Eleven and counting.
That is the number of University of Maine football players who have entered the NCAA transfer portal including two All-Coastal Athletic Association selections.
Junior defensive end Xavier Holmes, an All-CAA second team selection, and junior wide receiver Trevin Ewing, a third team pick as a kickoff returner, headline the list of players who are looking to take their skillsets to another school.
The others are linebackers Jabari Odoemenem and Tyshawn Stewart; cornerbacks Alhaji Kamara and Daniel Doegan; running backs Tavion Banks and Tristen Kenan; offensive tackle Tyler Williams, defensive tackle Shymell Davis and wide receiver Kaheem Crawford-Patterson.
The players announced their intentions through their accounts on X (formerly Twitter).
UMaine head football coach Jordan Stevens said he wished the players well and “appreciated all they did for us.
“You try to keep your roster intact as much as possible. You make sure they have a great experience. We support them as much as we can. But this is the culture within college football now so you have to pivot and move forward as quickly as possible and put your roster together.”
Stevens said he is looking ahead to next season.
“I’m not going to dwell on (the departures) and beat myself up over it. I’m not going that route. It’s time to move on,” he added. “We will continue to develop the players we have and bring in high school recruits and transfers.”
Holmes, who also earned All-New England honors, became the first defensive lineman in over a dozen years to lead the team in tackles this fall. He finished with 72 tackles and also led the team in tackles for lost yards (12.5), sacks (6), quarterback hurries (7) and fumble recoveries (2). He was tied with two forced fumbles.
He concluded his UMaine career with 123 tackles in 23 games.
Ewing averaged 27.5 yards per kickoff return, third best in the CAA, and returned one 98 yards for a touchdown against Monmouth. He was 12th in the league in all-purpose yards per game with 87. He carried the ball 13 times for 120 yards and caught 10 passes for 182 yards.
He finished his career with 1,942 yards on 81 kickoff returns; 485 yards on 36 receptions and 22 rushes for 184 yards.
Banks carried the ball 68 times for 271 yards and caught 10 passes for 32 yards. During his career, he gained 580 yards on 168 carries and caught 27 passes for 196 yards.
Odoemenem had 36 tackles including three for lost yards; Davis had 27 tackles including 3.5 for lost yards; Kamara had 23 tackles and tied for the team lead in interceptions with three; Stewart was involved in 18 tackles and Doegan had seven tackles.
Crawford-Patterson didn’t have any catches and Kenan didn’t play after leading the team in rushing in 2023 with 462 yards on 110 carries.
The Black Bears have seven players who are coming in through the early signing period in offensive lineman Anton Kravchuk and Noah Shimko; defensive lineman Rafael Thompson Cazzetta, tight end Sebastian Ramery, defensive back Kash Grewal, wide receiver Daniel Batch and linebacker Shane Keyes-Wilson.
“We’re really excited about this group,” said Stevens. “They’re a high-character group who come from great families. They’re going to be a great fit here.”
