Cape Elizabeth’s Nick Laughlin, who was the University of Maine’s third-leading pass receiver a year ago, will have to wait at least a week before making his Black Bear debut as a running back.
Laughlin has a hand injury and will miss Saturday’s season opener in Virginia against Football Bowl Subdivision school Liberty University, according to UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens.
Stevens said he doesn’t anticipate it being a long-term injury.
“He’s doing really well, and we expect to have him back soon,” Stevens said. “I just don’t have a timetable right now.”
Stevens said Laughlin has a doctor’s appointment next week, and he could “possibly” be back for their second game and first Coastal Athletic Association contest at William and Mary on Sept. 6.
Laughlin, a redshirt sophomore with three years of eligibility left, caught 22 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown last season. He caught at least three passes in five of UMaine’s 12 games, including a career-high five receptions for 61 yards and a TD in a 38-26 win over Bryant.
The only two receivers with more receptions were Montigo Moss (61 catches, 722 yards) and Joe Gillette (30 for 466 yards), who have both graduated.
Laughlin carried the ball three times and had a five-yard touchdown run in their loss to FBS team Oklahoma.
He also played on all four of UMaine’s special teams last season and had five tackles and two kickoff returns for 22 yards.
The decision was made to move him to running back in January.
“You get the ball into his hands and he makes some magic happen,” UMaine offensive coordinator Mikahael Waters explained after the 19th annual Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Game in April. “We’re trying to find a way to get him the ball as much as we can.”
Waters said Laughlin had some of the best contact balance on the team and rarely went down after the first hit.
Laughlin put on 10 pounds to get up to 210 pounds in making the transition.
“He is really dynamic in many facets of the game: running, catching, blocking, special teams,” Stevens said Wednesday. “We’ll get him back as soon as we can but we obviously want to take care of his body and his health right now.”
Stevens said Laughlin has done a “nice job” at running back.
“It has been pretty natural,” Stevens said. “He did some of those things last year when we aligned him in the backfield but, this year, it will be more of a primary focus back there.”
