DeSean Jackson led the Delaware State football team to their best record since 2007 last season, finishing second to South Carolina State in the MEAC race with an 8-4 overall record and 4-1 in conference.
The question now becomes can “Coach Jac” and the Hornets finish their worst-to-first transformation in 2026?
And that question can only be answered if DSU answers a small but important set of questions that would lead to a MEAC title and a trip to Atlanta for the Celebration Bowl.
Who will be the starting quarterback?
Kaiden Bennett has moved on to pursue a professional career, taking his dynamic speed and shiftiness with him, so now DSU must figure out who among their quarterback room will start the season Thursday Aug. 27 against Stony Brook.
Jayden Sauray, who transferred from Maryland prior to last season, saw the most reps of any of this year’s returners, but is expected to be pushed by William & Mary transfer Noah Brannock, who threw for 188 yards and ran for 36 more with a rushing touchdown in limited action for the Tribe in 2025.
Marqui Adams, 2024’s starting quarterback, returns from a year-long knee injury as well, so once the Hornets report to camp, expect this battle to be the one to watch.
Who will run the ball?
The second most intriguing camp battle will be for the lead running back spot, now that the 2000-yard tandem of Marquis Gillis (Arizona State) and James Jones (New Mexico State) have headed out west.
Jackson hit the portal hard for this position, grabbing Louisville athlete Shaun Boykins Jr. and Trey Engram from Towson to go with returners Sean Weston, Jayden Jenkins and Kobe Boykin.
The Hornets got contributions from plenty of runners to lead all of FCS in rushing in 2025. They will likely need more of the same to repeat that feat in 2026.
Can they stop the pass?
As good as Delaware State was running the ball in 2025, they were bad at stopping other teams from throwing the ball.
The Hornets finished 124th out of 126 FCS teams in passing yards allowed last season (277 yards) and while colder weather usually means worrying about stopping the run, teams can’t pass freely on Delaware State in 2026 if they are to contend for a MEAC title.
Jackson and his staff are attempting to address this, signing seven defensive backs this offseason.
There will be plenty of opportunities for cornerbacks and safeties alike to prove they can make sure opposing teams don’t get a free pass against the Hornets.
How will the team deal with expectations?
One could argue that Jackson and his staff held high expectations coming into the 2025 season, but no one, not even the most ardent Delaware State supporters, saw eight wins and a chance at the MEAC championship in the regular season’s final week.
Winning is now an expectation again at Delaware State.
With a ramped-up schedule that features three CAA teams (Stony Brook, Towson, UAlbany), a FBS road trip (South Florida) and the usual tough slate of MEAC games, all eyes will be on the Hornets this year, a year that Jackson himself characterized as a rebuilding one.
With the end goal being a trip to Atlanta, a lot will have to go right for DSU to make it there.
