The 20th annual University of Maine Jeff Cole Memorial Spring Football game will be held on Saturday on Morse Field in Orono.
The annual game is the first chance to see the team for the upcoming season, and this year the focus will be on the quarterback, wide receiver, interior defensive line and linebacker positions.
The game, which will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude with a red zone competition between the offense and the defense, is named in honor of the late UMaine assistant coach who died of cancer in October 2004.
At quarterback, veteran backups Caden Drezek and Eddie Buehler and redshirt freshman newcomer Michael McMaugh are the candidates to replace two-year starter and All-Coastal Athletic Association honorable mention Carter Peevy. At receiver, the departures of leading pass-catchers Scott Woods, Mo Irefin and Trevin Ewing create lots of available playing time at the position.
Woods was an All-CAA third team wide receiver and a second team punt returner and Ewing was an honorable mention kickoff returner.
On defense, the decision of Jaedin Lee and Elias Sherman to transfer leaves gaps at the nose tackle and defensive tackle spots, and the graduation of leading tackler Christian Thomas and third-leading tackler Latrell Couchman opens up jobs at the linebacker position.
Thomas was a first team All-CAA choice and Sherman was a third teamer.
All-CAA Second team safety Devin Vaught has transferred.
UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens has said he has confidence in the quarterbacks despite their lack of game experience.
“They all have arms that can make us efficient in the passing game,” he said
Stevens also said he’s been “really pleased” with the receivers including returnees Evan Wallace and Ty’ee Stephens along with newcomers Malik McNeely, Corey Rideout, Major Leak and Keyon Concepcion.
“It has been great to see their growth and development,” said Stevens.
McNelly, a transfer from the Virginia Military Institute, and Rideout both stand 6-foot-4-inches.
“We wanted to bring some length to that position,” said Stevens. “That’s something we really wanted to improve.”
He expects one definite strength to be his offensive line, which returns four starters in guard-turned center Jack Boutaugh from Turner, tackles Anthony Iliano and Andrew Kocan and guard Noah Stanley. Iliano was a second team All-CAA pick.
They also have graduate student Tyler Williams and redshirt freshman Anton Kravchuk in the mix. Kravchuk played at Fryeburg Academy.
“Our offensive line will be improved with the depth we have,” said Stevens. “I’m looking for them to take the next step in the process.”
All-CAA running back Sincere Baines transferred, but freshman third team All-American Rashawn Marshall, Cape Elizabeth’s Nick Laughlin and converted wide receiver Daniel Batch are back, and redshirt-senior Symon Sathier returns after missing last season due to injury.
Laughlin got injured halfway through the season but is progressing nicely in his injury rehab, according to Stevens. He won’t play on Saturday.
Eli Mahan is back at tight end.
The defense will feature All-CAA honorable mention cornerback Jamaree Gibson and defensive ends Ta’kai Chisolm and Chris Bacon, who were among the sack leaders with 4.5 and 4, respectively. Bacon had 7.5 tackles for lost yards and Chishom had 5.
Bacon was the team’s sixth-leading tackler with 35, Gibson had 34 and shared the team lead in pass breakups with 5 and Chisolm had 30 tackles.
Experienced cornerback Brayden Isaiah and safety Jake Kucera will also headline the defense along with linebacker Noah Carpenter from Greene.
“Noah has done a real nice job. He continues to get better. He’s a great athlete and competitor and I’ve been really pleased with him,” said Stevens.
Albany transfer Erv Wiggins Jr. has looked good at cornerback, according to Stevens.
“We have a lot of new faces on defense. I want to see them swarming to the ball and playing together on Saturday,” said Stevens. “We’re still working on building that identity on defense.”
