2019 CAA Preview: Maine Black Bears

When the University of Maine opens the 2019 season it will do so with a new head coach and some ramped up expectations.

Aug 16, 2019 by Roger Brown

When the University of Maine opens the 2019 season it will do so with a new head coach and some ramped up expectations.

Nick Charlton, 30, became the youngest Division I head coach in the country when he was promoted from offensive coordinator to fill the vacancy created when former head coach Joe Harasymiak resigned in December to become an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota.

The Black Bears went 10-4 (7-1 CAA) last season, won the Colonial Athletic Association championship, reached the FCS semifinals for the first time, and finished the season ranked fourth in the STATS FCS Top 25 poll. The No. 4 final ranking was the highest in the program’s history.

Maine will open the 2019 campaign at No. 7 in the same poll, return 15 starters from a year ago and was picked to finish third in the CAA Preseason Poll, but hasn't posted back-to-back winning seasons since 2002-'03.

So can the 2019 Black Bears duplicate the success the team had in 2018? Or even come close?

“That’s a question I’ve been hearing a lot,” Charlton said. “It’s a question you want to hear because it means you’ve done something good and you’re trying to build on that success. That’s the challenge here.

“When you look at 2107 or 2016, the couple years that I’ve been here, we’ve always had talented players. Certainly last year (we) probably had a few more, which definitely helps, but it’s the culture in the locker room. That’s really what it was (last season). It’s the leaders, the guys that are playing. I just felt like it was very, very strong. I feel like it’s very strong right now. We’re fortunate we have a lot of guys back, but it’s a different team.”

Offense

Chris Ferguson is back for his third season as Maine’s starting quarterback. Ferguson completed 209 of 371 passes for 2,372 yards and 22 touchdowns with 11 interceptions in 12 games last year. His receiving weapons include wideout Earnest Edwards, who caught 53 passes for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018; and Jaquan Blair, who had 43 receptions for 572 yards and five TDs last year. Edwards led the CAA in touchdowns last season with 14.

Our 'Preseason Position Previews' begin today and will run up until the start of week one!

First up: @CoachDresner ➡️ Quarterbacks/Offensive Breakdown#BlackBearNation | #Elevate | #CAAFB | #BlackBearsCamp pic.twitter.com/CpzjGcCb5b
— Maine Football (@BlackBearsFB) August 15, 2019

Running back Ramon Jefferson, the team’s leading rusher last year with 1,037 yards and eight touchdowns, transferred after he was suspended for an off-campus incident that resulted in him pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. The Black Bears added two FBS transfers at the running back position, Emmanuel Reed (Buffalo) and Jordan Rowell (Northern Illinois). Reed, a graduate student, ran for 1,211 yards over the past two seasons. Rowell didn't log a carry at Northern Illinois, but arrives at Maine with three years of eligibility remaining.

Four starters return on the offensive line, including Liam Dobson, who was the starting right guard for all 14 games last season. Dobson and Edwards were both named to the CAA Preseason All-Conference Team.

Andrew Dresner, Maine’s wide receivers coach last season, has replaced Charlton as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Defense

Eight starters return to a unit that led FCS in rushing defense last season (79.2 per game), finished fourth in sacks and sixth in tackles for loss. The returnees include the team’s top two tacklers from a year ago, junior linebacker Deshawn Stevens (120 tackles, 17 TFL, 9 sacks) and senior linebacker Taji Lowe (85 tackles, 15 TFL and three sacks).

Like Stevens and Lowe, defensive lineman Kayon Whitaker (50 tackles, 11.5 TFL and 9.5 sacks) and cornerback Manny Patterson (47 tackles three interceptions) were selected to the CAA Preseason All-Conference Team. Patterson is one of 25 players on the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given annually to the best defensive player in the country at the FCS level. He led the CAA and was third nationally in pass breakups last season with 22.

Time to preview the reigning #CAAChamps @blackbearsfb #CAAFB 12 Teams in 12 Days takes a closer look at the Black Bears pic.twitter.com/8DMMicEVaR
— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) August 13, 2019

Corey Hetherman, Maine’s defensive coordinator last season, is now the defensive coordinator at James Madison. Michael Ryan, who is in his sixth season on the Maine staff, was promoted to replace Hetherman. Ryan coached the inside linebackers last season.

“We feel very confident on defense,” Charlton said. “I certainly do. As an offensive guy it’s certainly a tough practice day at the office every time you go against them, but that’s what you want. You want a physical, aggressive mentality for your defense. I feel like we have that.”

Special Teams

The Black Bears have one of the CAA’s top offensive threats in Edwards, who was named to the CAA Preseason All-Conference Team as a kick returner in addition to his selection as a wide receiver. Two of the 14 TDs he scored last year came on kickoff returns.

The kicking game took a step forward last season with Kenny Doak, who made 11 of his 18 field goal attempts and 42 of 46 point-after kicks. Doak made a 52-yard field goal to give Maine a 13-10 victory over Villanova and a week later kicked a game-winning 39-yard field goal in a 38-36 triumph over Rhode Island.

Derek Deoul and David Gelb shared the punting duties last season and both are back. Deoul averaged 37.1 yards on 55 punts, and Gelb averaged 36.1 yards on 41 punts. Neither had a kick blocked.

“I feel like the chemistry we have in the locker room is going to go a long way,” Edwards said “If you want to be a great team you have to have that bond and have great players. An average team or a good team is just going to have great players, but not as much good chemistry as a great team.”

Noteworthy Tidbits

Blair, Whitaker, Ferguson and Stevens will serve as Maine’s captains this season.
Maine has two FBS opponents on its 2019 schedule. The Black Bears will play at Georgia Southern, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, and at Liberty, an FBS independent.
The Black Bears have five FBS transfers on their roster.
Because of the CAA schedule rotation, Maine will not play James Madison during the regular season. James Madison was picked first in the CAA Preseason Poll.
Isaiah Robinson, Maine’s backup quarterback a year ago, has transferred to Hampton. Robinson completed 49 of 105 passes for 560 yards (two touchdowns, six interceptions) last season.

The Schedule

Nine Maine games will be broadcast on FloFootball.com as part of CAA Football’s partnership with FloSports. Here's a look at the Black Bears 2019 slate: