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Though Morse Field is covered in snow, football is in the news here at the University of Maine as the 2011 recruiting class and schedule have been announced.
The Black Bears added 18 recruits, headlined by the 23-year-old transfer student from Santa Barbara City College, linebacker Sam Shipley.
“Shipley was a very unique case for us,” head coach Jack Cosgrove wrote in an e-mail. “He recruited us at first and any time that happens, it gets your attention. We were impressed with his credentials as a student, athlete and young man.”
Shipley finished last season with the eighth most tackles in California colleges.
Two Mainers were recruited, with tight end Josiah Hartley coming out of Bangor High School and linebacker John McCabe from Winslow High School.
“The two young men are very excited to be joining our program,” Cosgrove wrote. “They will be making big steps into the Division-I ranks, but we wouldn’t have recruited them if we didn’t feel they could do it. Both will bring a great deal of energy into our program.”
On the offensive side of the ball, wide receivers and offensive linemen were areas of need, with four of each recruited. Incoming offensive linemen include Daniel Carriker from Alexandria, Va., Chase Hoyt from West Chester, Pa., Bruce Johnson from Rochester, N.Y. and Benedict Wezel from Berlin, Germany.
For wide receivers Daniel Upson from Montgomery Village, Md., Zedric Joseph from Wst Palm Beach, Fla., Isaiah Jones from Orange, Mass. and Najee Green from Accokeek, Md. join the team. Other offensive additions include fullbacks Cody Simcox from Sinking Spring, Pa. and CJ Dawson from Natick, Mass.
In addition to Shipley and McCabe as linebackers, the Black Bears added Brian Anthony from Columbia, Md. Also on the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Sherrod Baltimore from Fort Washington, Md., strong safety Aamad Bush from Montclair, N.J., defensive end Michael Kozlakowski from Lynbrook, N.Y. and cornerback Malik Walker from East Orange, N.J. were recruited.
“Defensively, we targeted the linebacker and corner positions,” Cosgrove wrote.
The day before National Signing Day, which took place Feb. 1, came the announcement of the 2011 schedule.
Highlighting the marquee matchups, the Black Bears travel to Pennsylvania Sept. 10 to take on Big East member University of Pittsburgh. It will be the eighth consecutive season the Black Bears battle a Football Bowl Subdivision squad, with Syracuse University filling that spot the last two seasons.
“Our BCS game at Pittsburgh is going to be a daunting task, but one we are very excited to undertake,” Cosgrove wrote.
The Black Bears open Colonial Athletic Association play against FBS runner-up, the University of Delaware Oct. 1.
“Opening our CAA schedule against national championship finalist Delaware gets your attention as to the quality of our conference,” Cosgrove wrote.
UMaine’s final regular season game is at the University of New Hampshire, where the Black Bears will put their Brice-Cowell Musket on the line against the Wildcats Nov. 19. The Black Bears regained the musket for the first time in seven years last season in overtime.
Bangor Daily News