QB
C+Trujillo at QB (78, freshman, throw power 88). Top-3 of 75.3.
**Dynasty-start roster (CFB 26)**DC Rating 4.4 / 10
Delaware
Architect Carty with two Tier-1 pipelines, a freshman QB1 bet, and a multi-year HB-and-DB core at C-USA's bottom.
The Dynasty Verdict
If you want a Ryan Carty program where two Tier-1 pipelines meet a 67 overall, a freshman QB1, and the most regional pipeline cap in the editorial set, Delaware is the C-USA team built for a multi-year FBS-transition build with a senior-led Year 1 floor. Silver anchors the senior backfield at HB 81 with injury 90 and acceleration 89. Seay patrols deep at junior FS 81 with stamina 97 and injury 94. Ellison Jr. carries the multi-year backfield at sophomore HB 80 with acceleration 91 and speed 89. Trujillo learns the Spread at freshman QB 78 with throw power 88. Manning Jr pairs at junior FS 77 with acceleration 93. Jenkins locks the boundary at senior CB 75 with acceleration 95. The home pipeline is two Tier-1 regions in Big Apple and New England, no Tier-2 or higher.
What makes Delaware different from the other 1-prestige C-USA and Independent programs is the freshman QB1 bet and the underclass HB-and-DB depth. UMass asks you to ride a thin FBS-transition roster at Independent. Connecticut asks you to ride Mora's Architect scheme depth and three Tier-2 reaches at 1.5 prestige. Delaware asks you to ride Carty's Architect scheme depth, Trujillo as the Year 1 freshman starter who has to hit by Year 3, the Silver-Ellison-Fleur three-deep HB room, and the Seay-Manning Jr junior safety pair, all under D- coach prestige and a 2-pipeline board. Different conferences, different roster shapes, same FBS-floor reality.
The 4.4 lands on Trujillo's freshman QB ceiling, the underclass HB-and-DB core, and a structural floor where coaching, brand, and pipeline volume all sit at D-or-F. Don't pick Delaware for a quick C-USA contender push. Pick Delaware for the multi-year FBS-transition build where Trujillo grows into the Year 3 starter, Ellison and Fleur carry the multi-year backfield, Seay anchors the secondary across three eligibility years, and Carty tries to convert the two Tier-1 pipelines into developmental class signings before brand and pipeline caps end the climb.
Head Coach
Ryan Carty
ArchitectThe launch hands Carty a 67-overall C-USA roster with Silver at senior HB, Trujillo as the freshman QB1, the Ellison-Fleur underclass HB pair, and the Seay-Manning Jr junior safety duo. D- coach prestige and D coach stability is the structural floor, and the F brand exposure means the recruiting board stays narrow until prestige climbs. The Architect archetype rewards scheme depth, but Delaware's dynasty math runs through whether Trujillo develops into a Year 3 QB1 the Spread can carry, and whether the two Tier-1 Northeast pipelines deliver enough developmental class talent to keep the multi-year roster from collapsing under the brand cap.
Team at a Glance
| Conference | Conference USA |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Ryan Carty · Architect |
| Team Prestige | 1 stars |
| Team Overall (in-game) | 67 |
| Top Position Group | Running Back · B- · top-3 avg 79.0 |
| Weakest Position Group | Defensive Line · C · top-3 avg 71.0 |
| Stadium Atmosphere | F |
| Brand Exposure | F |
| Coach Prestige | D- |
| Coach Stability | D |
| Top-10 Senior Departures After Year 1 | 4 of 10 |
Top 10 Players
By overall rating at dynasty start
| # | Player | Pos | Yr | OVR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jo'Nathan Silver | HB | Sr | 81 | Injury 90 |
| 02 | KT Seay | FS | Jr | 81 | Stamina 97 |
| 03 | Viron Ellison Jr. | HB | So | 80 | Acceleration 91 |
| 04 | Anwar O'neal | LT | Jr | 78 | Stamina 90 |
| 05 | Riley Trujillo | QB | Fr | 78 | Throw Power 88 |
| 06 | Hasson Manning Jr | FS | Jr | 77 | Acceleration 93 |
| 07 | Jake Thaw | WR | Sr | 76 | Acceleration 92 |
| 08 | Saeed St. Fleur | HB | Jr | 76 | Acceleration 90 |
| 09 | Keontae Jenkins | CB | Sr | 75 | Acceleration 95 |
| 10 | Dillon Trainer | WILL | Sr | 74 | Stamina 86 |
Position Group Grades
RB
B-Silver at HB (81, senior, injury 90). Ellison Jr. at HB (80, sophomore, acceleration 91). Saeed St. Fleur at HB (76, junior). Top-3 of 79.0, the strongest unit on the roster.
