2025 Delaware State Hornets football team

Last updated

2025 Delaware State Hornets football
Delaware State Hornets wordmark.svg
Conference Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Record1–1 (0–0 MEAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorNyema Washington (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorBrandon Blackmon (1st season)
Home stadium Alumni Stadium
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Delaware State  0 0   1 1  
Howard  0 0   1 1  
Norfolk State  0 0   1 1  
South Carolina State  0 0   1 1  
North Carolina Central  0 0   1 2  
Morgan State  0 0   0 2  
As of September 7, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Delaware State Hornets football team will represent Delaware State University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Hornets are expected to be coached by first-year head coach DeSean Jackson [1] and play at Alumni Stadium in Dover, Delaware.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 287:00 p.m.at Delaware * ESPN+ L 17–3517,895
September 61:00 p.m. Albany *ESPN+W 37–324,506
September 133:00 p.m. Bowie State *
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Dover, DE
ESPN+
September 20at Saint Francis *NEC Front Row
September 27at Sacred Heart *ESPN+
October 41:00 p.m.at Monmouth * FloSports
October 1112:00 p.m. Southern Connecticut *Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Dover, DE
ESPN+
October 251:00 p.m.at North Carolina Central ESPN+
October 307:00 p.m.vs. Norfolk State ESPNU
November 8at Morgan State ESPN+
November 151:00 p.m. Howard
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Dover, DE
ESPN+
November 221:00 p.m. South Carolina State
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Dover, DE
ESPN Network
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • All times are in Eastern time

[2]

Game summaries

at Delaware (FBS, Route 1 Rivalry)

Game One – Delaware State Hornets (0–0) at Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (FBS) (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Hornets037717
Fightin' Blue Hens (FBS)01471435

at Delaware StadiumNewark, Delaware

  • Date: August 28
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 76 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 17,895
  • Referee: Rory Bernard
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Scott Klatzkin (play-by-play) and Fritz Stueber (analyst)
Game information
First quarter

No scoring plays.

Second quarter
  • DSU – Patrick Fisher-Butler 40-yard field goal, 6:46. Hornets 3–0. Drive: 13 plays, 50 yards, 6:12.
  • DEL – Nick Minicucci 8-yard run (Nate Reed kick), 3:44. Blue Hens 7–3. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:02.
  • DEL – Kyre Duplessis 4-yard pass from Nick Minicucci (Nate Reed kick), 0:33. Blue Hens 14–3. Drive: 11 plays, 77 yards, 2:07.
Third quarter
  • DSU – Kaiden Bennett 23-yard run (Patrick Fisher-Butler kick), 10:29. Blue Hens 14–10. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:31.
  • DEL – Ja'Carree Kelly 9-yard pass from Nick Minicucci (Nate Reed kick), 7:15. Blue Hens 21–10. Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 3:01.
Fourth quarter
  • DEL – Kahlil Ali 45-yard interception return (Nate Reed kick), 10:44. Blue Hens 28–10.
  • DSU – Marquis Gillis 39-yard pass from Kaiden Bennett (Patrick Fisher-Butler kick), 8:10. Blue Hens 28–17. Drive: 6 plays, 76 yards, 2:25.
  • DEL – Jake Thaw 50-yard pass from Nick Minicucci (Nate Reed kick), 6:15. Blue Hens 35–17. Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 1:55.
StatisticsDSUDEL
First downs2126
Total yards349409
Rushing yards200137
Passing yards149272
Passing: Comp–Att–Int13–26–231–44–0
Time of possession31:5328:07
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Delaware StatePassingKaiden Bennett11/23, 135 yards, TD, INT
RushingMarquis Gillis17 carries, 123 yards
ReceivingMarquis Gillis3 receptions, 46 yards, TD
DelawarePassingNick Minicucci28/36, 251 yards, 3 TD
RushingNick Minicucci9 carries, 44 yards, TD
ReceivingJake Thaw7 receptions, 92 yards, TD

