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USA250: 10 greatest college athletes from Delaware
USA250: 10 greatest college athletes from Delaware
Paul Myerberg, USA TODAYTue, July 21, 2026 at 8:59 AM UTC·4 min readDelaware packs some star power into one of the nation’s smallest states.
Despite ranking ahead of only Rhode Island in total square footage, the state offers up two players with a case for being the best in the history of their respective college sport in lacrosse star John Grant and women’s basketball legend Elena Delle Donne.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere are enough options for our list of the state’s top college athletes that former University of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco doesn’t make the cut.
Here's a look at the top 10 greatest college athletes to ever play in the state of Delaware, part of USA TODAY Sports' USA 250 initiative:
10 greatest college athletes from Delaware
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
The nation's top recruit after her high school career, Delle Donne enrolled at Connecticut but quickly transferred back to her home state and put together an unforgettable career. She was a three-time All-America, including first-team honors as a junior and senior, and led Delaware to the Sweet 16 in 2013. She finished her career with 3,039 points, then good for fifth in NCAA history.
Grant on the short list for the greatest men's lacrosse players in NCAA history. The two-time All-America pick had a remarkable 177 points in 32 games, including 110 points when he was named the 1999 national player of the year. He led Delaware to its second NCAA tournament appearance and first NCAA win.
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Mench mashed over multiple baseball seasons for the Blue Hens, highlighted by his NCAA-best 33 home runs in 1998. A two-time All-America pick and two-time American East conference player of the year, he set school records in batting (.409) and homers (71).
Like Grant, Emas has a case for being counted among the best in women’s lacrosse history. She was a three-time first-time All-America pick who left with NCAA records for goals (310) and points (420). The Blue Hens were national champions in three of her four seasons.
2025: Indiana Hoosiers
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)2024: Ohio State Buckeyes
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
College football national champions since 2001
A prolific college passer who was a late-blooming NFL standout, Gannon set Delaware records for passing yards (5,927), total offense (7,436 yards) and rushing yards by a quarterback (1,509). He was an All-America pick and the conference player of the year in 1986.
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John Taylor, Delaware State
Before becoming a fixture at wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, Taylor earned first-team All-MEAC honors in 1984 and 1985 and was the league’s player of the year in 1985. He set the conference mark for career scores (42) and left as the NCAA record holder with 24.3 yards per catch.
Conti set football program receiving records for yards (3,737) and touchdowns (31) thanks in large part to his memorable 1998 season, when he set a Championship Subdivision record with 1,712 receiving yards and had a school-record 354 yards against Connecticut.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRod Milstead, Delaware State
Milstead was a four-year starter at offensive guard for Delaware State who earned first-team All-MEAC accolades three times. He was named to the All-America team as a senior in 1991 before becoming a fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys.
NaJai Pollard, Delaware State
The leading scorer (1,988) in women's basketball school history, Pollard also ranks first in blocks (254) and second in rebounds (1,033). She earned first-time All-MEAC honors three times, was the MEAC rookie of the year as a freshman, was the 2019 MEAC player of the year and three-time first-team All-HBCU. As a senior Pillard led the MEAC and ranked seventh in the NCAA with 22.9 points per game.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNauck won the Honda Sport Award as the nation’s best field hockey player in 2016 after leading Delaware to its first national championship. She was a two-time All-America pick who finished with school record for goals (82) and points (198).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA250: 10 greatest college athletes from Delaware