Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | YPA | QBR | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 42-7vs Merrimack | 20/36 | 330 | 2 | 1 | 9.2 | 79.3 | Season-high 330 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 26-35@ Vanderbilt | 11/27 | 182 | 1 | 2 | 6.7 | 21.6 | |
| Total | 31/63 | 512 | 3 | 3 | 7.9 | 50.5 |
#4
Nick Minicucci
Senior quarterback for Delaware. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 215 lb · Midland Park, NJ · Don Bosco Prep
CFB Index 56 · #50 of 146 QBsHigh confidenceWatch-list name (model)Returning to Delaware for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
512
passing yards · 2026
3 TD · 3 INT · 8.1 per attempt
2 games into 2026 so far -- Backed by 12 car · 55 yds · 3 TD -- top 1% rushing TDs game. -- Best game: 330 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, vs Merrimack
The play that turned itSwung Louisiana Tech from 30% to 68% to win.Louisiana Tech at Delaware · 25-24
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 quarterback for Delaware. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed with Delaware in 2023.
Aura™ · Him Watch
Underrated
-33aura tax
Fans rank this player in the 4th percentile of QBs; the tape says
37th pctl our passing-value metric (wEPA) QBs · 160 qualified, n=8
— the tape outruns the hype.Aura — fan perception4th pctl
Production — on-field37th pctl
n=8 mentions · cohort: QBs · 160 qualified · perception = conversation volume, production = our passing-value metric (wEPA)
Buzz vs Tape
Attention percentile: 4th · Production percentile: 38th
His production sits in the 38th percentile among qualified QBs this season, well ahead of 4th-percentile attention — a gap of 34 points between tape and volume.
4thattention percentile · vs QBs
38thproduction percentile · vs QBs
In Their Words
62 windows · 2026 fan posts
delaware×431.7nick×80.4offense×16.3
“Conference USA preseason players of the year: - Offense: Delaware QB Nick Minicucci - Defense: Kennesaw State LB Baron Hopson - ST: Jax State kicker Garrison Rippa”
bluesky_curated · fan post, verbatim
Nick Minicucci
Operates within the system without forcing anything. Second year in the Delaware quarterback room, same address the whole way. 2025 brought the first one: All-Conference USA. One game to point at: 340 pass yds, 13 rush yds against Merrimack — Week 1, 2026.
680 PASS YDS · 4 PASS TD · 26 RUSH YDS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
His career
He was winning awards before he was old enough to be a story.
2023
- Signed with Delawareout of Don Bosco Prep
202513 games
- All-Conference USAsecond
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Delaware
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
🎖
ALL-CONFERENCE USA · 2ND TEAM
All-Conference USA 2nd team (2025)
Badges
- Program Benchmark
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Ryan Carty, all pass-leaning offenses — 8-7 over that span.
2025Delaware7-6HC: Ryan Carty · Pass-leaning
2026Delaware1-1HC: Ryan Carty · Pass-leaning
Where this profile ranks vs the QB cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: yards / att (85th percentile). Concern: pass yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (7)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Passing profile
Pass Profile · True throw depth (charted plays)
Adjusted ANY/A, sack rate, and where the yards came from
63 of 63 attempts matched to play-by-play
62 of 63 attempts charted for true throw depth
Adjusted ANY/A
5.7858 of 75 QBsSack rate
8.7%71 of 75 QBsSacked on 8.7% of dropbacks (71 of 75) and Adjusted ANY/A trails the field (58 of 75).
Adjusted ANY/A uses full-season box-score totals (attempts, yards, TDs, INTs); sack rate is play-by-play-derived.
Behind LOS · Negative air yds
15% of attempts (9)
78%comp
Air -4.0 · YAC 11.9 avg
Short · 0–9 air yds
50% of attempts (31)
42%comp1 INT
Air 5.4 · YAC 9.5 avg
Middle · 10–19 air yds
21% of attempts (13)
38%comp2 INT
Air 12.6 · YAC 2.8 avg
Deep · 20+ air yds
15% of attempts (9)
56%comp
Air 27.1 · YAC 6.2 avg
Overall 49.2% completion on 63 attempts · 56% completion on 9 deep attempts (20+ air yds).
