It’s nearly impossible to talk about Omar Cuff without mentioning the Philadelphia Eagles’ Brian Westbrook.
They’re both from Prince George’s County. They both have had record-setting careers at running back in the lower tier of Division I football, Westbrook at Villanova and Cuff with Delaware. One also hopes to follow the other into the National Football League.
But Cuff, who has 34 rushing touchdowns this season — shattering Westbrook’s CAA record of 29 — balks at the comparison.
“I consider myself to be who I am,” said Cuff, a Landover native who finished fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award, given to the best player in the FCS. “I want set a legacy for myself. That’s how I look at it.”
His 38 total touchdowns is an FCS record, and he leads the nation in scoring (16.3 points per game), but Cuff didn’t have any major Division I offers coming out of Flowers High. He actually began his career at Delaware as a defensive back before getting moved to the backfield four games into his first season. Once the coaching staff gave him the ball, they never got it back.
This fall Cuff has rushedfor a school-record 1,861 yards while establishing new marks for touchdowns in a game (7 vs. William & Mary), season (38), and career (72), along with rushing touchdowns in a game (6) and career (64), and points scored in a game (42), season (228), and career (437). But his strongest legacy may be humility.
“It’s been great because not only is he a great athlete, he’s just a really good guy,” said Blue Hens punter Stuart Kenworthy.
“I compare a lot of what he’s done to how Westbrook came through Villanova, being in that league and getting that opportunity to go to the pros and show what he can do,” said Flowers head coach Mike Mayo. “He’s a versatile back in the mold of Westbrook, and I think he’ll have a lot of success there.”
