Newark, DE — On Friday, the Delaware Blue Hens football program hosted their 2026 Pro Day for their athletes looking to continue pursuing their football careers. The event features some incredible feats – and I (along with 15 NFL scouts) was fortunate enough to be present for the testing and drills of the program.
It’s worth mentioning that standout wideout and returner, Jake Thaw, did not participate in the team’s Pro Day event due to injury. He is expected to conduct private workouts and attend individual Pro Days in the future.
Delaware Football: Pro Day Notes and Observations
The beginning of Delaware’s Pro Day started with a bang, as players performed their bench press and vertical testing.
Two true standouts in the bench portion of testing came along the offensive and defensive line for the Blue Hens. First, was offensive lineman Fintan Brose. Brose, who was an East-West 1000 highlighted player (and Hula Bowl participant), impressed by putting up 33 reps on the bench. That would have tied for first amongst offensive lineman who participated at the NFL Combine.
Delaware OL Fintan Brose put up 33 on the bench press at the team’s Pro Day.
That would have T-1st st the NFL Combine amongst OL. #RollHens pic.twitter.com/OtAof7wqCP
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) March 13, 2026
Brose had an impressive day overall (more on that later). However, performing so well at the bench showcased he’s able to retain power and strength while adding weight to play inside.
Yet not to be outdone, teammate lineman Nick Karika truly impressed here, too. The defensive lineman put up an absurd 37 reps on the bench. Those numbers would have been tied for first overall for players at the combine. It’s truly impressive to see feats like this in person, and the energy in the room was infectious.
Delaware defensive tackle Nick Karika put up 37(!) on the bench press at the team’s Pro Day. Unreal strength. #RollHens pic.twitter.com/wO0atIAt6b
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) March 13, 2026
The final portion of indoor testing was the vertical jump. And, while many players showed good markings, it was a special teams player who stole the show.
Blue Hens kicker Nate Reed received the best mark out of all of his teammates, performing a 35-inch vertical. Speaking to him after the event, Reed told me it’s something he was looking forward to participating in. And, he believed he was going to test well – and he did. While he hoped to hit 36 inches on his vertical, he managed to hit 10.5 inches on his broad jump, which was equally impressive.
Delaware kicker Nate Reed hits a 35-inch vertical. Didn’t expect that one! #RollHens pic.twitter.com/INx9OxDjxo
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) March 13, 2026
On-Field Testing
After the weight room testing, players moved to the field (and indoor training facility) to continue their testing. There, players competed in the 40-yard dash, short shuttle, broad jump, 3-cone, and other individual drills.
At the event, the 40-yard dash times stood out the most. Some players, like Delaware cornerback Nate Evans, truly impressed – being clocked at 4.32 and 4.38 on his runs (hand-timed). Meanwhile, players like Mysonne Pollard (4.54), Nick Karika (4.80), Kyre Duplessis (4.40), and Fintan Brose (5.06) impressed with their quickness.
Meanwhile, at the 3-cone, wide receivers Nick Laboy (6.95) and Duplessis (7.01) showed off the agility. Overall, it was a nice showing from the wide receivers, who also looked fantastic in their positional drills.
Great adjustment here by WR Kyre Duplessis during routes on air. He’s looked quick at the Delaware Pro Day. #RollHens pic.twitter.com/cXg544867K
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) March 13, 2026
Duplessis, who broke out with the Blue Hens in 2026, is an interesting prospect to look at towards the 2026 NFL draft. Meanwhile, Laboy has shown consistent growth as a player at Delaware.
Nice over-the-shoulder snag from WR Nick Laboy during receiver drills at the Delaware Pro Day. #RollHens pic.twitter.com/1N6so0DwEE
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) March 13, 2026
Continuing with drill-work, Brose was a player that truly impressed the scouts and onlookers in attendance on Friday. His on-field testing, combined with his drill-work showed that he has true NFL potential. And, that despite adding weight to move into the interior, Brose didn’t fall flat in any metric.
Delaware OL Fintan Brose showing some quick footwork during a positional drill at the Pro Day. #RollHens pic.twitter.com/QeJpcYXLk0
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) March 13, 2026
Ending the event was kicking drills, where the aforementioned Nate Reed shined once again. The Delaware kicker nailed a 50-yard attempt with plenty of room to spare. He also snuck in a 55-yard attempt despite not getting good contact on the ball (his words). Overall, Reed believed he could have hit at least 63 yards during the training session.
On kickoff work, Reed showcased excellent accuracy. Known for a big leg, the kicker has done a great job adjusting to the new rules of the NFL. The Blue Hens kicker had pinpoint accuracy, dropping the ball in their correct zones with little error. It was truly an impressive day for Reed, and the rest of his teammates alike.
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