Dave Brock didn't originally recruit the 13 high school seniors who comprised Delaware's 2013 football recruiting class, announced Wednesday.
But he did have to win them over, and the coach succeeded in that task after his Jan. 18 hiring.
The past couple weeks have been a “whirlwind," said Brock, who has jetted and driven throughout the East to meet the players who committed to Delaware prior to K.C. Keeler's Jan. 7 firing as coach.
Only two ditched Delaware in favor of other schools, and Brock didn’t seem bothered by that. He liked what he got, and repeatedly complimented and Keeler and his staff for getting the players who’ll help form the foundation of Brock’s Delaware tenure.
“It was an educational experience for me,” Brock said, “to see how much people loved and respected the University of Delaware . . . It was almost like a three-week infomercial on why I have a terrific job and why this is going to be a terrific program going forward.”
Here’s a list of those players, with some background provided by UD sports information sleuth Scott Selheimer, and comments by Brock:
Diante Cherry, 5-9, 170, WR, McCaskey/Lancaster, Pa.: Two-time first team All-Lancaster Lebanon League and the league’s Wide Receiver of the Year as a junior. Selected for Pennsylvania East-West All-Star Game. All-time leader in receptions and
receiving yardage at McCaskey. Caught 38 passes for 748 yards and seven touchdowns, rushed for 316 yards and four touchdowns, and threw for 581 yards and six touchdowns as a senior.
Brock: “Diante’s the first guy I met with when I went out on the road. Went to his home, and that’ll be a special meeting that I’ll never forget. Terrific folks. Sat in their living room and I was amazed by their energy, amazed by their passion for Delaware. I think he’s going to be a terrific addition. He’s a very dynamic kid. He’s got a good skill set. He’s going to be very good with the ball in his hands. He fills a position of need and I feel he can have an impact in the return game.”
Wesley Hills, 6-1, 195, RB-LB, Wildwood, N.J.: First-team All-State at both RB and LB. Rushed for 2,107 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior and for 1,294 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. Sparked team to 6-4 record and first playoff appearance in 40 years in 2012. Track and field phenom set school records in triple jump and 400 meters and was all-conference in both events.
Brock: “Wes is a terrific player . . . I have some familiarity with Wes from Rutgers. I knew of him as a player. We thought he was an excellent player there. I really believe he could play on either side of the ball and be a dynamic player here.”
Brody Kern, 6-2, 280, C, West York/York, Pa.: Two-year captain who started all 51 games of his career and led team to 42-9 record. Team won 13 straight in 2012 and averaged 243 yards rushing per game during his career. Chosen to play in Pennsylvania Big 33 Game vs. Maryland All-Stars in June. First-team All-State in 2012. Named offensive line MVP at National Underclassmen Combine held in Reading, Pa.
Brock: “Another young man who had the opportunity to go somewhere else and didn’t [ODU made a late bid]. It’s a testament to the relationships he built here and the university and the family atmosphere that he knows exists here. We’re really excited about him as a player. He’s a tough kid. He’s a physical kid. He’s athletic for that position. Blue collar.”
Jalen Kindle, 6-1, 210, LB, Fleming Island, Fla.: Former high school teammate of UD safety Craig Brodsky. Second-team
All-State (7A) and first-team All-First Coast LB in 2012. Clay County Defensive Player of the Year. Three-year letterwinner and three-year all-conference selection. Had 75 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions as a senior. Playing WR, also scored four touchdowns as a senior as team went 7-3 and earned state playoff berth.
Brock: “Jalen is a dynamic player. Jalen is a guy that as I watched him on video I became more and more impressed. He’s a run-and-hit player. He’s a head-hunter. He’s going to go find you.”
Larry Spears, 5-11, 215, LB, Varina/Richmond, Va.: Former teammate of UD WR Jerel Harrison. Second-team All-State, district Player of the Year and All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. Also first-team all-region. Recorded 136 solo tackles and two interceptions on defense and rushed for two touchdowns on offense. Team ranked No. 2 in the area in total defense and had the most forced fumbles.
Brock: “A run-and-hit player. Very, very aggressive, fast, athletic. I think he’s going to be a contributor in a lot of phases of football. I think he’s a special teams guy and can play multiple spots in the second level of the defense.”
Roman Tatum, 5-11, 170, CB, West Orange/Winter Garden, Fla.: Speedy cover corner with long arms collected 113 tackles, intercepted three passes and returned one for a touchdown, defended 26 total passes and had three sacks over final two seasons. Also recorded 243 all-purpose yards.
