ORONO, Maine — By linebacker standards, the University of Maine’s Kesean Dyson is a tad undersized at 225 pounds.
The average weight of a Division I linebacker is 231 pounds, according to worldmetrics.org.
But that hasn’t prevented him from making an immediate impact for the Black Bears after transferring from St. Francis University in Pennsylvania.
The 6-foot-2 Dyson is coming off a career-high 10-tackle game in UMaine’s come-from-behind 26-15 victory over Merrimack. He had a sack and also forced a fumble.
His previous high was seven tackles in the Black Bears’ 41-24 loss to No. 3 Montana State earlier this season.
The Ashburn, Virginia native is UMaine’s leading tackler heading into Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. Coastal Athletic Association game at Albany. He has been involved in 25 tackles of which 13 have been solo, which also tops the team.
He is averaging 6.25 tackles per game which ties him for 20th in the 16-team CAA.
His two sacks and two forced fumbles also pace the team and he had one of each against Merrimack.
His previous career-high for tackles in a season was 33 at St. Francis a year ago and he is well on his way to shattering that.
UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens said Dyson compensates impressively for his slight size disadvantage.
“He moves really well and plays a good technique so he can put himself in the right position,” said Stevens.
Dyson agrees.
“I use my quickness and technique,” said Dyson. “And I swarm to the ball, no matter where it is. I try to find the ball and get to it. I use my hands, use my technique.
“Like they say, the low man wins,” Dyson added.
UMaine defensive coordinator Umberto Di Meo praised Dyson’s abilities.
“He does a lot of things well,” said Di Meo. “He’s smart, he has good instincts. Even coming here his first year, he’s a guy our guys see doing the right things at the right moments. People believe in him. That’s why it’s easy for him to make plays on the field.”
Dyson is also versatile. He can play both outside and inside linebacker positions and UMaine moves him around in their third down packages, also.
“I’m happy with the way things have gone so far. And I’m happy with where the coaches are putting me. They put us in the right positions to make plays. They continue to challenge me every week. They’ll ask me if I feel comfortable here, I’ll say ‘Yes sir.,’’’ he said.
He added that he and his teammates are close so they help each other out.
“He is a really mature player so you can put him in a lot of positions because he can handle a heavy workload,” said Stevens. “He has brought a lot of positive energy and a great work ethic and great attitude every day.”
Dyson put his name in the transfer portal following his senior year at St. Francis and Stevens and UMaine assistant Spencer Carey contacted him.
He came for a visit in the spring and liked it.
“I saw what the guys were trying to do and their mission,” said Dyson who added that he “loves the scenery” and is a “big nature guy.”
His transition was smooth when he arrived for summer workouts, saying everyone was very welcoming. He liked the brotherhood and the values Stevens preaches every day.
“The summer workouts helped me get into the playbook and build that chemistry with the guys early on,” he said.
UMaine quarterback Carter Peevy has been impressed by Dyson’s play.
“He has been a great addition. I’m really glad he’s on our team,” said Peevy, a graduate student. “He is a great player. He’s always flying around. He’s always around the ball. He gives you everything he has on every snap.”
Dyson is popular among his teammates.
“He’s a great teammate on and off the field,” said senior nose tackle and co-captain John Costanza.
The 2-2 Black Bears, who are 0-1 in the CAA, will take on an Albany team that is 1-2 and is coming off a bye week. This will be the Great Danes’ first conference game.
Albany has had significant turnover off last year’s team that went to the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals. The Great Danes finished 11-4 overall and shared the conference title with Villanova and Richmond with a 7-1 CAA record.
Dyson said the team is moving in the right direction.
“We all have that confidence coming off a win. And like Coach Stevens mentioned to us, we have to be road warriors. We have to get used to not having (our) fans around. We have to focus on us. He’s always preaching that it is all about us,” he said.
UMaine has won seven of the last nine meetings with Albany although the Great Danes have won the last two including a 37-21 decision last fall.
University of Wisconsin transfer Myles Burkett of Albany is fourth in the league in passing (253.7 yards per game) and linebacker Dontae Lunan leads the CAA in tackles and is fifth in the FCS with 11.3 tackles per game.
Peevy has completed 64.42 percent of his passes for 790 yards and four TDs. Wide receiver Montigo Moss is fifth in the CAA with 5.3 receptions per game.
