Derek Runnells of Winslow and Rob Sampson of Portland were key ingredients in the success of their respective football teams last fall.

Next season, they’ll attempt to make the transition to the college level when they join the team at the University of Maine.

Runnells and Sampson are two of only a few Maine standouts who are expected to sign National Letters of Intent today, committing themselves to the Black Bears beginning next fall.

In all, nine or 10 players are expected to sign NLI’s today with UMaine football. Bears coach Jack Cosgrove cannot comment on recruits until their signed NLIs are received by the university.

Runnells was a two-way star for coach Mike Siviski’s Winslow High squad, which made it to the Pine Tree Conference Class B final. Runnells was an All-PTC Class B first-team choice at fullback and defensive end for the Black Raiders.

Runnells rushed for more than 1,000 yards last fall at Winslow.

Sampson was a force in helping Deering High School go undefeated on its way to the Class A state championship last season. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder used his quickness and strength to serve as a formidable pass-rusher for the Rams.

Sampson was credited with 63 tackles, including 131/2 quarterback sacks and numerous other tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The two-time, all-state selection also blocked four punts and recovered three fumbles.

On offense, the defending Class A shot put state champion was a strong blocker. He caught eight passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns.

UMaine squad to run at Millrose

The University of Maine men’s 4 by 800-meter relay team will head for New York City later this week to compete in the 97th Verizon Millrose Games scheduled for Friday at Madison Square Garden.

The Black Bears’ squad made up of Andy Caron of Topsham, Donald Drake of Portland, Sean Steinhagen of Portland and Paul Rupprecht of Yonkers, N.Y., earned the right to run in the meet by virtue of its fifth-place finish last March at the IC4A Indoor Championships.

They are slated to run at 7:15 p.m. Friday.

“This is a great opportunity for us to compete in the Millrose Games, which has one of the greatest traditions in track and field,” said UMaine track and field coach Jim Ballinger. “To be invited to such a meet is a great honor for the University of Maine and it will be an exciting event for the four runners participating.”

The Millrose Games have been held in New York since 1908 and is the longest running sporting event at The Garden.

UMaine plays host to Holy Cross in a Saturday meet at the UM field house.