WR
C+Thaw at WR (76, senior, acceleration 92). Top-3 of 74.0.
TE
CTop-3 of 71.7.
OL
C+O'neal at LT (78, junior, stamina 90). Top-3 of 75.3.
DL
CTop-3 of 71.0, the weakest unit on the roster.
LB
CTrainer at WILL (74, senior, stamina 86). Top-3 of 72.7.
DB
B-Seay at FS (81, junior, stamina 97), Manning Jr at FS (77, junior, acceleration 93) and Jenkins at CB (75, senior, acceleration 95). Top-3 of 77.7.
ST
CTop-3 of 72.0.
Recommended Playbooks
Offense
Spread (Delaware Default)
Run Spread because the three-deep HB room plus Trujillo's freshman arm are the design's whole point. Silver takes the senior workload at injury 90 and stamina 89. Ellison Jr. rotates as the sophomore change-of-pace at acceleration 91 and speed 89. Saeed St. Fleur pairs at junior HB. Trujillo runs the offense at freshman QB with throw power 88. Thaw stretches the field at senior WR with acceleration 92 and speed 89.
Why this fits
A B- RB grade across three top-10 backs lets the Spread rotate carries while Trujillo learns the system. Ellison Jr. and St. Fleur's underclass eligibility carry the multi-year backfield bridge into Year 3.
Defense
3-3-5 (Delaware Default)
Run the 3-3-5 because the junior safety pair plus Jenkins's senior CB are the design's strength. Seay patrols deep at junior FS with stamina 97 and injury 94. Manning Jr mirrors at junior FS with acceleration 93 and jumping 90. Jenkins locks the boundary at senior CB with acceleration 95 and agility 93. Trainer anchors the senior WILL at stamina 86 and toughness 86. The C DL grade in front is the structural risk — the front three lacks a top-10 anchor.
Why this fits
A B- DB grade and the 3-3-5's nickel personnel hide the C DL grade behind a five-DB look. The Seay-Manning Jr junior safety pair carries the multi-year secondary bridge across three eligibility years.
Recruiting Outlook
Pipeline regions
- Big AppleTier 1
- New EnglandTier 1
You'll recruit the Northeast, and only the Northeast. Two Tier-1 regions (Big Apple, New England) and zero Tier-2-or-higher pipelines is the narrowest regional board in the editorial set, well below the 1-prestige C-USA mean. Carty at D- coach prestige can't outbid the Power-4 Northeast schools for top recruits, and the F brand exposure compounds the volume cap. The 2-pipeline board is the structural ceiling, not a starting point.
Position priorities for Year 1 are dictated by the 4-senior cliff. Halfback is the long-term priority because Silver graduates and Ellison Jr. and St. Fleur become the multi-year identity. After HB, replacement WR behind Thaw, replacement CB behind Jenkins, replacement WILL behind Trainer, and a quarterback bridge in case Trujillo's freshman ceiling holds.
There is no Tier-1 cluster outside the home — every recruit will come through Big Apple or New England, or as a single-target reach from outside the pipeline map. Don't burn time on the Southeast or Midwest unless you're chasing a specific developmental project a Power-4 school hasn't already locked.
