Delaware Football 2026 Positional Preview: Linebackers/Bandits

We are staying on the same side of the ball as the safeties in our next positional preview, moving up to the heart of the defense in the linebacker and bandit rooms. This preseason’s framework will cover the four who’s: 1) who is back 2) who is new 3) who said what during the local media availability and 4) who (or what) caught my attention. Let us know if this is a format that you appreciate or if you would like us to try something new.

*Note: All snap counts, PFF grades, and recognition are from the 2025 season

Who is Back?

#35 Gavin Moul (880 defensive snaps, 149 special teams snaps. 67.0 PFF Grade. All-CUSA Honorable Mention)
- 111 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery (for a TD)
#10 Blake Matthews (674 defensive snaps, 125 special teams snaps. 68.7 PFF Grade)
- 54 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 4 pass deflections
#9 Colin Gallagher (170 defensive snaps, 187 special teams snaps. 58.2 PFF Grade)
- 24 tackles, 2 TFL
#11 Jawarren Corbin (22 defensive snaps, 29 special teams snaps. 71.6 PFF Grade)
- 3 tackles
#46 Julius Puryear (12 defensive snaps. 48.1 PFF Grade)
- 1 tackle
#15 Gevaris Lassiter
#37 Dillon Griffith (Walk-On)

Who is New?

#20 Jalen Bell (Long Island Transfer): 605 defensive snaps, 60 special teams snaps. 78.6 PFF Grade. All-NEC First Team, FCS All-American Honorable Mention
- 72 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 INT, 1 forced fumble, 4 pass breakups
#42 Wayne Cunningham (High School)
#4 Demarco Daniels (High School)
#32 Joseph Zamot (High School)
#54 Tysean Milligan Jr. (Walk-On)
#57 Gehret Gentzyel (High School, Walk-On)

Who Said What?

