University of Maine linebacker Christian Thomas, who was UMaine’s third-leading tackler last fall, entered the NCAA transfer portal late last week right before the 19th annual Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Football game.
The spring window for the college football transfer portal ended on Friday, April 25.
“Thank you Maine football for the memories, opportunities and friendships mostly over my four years,” Thomas wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I appreciate Black Bear Nation and all the coaches and the players deeply,” added Thomas, who will have one year of eligibility remaining.
UMaine’s leading tackler, defensive end Xavier Holmes, transferred to Football Bowl Subdivision James Madison University (Virginia). Second leading tackler Desean Dyson, a linebacker, used up his eligibility.
UMaine is in the Football Championship Subdivision that has 22 fewer scholarships and not as many resources as FBS schools.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Thomas, who is from Camden, New Jersey, entered last season with 30 tackles in 20 career games.
But he racked up 63 tackles in eight games this past fall, including six for lost yardage with 1.5 sacks, and was involved in at least six tackles in seven of his eight games. He broke up one pass and had one quarterback hurry.
He had a game-high and career-high 12 tackles in the Black Bears season-ending 27-9 loss to arch-rival New Hampshire.
Thomas also led all tacklers with 10 in UMaine’s 59-14 loss at FBS school Oklahoma.
Thomas had nine tackles against Elon and eight apiece against Colgate and Delaware.
