TEU tradition continues as Oscar Delp steps up for departed Darnell Washington
ATHENS, Ga. — Oscar Delp has big shoes to fill this coming fall for Georgia – and we mean that about as literally as possible. He won’t be the team’s top tight end. That title still goes to Brock Bowers, but in search of a replacement for Darnell Washington, Delp is being pushed forward as the Bulldogs’ best option.
“It’s not the same. We don’t have that same mass and movement. It doesn’t just affect the run game, it affects the play action pass game,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said about the position and the changes its seen this spring without Washington. “Where Darnell Washington was elite was he could block you, he could go out on the perimeter and block you, he could get vertical on a play action, but when we match protect, he was like having an extra lineman. Oscar Delp’s doing that. Oscar’s really been a pleasant surprise blocking this spring. He’s come so far. You don’t know how Oscar got better versus who are the people he’s blocking. He’s not blocking Robert Beal Jr. and Nolan Smith, he’s blocking Gabe Harris, Sam M’Pemba, CJ Madden, and even Chaz Chambliss. Oscar’s done a good job when he’s gone against Tramel Walthour and Mykel Williams when he was out there.”
“Yeah, I mean, we’re going to miss Darnell,” Bowers added. “He’s like a first-round pick, so obviously it’s going to take a little bit of a hit like that, but I mean, Delp’s coming in there. He’s put on a little bit of weight and he’s been blocking pretty good so far this camp. Just has to sustain and just try to fill that role.”
Delp played in 13 of 15 games last season for Georgia, logging five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. He saw the most meaningful snaps of the season come on the biggest stage for the Bulldogs after Washington went out in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State. He did his best then but said afterwards that there was still plenty of room for improvement – especially as a blocker. That’s been the biggest area his teammates have seen him up his game in so far this spring.
“I think guys like Oscar — especially Oscar, when I’m at tackle and he’s next to me — say we have a combo block — he’s a real tough-nosed kid,” Georgia offensive lineman Xavier Truss said about the sophomore tight end. “He’s going to always drive his feet and block hard. I think just watching his growth even since the beginning of last year ’til right now, he’s another one that’s amazing — his journey and progression. I think blocking has been a big part of his game that’s improved definitely, even since last year.”
“Yeah, he’s a great player. He’s able to do good in the pass game, run routes,” outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss added. “He’s got speed to him, and he’s getting better in the run game and being a better blocker.”
Delp isn’t the 6-foot-7, 270-plus-pound freak that Washington was for Georgia, and nobody’s asking him to be. As Bowers acknowledged, the offense changes because they won’t have Washington. Still, Delp is perfectly capable of providing a second threat at tight end to test the defense.
“I feel like knowing the playbook, coming in because your first spring you’re buried in it like I said, and second spring, you’re more comfortable with the whole offense and everything since you’ve been here for a whole year,” Bowers said when asked what area he’s seen Delp improve the most. “He’s just been doing a lot better. I mean, moving people, route running, just everything has just been on another level.”
