The University of Delaware opens its 2016 football season in a fairly unusual position.
For the first time since 1989, the Blue Hens open the year with no quarterback on their roster with some college experience.
Head coach Dave Brock says junior Blake Rankin and redshirt freshman Joe Walker will split time in Friday’s opener against Jacksonville.
It will be first collegiate playing time for either and Brock says he wants to make sure both get a chance to succeed.
“I think the most important thing is you want to give each player the opportunity to get into a rhythm, each player an opportunity to play well given the circumstances,” said Brock.
Brock adds he will enter the game with a plan for how he’ll use his two QB’s, but will also take into account flow of the game and how they perform.
Senior offensive lineman Ben Curtis says the two quarterbacks will have a better chance of starting off on the right foot if he and the rest of the offensive line does its job.
“The key to the quarterback position is comfort. A quarterback, no matter how good he is, if he’s not comfortable in the pocket, he’s not going to perform," said Curtis. "So, it’s our job to keep guys off his back and get that confidence built up since their both new quarterbacks.”
The Blue Hens are coming off a 6-6 record in 2014,and haven’t made the NCAA playoffs since 2010. Jacksonville was 9-2 a year ago.
Kick-off at Delaware Stadium Friday night is at 7 pm.
