Cornerback can be the loneliest position on the football field.
A player in that position can be isolated in a one-on-one against a speedy and elusive wide receiver who knows exactly where he is going to go and who has become closely dialed in to the quarterback through numerous repetitions in practice.
The ball is often thrown before the receiver even looks back for it.
That’s what Jamaree Gibson likes about it.
“It’s very tough. It’s very nerve-wracking, especially if you’re in man-to-man coverage where the best man wins. That’s my favorite part of it,” Gibson said.
Gibson is a redshirt junior cornerback for the University of Maine who was an All-Coastal Athletic Association honorable mention a year ago and an All-CAA preseason selection for this coming season.
He was involved in 34 tackles last season, which was 11th most on the team. Twenty-six were solo tackles, which tied him for the team lead.
His nine pass breakups led the Black Bears.
He had an interception and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown with 1:46 remaining to sew up a 34-20 win over Albany.
“That felt really good,” Gibson said.
Gibson had a great finish to the 2024 season with 26 of his 34 tackles and seven of his nine pass breakups coming in his last five games.
“He has matured a ton since he got here,” UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens said. “He has gotten bigger. He has gotten stronger. He is a big corner. He is one of the fastest guys in our league and is really consistent on and off the field. I have full trust and confidence in him.”
Stevens said Gibson can cover the entire field and can take away one side of the field with his ability to cover receivers.
“We’ve been really proud of his development,” Stevens said.
UMaine defensive coordinator Umberto Di Meo said Gibson’s work ethic has improved and it is showing on the practice field and in games.
“He has the tools,” Di Meo said. “He has the length and the speed and the size. And he is a physical player. He has good technique. He can get his hands on wide receivers and he can run and that’s all you can ask out of your cornerbacks.”
The 6-foot, 205-pound Gibson was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at East High School in Rochester.
During his senior year of high school Gibson was the only hurdler in his section to eclipse 15 seconds in the 110 high hurdles ,with a time of 14.94 seconds.
“He is a great athlete,” UMaine graduate student quarterback Carter Peevy said. “He did good things for us last year and I’ve seen him develop in his technique and knowledge of the game. He has come a long way.”
Gibson began playing cornerback when he was 14 years old. He had been a running back.
Gibson was a redshirt and didn’t play his freshman season at UMaine before appearing in 10 games as a sophomore in 2023, being involved in 19 tackles including 13 solos.
He feels he made “big improvements” between 2023 and 2024, crediting “watching film, paying attention in meetings, working on my technique and being locked in during practice” for his development.
Gibson, who also clocked a 4.5-second 40-yard dash in high school, said he decided to attend UMaine because of the close-knit team and the competitive conference.
“It was a no-brainer,” Gibson said.
He was pleased to be recognized as an All-CAA honorable mention and his goal for this season is to get better in all facets of his game and to do whatever he can to help the team win.
Even though the defense was hit hard by the departure of graduates and transfers, he said it is coming along well thanks to the players’ work on the field, the stability provided by Di Meo and social activities designed to further develop an already-healthy chemistry.
“We’re going in a positive direction,” he said.
UMaine opens the season at Liberty University on Aug. 30.