Albany

Albany Great Danes (0-1) vs. Delaware State Hornets (0-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Great Danes----0
Hornets----0

at Alumni StadiumDover, DE

  • Date: September 6
StatisticsALBDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AlbanyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Bowie State (DII)

Bowie State Bulldogs (DII) (0-0) vs. Delaware State Hornets (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs (DII)----0
Hornets----0

at Alumni Stadium • Dover, DE

  • Date: September 13
StatisticsBOWDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Bowie StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Saint Francis (PA)

Delaware State Hornets (0-0) vs. Saint Francis Red Flash (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Hornets----0
Red Flash----0

at DeGol FieldLoretto, PA

  • Date: September 20
StatisticsDSUSFPA
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Saint Francis (PA)Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Sacred Heart

Delaware State Hornets (0-0) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Hornets----0
Pioneers----0

at Campus FieldFairfield, CT

  • Date: September 27
StatisticsDSUSHU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacred HeartPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Monmouth

Delaware State Hornets (0-0) vs. Monmouth Hawks (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Hornets----0
Hawks----0

at Kessler StadiumWest Long Branch, NJ

  • Date: September 20
StatisticsDSUMONM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
MonmouthPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Southern Connecticut (DII)

Southern Connecticut Owls (DII) (0-0) vs. Delaware State Hornets (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Owls (DII)----0
Hornets----0

at Alumni Stadium • Dover, DE

  • Date: October 11
StatisticsSCSUDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Southern ConnecticutPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at North Carolina Central

Delaware State Hornets (0-0) vs. North Carolina Central Eagles (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Hornets----0
Eagles----0

at O'Kelly–Riddick StadiumDurham, NC

  • Date: October 25
StatisticsDSUNCCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
North Carolina CentralPassing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Norfolk State

Norfolk State Spartans (0-0) vs. Delaware State Hornets (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Spartans----0
Hornets----0

at Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA

  • Date: October 30
  • Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
  • TV: ESPNU
StatisticsNORFDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Norfolk StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Morgan State

Delaware State Hornets (0-0) vs. Morgan State Bears (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Hornets----0
Bears----0

at Hughes StadiumBaltimore, MD

  • Date: November 7
StatisticsDSUMORG
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Morgan StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Howard

Howard Bison (0-0) vs. Delaware State Hornets (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bison----0
Hornets----0

at Alumni Stadium • Dover, DE

  • Date: November 15
StatisticsHOWDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
HowardPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

South Carolina State

South Carolina State Bulldogs (0-0) vs. Delaware State Hornets (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs----0
Hornets----0

at Alumni Stadium • Dover, DE

  • Date: November 22
StatisticsSCSTDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South Carolina StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Delaware StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

PlayerPositionDestination
BJ WagnerS Arkansas State
Kahleef JimmisonDB Norfolk State
Erik SanchezRB Saint Francis
Kristian TateWR Troy
Ebubedike NnabugwuOLUnknown
Larrey Williams IIIDBUnknown
Marquise BrunsonDLUnknown
Amir AndersonDBUnknown
Christian GarrettATHUnknown
Ej CoreTEUnknown
Malcolm JefferiesTEUnknown
Joseph Maxwell IIIOLUnknown
Geo FabianDBUnknown
Marqui AdamsQBUnknown
Brian Bates Jr.LBUnknown
Isaiah CookOLWithdrawn

Incoming

PlayerPositionPrevious school
Quinten JohnsonEDGE UCF
Elijha PayneOL Arizona
Derek BoydLB Hawaii
Rodney LeaksOL Houston Christian
Kobe BoykinRB Jackson State
Antonio Gates Jr.WR Michigan State
Alexander CobbsDE San Jose State
Jason StoneWR Thiel

[3] [4] [5] [6]

References

  1. "NFL Great DeSean Jackson Named Head Football Coach at Delaware State University". dsuhornets. December 27, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  2. "2025 Delaware State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  3. "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
  4. "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
  5. "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports.
  6. "Delaware State Hornets 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.