BANGOR – Husson College has experienced some growing pains while trying to build a Division III football program from the ground up during the last three years.

You’d never know it by visiting the John Winkin Complex during one of the team’s preseason workouts.

Coach Gabby Price’s Eagles began training camp Monday and, as of Wednesday, was fielding 115 players. That’s an increase of more than 40 student-athletes since last season.

“Three years ago we didn’t even have a field,” said Price, who took over the fledgling program in 2002 and later became Husson’s athletic director.

The charismatic coach, who guided Bangor High School to 129 victories and two state championships in two stints covering 18 seasons, is thrilled to have such a large turnout.

“The players were our best recruiters this year,” Price said. “They did a great job with bringing young people in.”

Price expects Husson, which had a 2-7 record in 2004 after going 0-7 during its first varsity season, to continue exhibiting growth as its talent, experience and depth continue to improve.

The Eagles return nine starters on offense and eight on defense and have brought in what it is expected to be an outstanding freshman class.

“We’ve got more depth,” Price said. “Before, everybody was at the same level but now there’s some separation because of the difference in age and maturity.”

Meanwhile, the huge numbers mean many positions are up for grabs.

“The key at any level, particularly where we’re at right now, is competition,” Price said. “We feel like we have competition at every position now.”

Price has not established a cap for how many players Husson can handle. The rules in Division III, where there are no athletic scholarships, do not set any roster limits.

While it will be a challenge to organize and run practices with such a large contingent of players, Price believes Husson can accommodate most of them. Part of that plan is scheduling some JV games.

“We’re playing Bates and Colby JVs and we’re looking for some others,” Price said. “If they get an opportunity to play, [having more than 100 players] is a good thing.”

Even with practice only having just begun, the Eagles appear ready to take another step forward in establishing themselves as a solid program.

“We’re certainly light years ahead of where we’ve been and I attribute that all to the players,” Price said. “They’ve done an outstanding job. We had the best offseason conditioning program we’ve ever had.”

Eagles must replace Prentiss

One position that is a bit of an unknown for Husson early in preseason is tailback.

Former Bangor High School star Mike Prentiss, who rushed for 1,156 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games for the Eagles last season, is no longer with the program.

Price said Prentiss, seeking another academic major not offered by Husson, transferred to a school in Florida back in January. The school does not have a football team.

Prentiss averaged 128.4 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry in his only season with the Eagles.

Among the players vying to earn playing time at tailback are Julius Williams of East Boston High School, Darius Charlton of South Plantation High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Chris Molleur of Windham High.