ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine football team’s preseason camp has begun as the Black Bears look to improve after back-to-back 2-9 campaigns. The team stepped onto Morse Field in Alfond Stadium to begin practice on Wednesday.
Here are five areas that will be worth watching during the preseason:
New offensive and defensive coordinators
Third-year head coach Jordan Stevens has new coordinators for the third straight year but both were members of the staff a year ago.
Last year’s coordinators, OC Steve Cooper and DC Jeff Comissiong, left after one year at UMaine.
Mikahael Waters was promoted from special teams coordinator to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and Umberto DiMeo was elevated from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator/linebackers coach.
Stevens said having coordinators who were staff members a year ago will enable them to “grow in their roles and that’s going to help.”
Waters is in his sixth season at UMaine and worked with the tight ends and wide receivers before becoming the special teams coordinator.
UMaine graduate student running back Tavion Banks said Waters “knows what he’s doing. He’s a heckuva’ coach.”
Banks added that Waters has “worked under many different offensive coordinators” and has taken what he has learned from them and formed his own philosophy.
Graduate student free safety Robby Riobe said DiMeo “brings the juice out in everybody.”
The quarterback battle
Last year’s starter, Derek Robertson, transferred to Coastal Athletic Association rival Monmouth so Mercer University (Ga.) transfer Carter Peevy, a graduate student, and senior Anthony Harris are competing for the job with sophomore Caden Drezek also in the picture.
Peevy threw for 2,284 yards and completed 66.4 percent of his passes in leading Mercer to a Football Championship Subdivision playoff spot last year. He threw 11 touchdown passes and also rushed for 12 TDs as he carried the ball 125 times for 324 yards.
Harris completed 13 of 18 passes for 111 yards and a TD in limited service last year.
Drezek didn’t see any playing time.
“The first thing I’m looking for is leadership. I also want someone who can command the offense and can be efficient throwing the football,” said Stevens. “We have a really strong receiver corps and we want to put them in position to make plays by putting the ball where they can catch it and then use their athleticism.”
Stevens said the starting QB must also deliver the ball on time and be accurate.
“Today was a really good first day,” said Peevy, who was one of 92 players who spent the summer in Orono working out. “The whole quarterback room had a great day. I’m excited where we’re at. The offense was really clicking. It has been nice to have a summer to learn the offense. I feel much more comfortable.”
The quarterbacks will have last year’s four leading wide receivers back in Jamie Lamson (49 catches-552 yards), Montigo Moss (37-408), Joe Gillette (36-570) and Michael Monios (28-296) along with dependable tight end Cooper Heisey (22-187).
Running backs
UMaine rushed for an average of 79.7 yards per game last season and only three teams among 122 FCS programs rushed for fewer yards. The Black Bears were 115th in yards per carry (3.01).
And their leading rusher, Tristen Kenan (110 carries-462 yards), has been suspended indefinitely for violating the school’s code of conduct.
That leaves Banks, who was limited to four games last year due to a neck injury, Montana State transfer Jaharie Martin and junior Brian Santana-Fis as the primary ball-carriers.
Santana-Fis carried the ball 27 times for 112 yards and Banks had 37 carries for 103 yards last season. Banks also caught nine passes for 86 yards.
Martin was a tailback and a fullback at FCS power Montana State and had 15 career carries for 56 yards in 22 games over three seasons after being switched over from the defensive unit where he was a linebacker.
“Last year was supposed to be my year,” said a healthy Banks who intends to turn a “minor setback into a major comeback. I feel great.”
He said he is confident that all the running backs will have productive seasons.
“We all bring a different type of game. I’m a speedier guy, Jaharie is a bigger guy and Brian is more of a downhill runner. That mix is going to wear defenses down,” said Banks. “Our offense has a whole bunch of dynamic things it can do and defenses can’t stop everything.”
Three starting offensive linemen will return in junior center Joe Horn and redshirt-sophomore guards Jack Boutaugh and Nicholas Cruji.
Secondary
Riobe and strong safety Shakur Smalls are the defense’s most experienced players with 22 and 17 career starts, respectively. But each played only four games last fall due to injury. They are back healthy now and will anchor a secondary that returns just one defensive back who started the regular season finale at UNH in cornerback Alhaji Kamara, who is now a redshirt junior.
The UMaine defense allowed 239.3 passing yards per game which was 95th best and 416.3 total yards per game (99th).
Jamaree Gibson, who was a redshirt freshman last year, played in 10 games and will have an elevated role this season according to Stevens.
Stevens has brought in some transfers who will bolster the secondary including Isaiah Watson (Samford/Eastern Michigan), Ken Cooper (Merrimack), Jayden Curry (South Florida) and Dorian Blackwell (Nevada). Sophomore returnee Devin Vaught will also be in the mix.
Riobe called their secondary deep.
“Especially at safety. There are a lot of young guys at the corners but they’re working hard and getting better every day,” said Riobe, who is coming off his second hip surgery.
Placekicker
The Black Bears will have to replace Cody Williams, who went 32-for-32 in extra points and was 7-for-10 in field goals including a 48-yarder.
Joey Bryson, who handled the kickoff chores, will inherit that role and freshman Sam Tremblay will also be an option.
“Joey had a great spring and Sam is really accurate and has shown he has a strong leg,” said Stevens.
