 284 yds., 2 INT; Joe Walker (UD): 3–9, 14 yds., 1 INT Rushing Leaders: Marquel Dickerson (TU): 20 car., 120 yds.; Kareem Williams (UD): 13 car., 46 yds. Receiving Leaders: Christian Summers (TU): 8 rec., 133 yds.; Diante Cherry (UD): 2 rec., 9 yds. Delaware Statistic Towson 6 First downs 25 4–11 3rd Down 7–14 0–1 4th Down 1–1 102 Total yards 410 14 Passing 284 3–9 Comp–Att 25–34 1.6 Avg. 8.4 1 Interceptions 2 88 Rushing 126 31 Attempts 41 2.8 Avg. 3.1 4–30 Penalties 6–35 2 Turnovers 2 1 Fumbles 0 21:56 T.O.P. 38:04

Albany

Passing leaders: Joe Walker (UD): 7–10, 52 yds.; DJ Crook (UA): 4–11, 27 yds., 1 TD Rushing Leaders: Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks (UA): 28 car., 135 yds.; Thomas Jefferson (UD): 10 car., 57 yds. Receiving Leaders: Diante Cherry (UD): 4 rec., 44 yds.; Zee Robinson (UA): 1 rec., 13 yds. Albany Statistic Delaware 13 First downs 13 2–14 3rd Down 4–14 2–4 4th Down 0–1 289 Total yards 224 27 Passing 103 4–15 Comp–Att 12–19 1.8 Avg. 5.4 0 Interceptions 0 262 Rushing 121 50 Attempts 41 5.2 Avg. 3.0 4–20 Penalties 3–27 0 Turnovers 3 0 Fumbles 3 31:49 T.O.P. 28:11

James Madison

James Madison ended their 2014 season with an NCAA First Round loss to Liberty. Passing leaders: Brian Schor (JMU): 18–32, 193 yds., 1 TD; Joe Walker (UD): 3–11, 22 yds. Rushing Leaders: Thomas Jefferson (UD): 28 car., 120 yds.; Cardon Johnson (JMU): 14 car., 98 yds., 1 TD Receiving Leaders: Rashard Davis (JMU): 5 rec., 73 yds.; Dionte Cherry (UD): 3 rec., 22 yds. James Madison Statistic Delaware 24 First downs 18 7–16 3rd Down 8–15 0–1 4th Down 1–1 388 Total yards 317 193 Passing 22 18–32 Comp–Att 3–11 6.5 Avg. 2.6 0 Interceptions 0 295 Rushing 195 43 Attempts 58 4.5 Avg. 5.1 2–10 Penalties 3–25 1 Turnovers 3 1 Fumbles 3 21:10 T.O.P. 38:50

Elon

Passing leaders: Connor Christiansen (ELON): 20–34, 243 yds., 1 TD, 1 INT; Joe Walker (UD): 9–17, 77 yds. Rushing Leaders: Kareem Williams (UD): 18 car., 101 yds., 1 TD; Malcolm Summers (ELON): 12 car., 34 yds. Receiving Leaders: Tereak McCray (ELON): 4 rec., 42 yds., 1 TD; Dionte Cherry (UD): 4 rec., 40 yds. Delaware Statistic Elon 12 First downs 17 7–17 3rd Down 4–12 0–1 4th Down 0–2 238 Total yards 290 77 Passing 241 9–17 Comp–Att 21–39 4.5 Avg. 6.2 0 Interceptions 2 161 Rushing 49 46 Attempts 22 3.5 Avg. 2.2 7–45 Penalties 7–60 0 Turnovers 3 0 Fumbles 1 33:05 T.O.P. 26:55

Season statistics As of November 7, 2015: Passing leader: Joe Walker: 58–130, 506 yds., 1 TD, 6 INT (AVG: 6.4–14.4, 56.2 yds., 0.1 TD, 0.7 INT, 3.9 YPA) Rushing Leader: Thomas Jefferson: 133 car., 715 yds., 6 TD (AVG: 14.8 car., 79.4 yds., 0.7 TD, 5.4 YPC) Receiving Leader: Diante Cherry: 23 rec., 232 yds. (AVG: 3.2 rec., 33.1 yds., 10.1 YPR) Delaware Statistic (Per Game Avg.) Opponents 141 (15.7) First downs 156 (17.3) 54–136 (6.0–15.1) 3rd Down 43–128 (4.7–14.2) 4–13 (0.4–1.4) 4th Down 13–17 (1.4–1.9) 2,596 (288.4) Total yards 2,943 (327.0) 639 (71.0) Passing 1,828 (203.1) 70–153 (7.8–17.0) Comp–Att 149–264 (16.6–29.3) 4.2 Avg. 6.9 6 (0.7) Interceptions 5 (0.6) 1,957 (217.4) Rushing 1,115 (123.9) 429 (47.7) Attempts 306 (34.0) 4.6 Avg. 3.6 45–421 (5.0–46.8) Penalties 44–329 (4.9–36.6) 13 (1.4) Turnovers 11 (1.2) 7 (0.8) Fumbles 6 (0.7) 294:27 (32:43) T.O.P. 245:33 (27:17)

References