The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens moved to the FBS in 2025, and one year later, they have their highest-rated recruit in history.
Julian Reese II, a four-star quarterback prospect according to On3 Sports, announced his commitment to Delaware on Instagram on Thursday, Aug. 27. Reese is a class of 2027 prospect from Amarillo Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, TX, where he plays quarterback and free safety. The four-star recruit is the 28th-ranked quarterback prospect per On3 Sports and the 16th-ranked
athlete per 247Sports.
He is the first four-star recruit in Delaware history, according to 247Sports. True freshman wide receiver Carson Griffin, who committed to Delaware in the class of 2026, previously held the program’s title of highest-ranked recruit.
Reese also held offers from Houston, New Mexico, New Mexicon State, North Texas, Texas State, UNLV, UTEP, UTSA, Wake Forest, and Wyoming. However, some schools offered him at other positions such as wide receiver or safety.
The 6’2”, 190-pound quarterback enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 junior season, where he was named the unanimous Texas District 2-5A D-II unanimous MVP. Reese threw for 3,053 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions on 192-for-280 passing (68.6 completion percentage). Additionally, he added 449 yards on 85 attempts as a runner (5.3 average) with 12 rushing touchdowns. As a safety, he recorded two interceptions.
Reese enters his senior season in Amarillo with a commitment to a school roughly 1,700 miles northeast of his hometown. The upcoming 2026 season features the final year of eligibility for Delaware star quarterback Nick Minicucci, who earned All-Conference USA honors after finishing sixth in the FBS in passing yards last season. Minicucci was named the Preseason CUSA Offensive Player of the Year as he embarks on his redshirt senior campaign.
That leaves the door open for the highest-rated recruit in Delaware history to compete for a starting spot as a true freshman for the 2027 season.