Your Year-by-Year Path with Delaware
Year 1
The Silver-and-Trujillo Year
You're inheriting a 67-overall C-USA roster with Silver carrying the backfield, Trujillo learning the Spread as a true freshman, and a 4-senior cliff that's milder than most G5 launches. Don't experiment. Run Spread, lean on Silver while Ellison Jr. rotates and Trujillo manages the offense, let Seay and Manning Jr patrol deep while Jenkins locks the corner. Year 1 is C-USA bottom-half and a 5-6 win baseline where the senior cliff is small but the roster is thin. While you're surviving, sign the Year 1 HB and CB classes the Big Apple and New England pipelines can deliver.
Goal
5-6 wins, C-USA bottom-half finish, top-120 recruiting class.
Years 2-3
The Ellison-and-Trujillo Window
Silver, Thaw, Jenkins, and Trainer graduate. Ellison Jr. inherits the HB1 role, St. Fleur becomes the senior change-of-pace, and Seay moves into senior FS1. Trujillo enters Year 2-3 as the load-bearing question — sophomore-to-junior development is when the Spread either gels or stalls. The Year 1 CB and WR signings have to start by Year 2 because both rooms thin out. Carty's Architect scheme depth keeps the offense functional, but D coach stability still threatens the staff continuity development depends on.
Goal
5-7 wins, C-USA middle, Trujillo at 82+ as a junior, top-110 recruiting class.
Year 4+
The C-USA Floor
By Year 4, Delaware's dynasty depends on Trujillo as a senior QB1 and whether the two Tier-1 pipelines compounded enough Northeast talent to backfill the senior cliff under D coach stability. The structural cap is hard: D- coach prestige and F brand exposure don't lift until prestige climbs, and prestige doesn't climb without conference wins. A realistic Year 4+ ceiling is a 6-7 win C-USA program with bowl eligibility contingent on Trujillo developing into a senior starter, and a 1.5-prestige climb if the 2-pipeline board converts.
Goal
6-7 win C-USA program, 1.5-prestige climb if Trujillo and the Northeast pipeline compound.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Delaware good for dynasty mode in CFB 26?
Yes for a multi-year FBS-transition build with a freshman QB bet, with caveats. Delaware enters CFB 26 with a 67-overall roster, D- coach prestige and D coach stability under Ryan Carty's Architect archetype, and a B- RB room anchored by Jo'Nathan Silver at senior HB 81 with injury 90. The 2-pipeline board and the freshman QB1 are the structural risks.
What's Delaware's prestige in CFB 26?
Delaware enters CFB 26 with a 1-star prestige rating, paired with D- coach prestige and D coach stability. The pipeline is two Tier-1 regions only (Big Apple, New England) — the narrowest regional board in the editorial set, with no Tier-2 or higher home.
What playbook does Delaware use in CFB 26?
Ryan Carty's Delaware runs the Spread offense and the 3-3-5 defense. The Spread fits the three-deep HB room (Silver, Ellison Jr., St. Fleur) plus Trujillo at freshman QB. The 3-3-5 deploys Seay at FS (81, junior, stamina 97), Manning Jr at FS (77, junior, acceleration 93), and Jenkins at CB (75, senior, acceleration 95).
Who is Delaware's best player in College Football 26?
Jo'Nathan Silver at 81 OVR, senior halfback, with injury 90, acceleration 89, and stamina 89. Silver is the Year 1 offensive identity and the centerpiece of the Spread run game. KT Seay (81, junior FS) and Viron Ellison Jr. (80, sophomore HB) round out the top three.
Should I rebuild Delaware or take an easier team?
Delaware is a multi-year FBS-transition build with a freshman QB bet, not a quick contender flip. The Year 1 ceiling is 5-6 wins; the Year 2-3 floor depends on Trujillo developing and Ellison Jr. inheriting the HB1 role. Take Delaware if you want a 1-prestige C-USA brand-new program with a multi-year underclass core. If you want a similar 1-prestige rebuild with a wider pipeline, look at UMass or Connecticut.