ORONO, Maine — Following a terrific career in Division III, including becoming his school’s first-ever football All-American, Molayo Irefin wanted to see if his talent could translate to a higher level.
So he entered the transfer portal and wound up at Division I Football Championship Subdivision team the University of Maine this fall.
Halfway through the season, the wide receiver-punt returner has proven he can play at this level, returning eight punts for 73 yards. His 9.1 yards per punt return average ranks him 25th among punt returners from 123 FCS schools.
He is also third on the team in receptions with 10, and he leads in yards per reception at 17.60.
That is 37th-best in the nation entering Saturday’s 1 p.m. Homecoming game against fifth-ranked Villanova, the preseason Coastal Athletic Association favorite in the coaches poll.
Villanova is 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference while UMaine is 3-3 and 1-2, respectively.
“He has been a game-changer for us. Special teams, offense. He has made some really big catches down the stretch,” said UMaine graduate student quarterback Carter Peevy. “When he gets the ball in his hands on special teams, the other team holds its breath because they have no idea what’s going to happen.
“I’m really glad we got him,” added Peevy.
Irefin, who transferred from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, said the transition has been a good one.
“The team has been very welcoming. It’s been good to test my skills against higher competition,” said the 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Bowie, Maryland. “I wanted to come up here to see how I do against people at the DI level.”
“He has been great,” said UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens. “He has come in and been competitive since he got here. He has a hunger towards getting better every day. It has been a pleasure to work with him.
“Great teammate. Reliable. And he has been producing in games,” added Stevens. “He’s fast, he has good ball skills. He is a deep ball threat. He can do a little bit of everything.”
He had his best game as a Black Bear two weekends ago when he caught five passes for 68 yards to lead the team and share the game-high honors in receptions with Albany’s Seven McGee.
“I’m getting more comfortable in the offense,” said Irefin, who added that there has been a little bit of an adjustment.
He said he has had to get used to the terminology and playbook.
“And the line is definitely bigger,” he added.
But he also pointed out that there were some quality players at the DIII level who were comparable with what he has faced at UMaine.
Being a punt returner takes a lot of courage. The punting team’s members are running full speed as they zero in on the returner. The collisions can be fierce.
“I’ve been doing it since high school. I like it. It gives me a chance to help my team,” said Irefin.
Irefin only played two games at Saint Vincent last fall before suffering a season-ending injury.
But, in 2022, he was named a third team All-American and first team Presidents’ Athletic Conference after leading the PAC in kick return average (27.2), punt return average (15.8) and 12 total touchdowns. He was second in all-purpose yards (1,336), receptions (62) and touchdown receptions (8).
When he entered the portal, the UMaine coaching staff reached out to him. Stevens had recruited players from his high school, Archbishop Spalding, and knew his coach.
UMaine graduate student tight end and co-captain Cooper Heisey said there are a lot of players who “slip through the cracks” and wind up at Division III schools despite having Division I ability like Irefin.
“He’s one of those guys, and we’re lucky enough to have him land here after having a great career at Saint Vincent College. I’m really happy he’s here. He’s a great guy who works his tail off,” Heisey said.
Irefin is enjoying his time at UMaine and said he feels he is getting better every week as is the team.
“We’re making strides,” said Irefin, who has one goal for the remainder of the season: “Win as many games as we can.”
Saturday’s matchup
Villanova is led by sixth-year quarterback Connor Watkins, the preseason CAA Offensive Player of the Year selection, and one of the most experienced defensive units in the FCS with six graduate students and three seniors in the starting lineup.
Villanova’s defense is allowing just 17.5 points per game, eighth best in the FCS, along with 327 yards (26th).
Two years ago, Watkins completed 13 of 16 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-20 win over Maine in Orono. He also ran the ball five times for 41 yards.
He completed 152 of 269 passes a year ago for 2,682 yards and 20 TDs and ran the ball 96 times for 378 yards and 10 TDs.
Peevy said against such an experienced defense like Villanova’s, “we’re going to have to play sharp.
“We can’t make many mistakes, I have to put the ball where it needs to go and our linemen and backs are going to have to execute their jobs in the run game,” said Peevy, who expects to return to form after throwing three interceptions in the 44-21 loss at Delaware on Saturday after throwing only one in the the first give games.
“I pride myself in taking care of the ball. But everyone has bad games, even the greats,” he said. “So you have to have a short term memory. I know I will bounce back.”