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 256 YDS/g, 1.5 TD/g, 7.9 YPA, 1.5 INT/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Ryan Carty
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Watch-list name (model)
Our Heisman model has him inside the top 25; he is not on a published award watch list yet.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
In the mix to repeat All-Conference USA
Based on 2025: #2 of 16 Conference USA QBs
How the All-Conference USA estimate is computed
49% estimated, 95% confidence interval 43–54%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 42–7
vs Merrimack
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Merrimack · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +6.08No Huddle-Shotgun #21 V.Ellison Jr. pass complete deep right to #3 K.Roberts caught at DEL45, for 75 yards to the MC00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 09:11, 1ST DOWN #31 T.Smack kick attempt good (H: #39 J.Cupitt, LS: #49 M.Sills)
- Week 1 · Merrimack · 3&10 · Q3 · EPA +4.10No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci pass complete deep left to #5 D.Lofton caught at DEL47, for 44 yards to the MC39 (#4 D.Ricks; #7 D.Simms), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Vanderbilt · 2&9 · Q2 · EPA +4.09(14:21) No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci pass complete short middle to #5 D.Lofton caught at DEL33, for 57 yards to the Vandy17 (#25 M.Lewis), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Vanderbilt · 2&8 · Q4 · EPA +4.02(06:45) No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci pass complete short left to #5 D.Lofton caught at Vandy35, for 43 yards to the Vandy00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 06:37, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Merrimack · 3&10 · Q2 · EPA +3.44(04:57) No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci pass complete deep left to #14 D.Lewis caught at MC50, for 31 yards to the MC49, End Of Play, 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Vanderbilt · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA -3.24(01:30) No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci pass intercepted by #26 C.Daniels at Vandy36 #26 C.Daniels return 8 yards to the Vandy44, End Of Play
- Week 2 · Vanderbilt · 2&6 · Q4 · EPA +3.00(08:11) No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci pass complete short middle to #3 K.Roberts caught at DEL16, for 31 yards to the Vandy45 (#3 C.Lawrence; #10 B.Allen), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Merrimack · 2&10 · Q2 · EPA +2.83(04:01) No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci rush middle for 12 yards gain to the MC00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 03:55, 1ST DOWN #31 T.Smack kick attempt good (H: #39 J.Cupitt, LS: #49 M.Sills)
- Week 1 · Merrimack · 3&13 · Q1 · EPA +2.70(10:24) No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci pass complete short right to #0 B.Graves caught at MC36, for 14 yards to the MC26 (#3 B.Placide; #8 D.Green Jr.), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Merrimack · 2&8 · Q4 · EPA +2.68(14:55) No Huddle-Shotgun #4 N.Minicucci pass complete short left to #6 N.Tyree caught at MC06, for 8 yards to the MC00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 14:48 #31 T.Smack kick attempt good (H: #39 J.Cupitt, LS: #49 M.Sills)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Balanced passer who operates within the system, without one standout number carrying the profile.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Delaware
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Quarterback · Delaware
Returning around him
- 85% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
- Transfer portal: +5 net (13 in / 8 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Delaware · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #134 · 2026 recruiting class #115
DNA match
Player DNA
Pocket Passer
Balanced passer who operates within the system, without one standout number carrying the profile.
QB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Cole Snyder’s 2022 season.
75%match
Matches Cole on
Total pass EPA (college ability)
Yards / attempt
Rush usage
Differs from Cole on
Weight (higher)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Drew Plitt’s path through Ball State.
97%match
All-MAC
Matches Drew on
Height
Completion %
Yards per attempt
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Keegan Shoemaker's freshman season at Sam Houston (2023).
65%match
Matches Keegan on
TD rate
Differs from Keegan on
Class year (lower)
INT rate (lower)
Yards / attempt (higher)
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #37
Peaked at #37 this season.
Background
HONORS AND AWARDS Named CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week (11/18/24) 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Offensive MVP 2025 Conference USA All-Conference Second Team 2025 Phil Steele All-CUSA Second Team Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2025 2025 SEASON 68 Ventures Bowl Offensive MVP Conference USA All-Conference S...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology