Athlon Sports Ranks Blue Hens 13th in Preseason FCS Poll

University of Delaware’s football team turnaround under now second year head coach Danny Rocco is getting the national media to believe in the Hens as a national contender.

The Hens were ranked 13th by Athlon Sports in their Preseason FCS Poll and some of the reasons the site believes the Hens can contend for a FCS Championship are the team’s defense and coach Danny Rocco.

Here’s what Athlon wrote about the Hens:

 “Mired in a playoff drought since 2010, the Blue Hens’ tradition-rich program is anxious for a return following its three-game improvement in head coach Danny Rocco’s first season. The defense can get it done as it features linebackers Troy Reeder and Charles Bell and safety Nasir Adderley. But the offense remains under the microscope, although returning quarterback J.P. Caruso was 4-2 as a starter.”

Rocco in his first year as Delaware football’s head coach led the team to a 7-4 record which was a three game improvement from the 2016 season.

Hens will have a lot familiar faces back for the 2018 season as 18 starters from last year are returning this year.