Hens hold first preseason scrimmage

The Blue Hens scrimmaged for about two hours before a crowd of 500, running 100 plays, and also practiced kickoff coverage, field goals, goal-line defense and the two-minute offense.

“The offense really stepped up today,” Head Coach K.C. Keller, said. “Our defense has dominated the first five or six days of practice, but today the offense was impressive. They did some very good things, and we liked what we saw. We have an energetic group that competed very well. We got a lot done today.”

With the starting quarterback job still up for grabs, senior Ryan Carty and junior Joe Flacco split nearly 90 snaps, while freshman Sean Scanlon saw about 15 plays from scrimmage.

Flacco heaved touchdown passes to tight ends Mike Mailey and Robbie Agnone and to wide receivers Mark Mackey and Jon Heydt. Junior All-American running back Omar Cuff also scored on a one-yard drive early in the session.

Kicker Zach Hobby hit a field goal from 52 yards and two from 27 yards. Freshman defensive lineman Justin Johnson turned one of the top defensive performances.

“We have a great competition at the quarterback position,” Keeler said. “We are very fortunate to have two very good players competing at that position and that's important in this league. We are still making evaluations, but it won't be long until we make a decision on the starter.”

The performance of the newest Blue Hens also earned Keeler's praise.

Senior tight end Steve Selk

“We have a young team, and we've been happy with the play of some of the newcomers,” Keeler said. “They have picked up the tempo, and we feel that several of them will be able to play right away.”

Among the players sitting out the scrimmage due to injuries were tight end Ben Patrick, defensive backs Nicos Chavis and Ragif Gunthorpe and defensive linemen Rachid Stoury and Manny Marshall.

Wrist injury ends season for tight end Steve Selk

UD senior tight end Steve Selk, who was projected to be a third-year starter for the Fightin' Blue Hens, will miss the entire season due to a wrist injury, Head Coach K.C. Keeler has announced.

Surgery has been recommended for the 6-3, 245 lb. Selk, who has had two previous surgeries to due an unstable joint following a fracture to his left wrist two years ago. Selk, who had surgery this spring, sat out off-season drills, but the injury did not fully heal.

“I'm so disappointed for him because he won't be able to finish his senior year as a Blue Hen,” Keeler said. “The injury got worse early in training camp. He had a great summer and was in the best shape of his career. We were looking forward to him being a major force at the tight end position for us again this season.”

Selk's career as a three-year letter winner at UD, which began in 2003, followed an outstanding career at Newark High School.

A leadership major at UD, Selk appeared in 30 games, the most of any current Blue Hen offensive player. He had 13 career starts and recorded 14 receptions for 132 yards and a 9.4-yard career average.

Used mostly as a blocker, Selk moved into a part-time starting role in 2004, playing in all 13 games with eight starts, while catching seven passes for 56 yards while helping lead the Blue Hens to a second consecutive league title following their NCAA Division I-AA national championship title in 2003.

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