Scouting Delaware QB Nick Minicucci

Nick Minicucci will look to continue lighting up defenses on Saturday afternoon for the Blue Hens at Delaware Stadium. In Minicucci’s last game versus at Liberty, the junior signal caller completed 29 of 49 passes for 344 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, while also rushing for 46 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground, earning a 91.3 PFF Grade.

Career Recap

After attending Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey, Nick Minicucci committed to play quarterback for the Delaware Blue Hens, a proud FCS program at the time. As a true freshman in 2023, Minicucci was forced to start his first career collegiate game in the playoffs due to injuries to the first and second string quarterbacks. It was an up-and-down first game with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, but Minicucci got the job done and led Delaware to a first-round victory over Lafayette. Entering the 2024 transition year as a third-string quarterback, Minicucci would once again benefit from Ryan O’Connor and Zach Marker being injured, and would step up as the start for the final quarter of games. Now in 2025, Minicucci finally beat out Marker for the starting job, as has not looked back. Minicucci was the only quarterback in Conference USA to be named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2025.

2025 Statistics

8 GP, 209/328 (64%) for 2,434 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs, and 232 rushing yards with 8 rushing touchdowns.

For his efforts, Minicucci has earned an 80.0 PFF grade through 588 snaps this season.

Let’s take a deeper dive into his numbers.

Passing Numbers by Level

At LOS or Behind | 22/25 (88%) for 176 yards, 1 TD & 0 INTs

0-9 Yards Downfield | 136/169 (81%) for 1,197 yards, 5 TDs & 2 INTs

10-19 Yards Downfield | 30/68 (44%) for 480 yards, 5 TDs & 2 INTs

20+ Yards Downfield | 21/49 (43%) for 681 yards, 4 TDs & 0 INTs

Stat to Know: 92.4 PFF Grade on Passes 20+ Yards

Passing Pressure

Kept Clean | 177/254 (70%) for 1,914 yards, 13 TDs & 3 INTs

Under Pressure | 32/74 (43%) for 520 yards, 2 TDs & 1 INT

Not Blitzed | 122/189 (65%) for 1,330 yards, 5 TDs & 2 INTs

When Blitzed | 87/139 (63%) for 1,104 yards, 10 TDs & 2 INTs

Stat to Know: 82.6 PFF Grade when Not Blitzed versus 68.3 PFF Grade When Blitzed

FBS Year One and Minicucci’s Top Targets

The Delaware Blue Hens have already experienced the full range of emotions as a CUSA team in the modern era. After putting the conference on notice with an upset win over UConn and a blowout of FIU in Miami, the Blue Hens have have lost 3 of their previous 4 games. This can also be attributed to a tougher schedule in that stretch, as Delaware has fallen to WKU and Jax State (2024 CUSA Championship Contestants) and Liberty (2023 CUSA Winner and NY6 Representative). The offense has continue to hum during their last four games, averaging 27.5 points per game. It has been a different story defensively, where the Blue Hens gave up 59 points at Liberty, and have allowed 38.0 points per game during the skid.

Kyle Duplessis is the clear leader in the Blue Hens’ offensive attack. The Coastal Carolina transfer has broken out as a graduate student, recording 42 receptions for 581 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. Next in line is sophomore Sean Wilson, an outside receiver who has produced 34 receptions for 418 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2025. The slot positions are filled by Jake Thaw and Ja’Carree Kelly, who have combined for 487 yards with 2 touchdowns for Delaware.

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