Delaware Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Safeties Coach Manny Rojas
- (On which young linebackers have jumped out so far in camp): “I think Demarco Daniels is going to be pretty good for us. He’s shown the ability to understand the defense and pick it up. Julius Puryear is really starting to pick this thing up and understand it well. Colin Gallagher is going to be a stud for us… he knows the defense and communicates well. Having him and Gavin out there beside each other is a lot of fun to watch.”
- (On Gavin Moul): “He sees the game like a true inside linebacker does. And he’s fast and twitchy enough that he can make decisions in real time and sneak through a gap to go make a big play in the backfield. He has the moxie and the attitude that you want for a linebacker.”
Delaware Co-Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, Linebackers Coach Rocco DiMeco
- (On Colin Gallagher’s growth): “Colin is a really intelligent football player. I think in the spring he’s embraced a true Mike linebacker role. He brings leadership as a vocal communicator and he processes fast like a computer out there. Every linebacker room should have one of those, and he’s definitely cemented himself in that role… To come in and replace a kid like Dillon Trainer, whose been steady for our program for what seems like 10 years. He’s been great for our room.”
- (On the addition of Bandits Coach Jarred Holley to the defense): “He’s been awesome for us so far. He has an unbelievable relationship with the players. He spoke to the team about his coaching and football journey last night and it was really good for our players to hear some of the things that he went through in his career playing at a high level. He’s coached multiple positions on the defensive side of the ball, everything from corner to nickel to safeties. And when you look at the bandit position, it’s a jack-of-all-trades type position. So I think he can draw on all those different experiences that he’s had to create that successful bandit room filled with different types of bodies.”
- (On how his role on the defense changes with the added title of Co-Defensive Coordinator): “We’re all going to study our specific part of the game plan. That’s kind of how we operate, very collaborative. But really focusing on 3rd downs over the course of a game is going to be the main focus.”
Delaware Bandits Coach Jarred Holley
- (On why Delaware as the next stop in his coaching career): “I’m really big on relationships and when this opportunity came up, I felt like it was the perfect fit as what Coach Carty does with the program building culture, Coach Rojas and our relationship… it was a no-brainer for me to join Delaware.”
- (On Blake Matthews’ offseason development): “He’s done an awesome job from a leadership standpoint and understanding what we’re doing schematically on defense. I think he’s done a great job in the offseason in taking care of and building his body up, and then just being a student of the game. He’s going to have a great season.”
- (On Jalen Bell’s early impact since joining the program from the transfer portal): “Unbelievable kid who works hard… really excited to be working with him. What we do defensively with the bandit, I tell him, ‘You’re the Swiss Army Knife.’ He brings energy and does some really good things in the coverage that we do, and he’s been a pleasure to be around.”
Delaware Linebacker Gavin Moul
- (On the first year adjustments to FBS): “Between FCS and FBS, I think the biggest thing about the competition is the speed on the outside. When it comes to size and strength on the inside, you’re going to find that at every single Division I school you come across.”
- (On where the defense must improve in 2026): We need to get better on 3rd down, I think it’s a real vocal point. Getting off the field is going to be huge for us, and not giving or extending those drives. And you have to keep working on turnovers, the turnover margin is huge. I think we have a better plan and are more prepared this year.”
Delaware Bandit Blake Matthews
- (On personal offseason improvements): “I tried to get in the weight room a lot to not get as much bigger, but just stronger in general. I also tried to get on the field as much as possible to get my feet better, get faster and quicker to be able to cover more people, and try to make more game-changing plays like interceptions and sacks.”
- (On arriving to Delaware from Troy two seasons ago): “Out of high school, Troy was my first offer and I wanted to be loyal to them since they’re the first people to show interest in and give me a chance. I spent 2 years there and lost a lot of confidence in myself, so I decided that I needed to take a different route. Delaware was the first to reach out to me once I got in the portal, so I stayed loyal to them and wanted to do something that would make me uncomfortable… and it’s been really great ever since I got here. I’ve gained my confidence back. My personality’s coming out with the team and I’m trying to be a better leader to the guys. Overall, this has been a great journey so far.”
Delaware Bandit Jalen Bell
- (On why Delaware as his next stop in his collegiate career): “I felt like coming to Delaware was just the next big step coming in my career. Them playing at the FBS level and moving into Conference USA would just help me a lot, especially to get my name out there… and I just wanted to be on a winning program.”
- (On adjusting to the bandit position): “Coming from safety, it’s almost the same thing. I would say it’s like a nickel type of position. I love playing the bandit position… I feel like you’re the Swiss Army Knife of the defense and everything runs through you, so you need to be able to communicate from the left corner all the way to the right corner on the sideline. It helps me with being a better communicator, better leader, and just getting my nose closer to the football.”

Who (or What) Caught my Attention?

Co-Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, Linebackers Coach Rocco DiMeco will be taking over the 3rd down personnel for the defense this season. The Blue Hens finished 78th overall, 9th in Conference USA in opponent 3rd down conversion rate at 40.4% a season ago. Even in statistically successful 3rd down stops for the defense, Delaware finished last in CUSA in opponent 4th down conversion rate at 69.2%. We will be keeping an eye out if the staff changes and offseason focus on getting the defense off the field faster works in the program’s second season in FBS.
The Delaware linebacker room has had a lot of strong names throughout Manny Rojas’ tenure as Defensive Coordinator: Johnny Buchanan, Colby Reeder, Liam Trainer, Dillon Trainer, Jackson Taylor, and of course currently Gavin Moul. When Moul was asked who is poised to be the next linebacker making a name for himself, he highlighted the work that Colin Gallagher has put in this offseason. “When you talk about attention to detail and finishing every rep, he’s a guy that leads by example and is going to be a great leader here in the next couple of months and years he has to go.” Gallagher saw his defensive snap count increase from 11 in 2024 to 170 in 2025, finishing with 24 tackles and 2 TFLs last season, as well a quarterback hurry in Delaware’s bowl win against Louisiana. Watch out for the junior linebacker, who had a lot of great things said about him from all of Moul, Rojas, and DiMeco.
Blake Matthews, who signed with the Blue Hens when the program began its transition into FBS football, is another success story in finding their love for the game back in Newark. A game circled on Matthews’ calendar is a November road game against the defending CUSA Champions in Kennesaw State, whose stadium is only 40 minutes from his hometown. “I’m going to need my teammates to help me out with some tickets if they’re not using them. It’ll be a great game and I’m looking forward to it.”