Brock: “He also had options, also chose to stay with Delaware. The thing that jumps out at me about him is how competitive he is. I watched him in track practice while I was down there. Every single thing he did he tried to win, he tried to be the best at doing it. If it wasn’t perfect, he wanted to make it perfect. Those are attributes we want in the program, characteristics we want in our people.”
Alex Thompson, 6-4, 265, OL, Haddon Heights/Lawnside, N.J.: Projected guard was captain and three-year starter. Made first-team All-State Group 2, first-team All-South Jersey and first-team all-conference as a senior. Earned Brooks Irvine Scholar-Athlete Award. Defensively, recorded 108 tackles and six pass breakups as a defensive end in 2012. Led 2012 team to 7-3 record and state playoff berth. The 2011 squad went 8-3 and advanced to the state semifinals. Also the No. 1-ranked 285-pound wrestler in New Jersey.
Brock: “A big athletic guy, very dynamic for his size, really exactly the type of player I’d love to recruit as an offensive lineman. [The wrestling aspect] speaks to a lot of characteristics.”
Ryan Torsza, 6-2, 192, S, Cuthbertson/Waxham, N.C.: Three-year starter was 2012 pre-season all-conference and all-county
but missed first five games with injury. Recorded 61 tackles, 18 pass breakups and five interceptions over sophomore and
junior seasons at Bartram Trail in Jacksonville, Fla. before family moved. Had 66 tackles, two pass breakups, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles at Cuthbertson. Also caught six passes for 24.3-yard average as a senior. Led Cuthbertson to state playoff berth. Sparked Bartram Trail to 13-1 record and state semifinal berth in 2011. State qualifier in hurdles in track.
Brock: “Really, really aggressive young guy, terrific student. Another player who I really believe will be able to play and compete multiple places, not only on special teams but at safety and in sub-packages, those types of things. He’ll be able to get on the field. His intellect and football intelligence will help him do that early.”
Jake Trump, 6-6, 270, OL, Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Guard or tackle who missed senior season with knee injury but served as captain. Named a Central Pennsylvania Top 125 Player, Top Lineman at Lauren’s First & Goal Camp and to the Big 33 Hot 50 heading into senior year. Also played basketball and lacrosse in high school.
Brock: “Another young guy I had familiarity with at Rutgers. Got injured, hurt his knee, but things worked out and he’ll be cleared shortly. We’re real, real excited to welcome him. He’s a physical specimen. He is an imposing young guy. Tall, wide, he fills the doorway up when you get to see him.”
Cedric Udegbe, 6-3, 245, DE, Montverde, Orlando, Fla.: German student who played in a first-year program at Monteverde Academy. In Germany was coached by former Blue Hens All-American WR Aaron Love. Played for the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes and was a member of the State Under-19 All-Star Team in 2011.
Brock: “He’s a dynamic-looking young athlete. He’s going to be raw, inexperienced. He’s what I would call an excellent developmental prospect for what we want to do going forward. He’s big, strong. Now it’s going to be our job to develop him and teach him what to do.”
Justin Watson, 5-9, 165, S, Friendship Collegiate/Washington, D.C.: Skilled athlete and playmaker who also played running
back. Earned All-Metro honorable mention honors as a DB.
Brock: “Another young athletic guy, very good player, cover corner, aggressive, physical young guy, another guy with options who chose Delaware.”
Blaine Woodson, 6-3, 260, DL, 6-2, 265, Stroudsburg, Pa.: Three-year, two-way starter. Had 77 tackles, 12
tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 20 quarterback hurries and three fumble recoveries final two seasons. Two-time all-area and All-Mountain Valley Conference at both DE and OT. First player in Stroudsburg history named Lineman of the Year two years in a row. Sparked team to Mountain Valley Conference titles in 2011 and 2012.
Brock: “He is ideal for what you’d like to recruit. Big, fast, aggressive young guy. Also another player who had options . . . This is another young man who could have gone to multiple places [had Northern Illinois and Hawaii offers] and chose to come to Delaware.”
Kyle Yocum, 6-2, 220, QB, Exeter/Reading, Pa.: Four-year starter who is Exeter’s all-time leader with 3,815 passing yards and 38 TD passes. Also rushed for 1,955 yards and 27 touchdowns in his career. Ranked No. 45 recruit and top pro-style QB in the state by one publication. All-league in 2012. Led team to two district playoff appearances. Selected to play in NUC All-American
game.
Brock: “A terrific young man. Dynamic personality. Leader. Really, really impressive person. Has a good skill set. Terrific arm. Can move. He is a great addition to the program. This is a young guy who had options [to attend other schools]. He was steadfast. He helped hold the recruiting class together.”