The University of Maine’s 19th annual Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Football Game will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium in Orono.
The game, which caps the team’s spring season, is named in honor of the former UMaine assistant coach who died after a multi-year battle with cancer on Oct. 18, 2004.
For head coach Jordan Stevens, who will begin his fourth season in the fall, the areas he’ll be closely scrutinizing will be the defensive line and wide receiver corps since that is where the team suffered its most significant personnel losses.
All four starting defensive linemen have departed along with four receivers who caught at least 28 passes in a season over the past two campaigns.
The departing defensive linemen were among the team’s top nine tacklers last fall. Xavier Holmes was the leading tackler (72), Izaiah Henderson was fourth (47), John Constanza was seventh (42) and Jacob Tuiasosopo was ninth (36).
“We’re really young on the defensive line. We have some guys who have played in certain roles, but now those roles have increased,” said Stevens, referring to reserves such as junior Chris Bacon, redshirt junior Nicholas Kalume and redshirt sophomores Kye Pressley and Ta’Kai Chisholm who will have the opportunity to become regulars.
Bacon and Kalume each played in nine games last season while Pressley and Chisholm each appeared in one game.
Graduate student linebacker Christian Thomas, the team’s third-leading tackler with 63 tackles in eight games a year ago, said the defense “takes a step forward every day.”
“We have a lot of younger guys, and it can be hard for them to understand their role on the team. We have to get them to believe they’re important, and that everybody is important and everybody has a role,” said Thomas.
Montigo Moss and Joe Gillette were the top two pass-catchers last fall with 61 and 30, respectively. Jamie Lamson had a team-high 49 two years ago, and Michael Monios hauled in 28 in 2023. Lamson appeared in only four games last fall due to injury and Monios had eight catches.
“That’s a big veteran group [to lose],” said Stevens. “We do have some key pieces in there, but we’ll probably look a little bit different in terms of size. We don’t have those 6-foot-3 guys. We have [smaller] guys who are a little bit quicker. Our speed is outstanding.”
Returning starting quarterback Carter Peevy said the team’s young receivers have made big strides and the team has also added some promising running backs.
“I’m proud of all the new guys who have come in. They’ve done a great job integrating themselves into the program,” Peevy said.
UMaine will return speedy receivers Mo Irefin (19 catches for 302 yards) and Trevin Ewing (10 catches for 162 yards), and Stevens said Cape Elizabeth’s Nick Laughlin (22 catches for 186 yards) stood out in the last scrimmage.
“He had a bunch of touches and explosive plays,” said Stevens.
The UMaine coach said he has been impressed by transfer running backs Sincere Baines from Division II University of North Carolina-Pembroke and Rashawn Marshall from Division III Rowan University in New Jersey.
“The running back group has really stood out on offense. The offensive line has been a lot better and seeing those running backs get to that second and third level and being able to make someone miss [a tackle] and extend the run [has been good to see],” said Stevens.
UMaine graduated its second and third-leading rushers in Jaharie Martin (104 carries for 381 yards) and Tavion Banks (68 carries for 271 yards). but top ground-gainer Brian Santana-Fis (84 carries for 418 yards) is back.
For the first time in his tenure at UMaine, Stevens will have the same offensive and defensive coordinators for the second straight year in Mikahael Waters and Umberto DiMeo, respectively.
“That’s huge. Continuity is one of the keys to success,” Stevens said. “Those guys do a great job. They’re detailed. They’re passionate about football. They work extremely hard and have great relationships with the players.”
Having Mercer University transfer Peevy return after a solid first season at UMaine in which he completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 2,422 yards and 18 touchdowns is also a big boost, said Stevens.
“I’ve noticed my conversations with him are more about game situations. We’re able to get on that page more this year. So many of those things are hard to get under your belt in the time you have when there’s a transfer coming in. You have to get him acclimated and then you’re playing a game and with a new coordinator as well,” Stevens said.
Peevy directed the Black Bears to a three-win improvement with a 5-7 campaign after back-to-back 2-9 seasons in 2023 and 2022.
“Year two has felt much better,” said Peevy. “Coach Stevens and coach Waters have done a great job with me and making me feel more comfortable.”
