Delaware State has carved out a clear identity in the Football Championship Subdivision this season: pound the rock, wear down defenses, and let a stable of running backs take over.
The Hornets have surged to the top of the FCS in rushing yards, a point of pride for a program that has committed to a run-first philosophy from the moment the staff arrived in January.
“You got to just look at our roster, right?” head coach DeSean Jackson said on Monday. “You know, we got some dogs in the running back room. And, you know, all throughout, you know, when I first got here in January, all throughout the spring, the summer workouts—I mean, we literally got four running backs, maybe five possible running backs that could be starting on other teams.”
Delaware State is averaging a staggering 291 rushing yards per game, led by running back Marquis Gillis, averaging 5.3 yards per carry on the season. Quarterback Kaiden Bennett, a transfer from Sacramento State, has also made his mark with 233 rushing yards, ranking ninth among FCS quarterbacks.
“We realized that, we understand that, and at the end of the day, it’s only one football to go around,” Jackson said. “But I’ve always stressed this offense would be ran through our running back room. We have a quarterback with great playmaking ability as well too, but it has to start with the run game. It has to start with the trenches. It has to start with a great mindset at the quarterback position.”
Jackson’s offensive system is built to adapt on the fly, he explained. Much of Delaware State’s offense relies on run-pass option looks, giving the quarterback flexibility based on defensive alignment.
“Every play we call, we have two or three options depending on how the defense plays,” Jackson said. “In our hindsight, regardless of what the defense plays, the defense can never be right in our eyes. The way we coach our offense, as long as the quarterback makes the right decision, we’re in control.”
Opponents are starting to take notice. Last week against Saint Francis, Jackson noted that the Red Flash frequently loaded the box in an attempt to slow down the Hornets’ rushing attack. While that created opportunities through the air, Delaware State stayed committed to setting the tone on the ground.
“We showed running for 299 yards, and our O-line was pissed off because we knew we should have had way more than what we had,” he said. “But, you know, it’s gonna be obstacles. It’s gonna be things that present themselves, but as long as we’re keeping our foot on the gas, man, sky’s the limit for this Delaware State team.”
