ORONO – Early on during his freshman season in high school, Mike DeVito wasn’t sure he wanted to play football.

Nauset Regional High School, on the lower end of Cape Cod, had recently brought back its football program and DeVito didn’t sense much enthusiasm for the sport.

“There were never that many people interested in football,” DeVito said. “It was more surfing.”

Five years later, Mike DeVito is riding a wave of confidence as a senior captain on the University of Maine football team. The 6-foot-3, 292-pounder, who is among the most feared defensive linemen in the Atlantic 10 Conference, hopes to lead the Black Bears to their first victory of the season Saturday night at William & Mary.

DeVito can’t believe football once didn’t seem important to him. His father Vincent and his maternal grandfather, the late Ralph Consiglio, demanded he stick with football.

“I attribute everything that’s happened to those two, because there was no quitting involved,” Mike said. “I look back now and I couldn’t imagine not having football in my life.”

Consiglio was for 30 years a successful football coach at Suffern (N.Y.) High School, while Vincent DeVito had been a bodybuilder. Their combined influence started Mike on the path to football success.

“My grandfather knew what football was like, what it made people and how much fun it was,” DeVito said. “My dad, in the offseason, as soon as school got out, I would drive to the gym and meet him there and we would lift.”

DeVito, who had caught the eye of former UMaine assistant Jared Backus during a summer camp, earned all-league honors as a 210-pound senior tight end and defensive at Nauset High.

UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove fondly recalled his trip to the Cape with late Bears assistant Jeff Cole to recruit DeVito.

“The best thing about going out there was the scenery, for the most part,” Cosgrove said with a laugh, “but it turned out that he’s a special kid.”

DeVito, who also got looks from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, chose a partial scholarship offer from UMaine.

“I knew right away that this was the place for me,” he said.

Cosgrove said DeVito had raw ability, tremendous intensity and a ton of potential. He has developed into a fearsome defensive tackle.

DeVito, an All-Atlantic 10 second-team choice last season, was then named a preseason All-American by The Sports Network. He has started 23 consecutive games, registering 8.5 sacks during that span.

“Personally, I’m never satisfied with myself. I always think I have a lot to work on,” said DeVito, who is among the strongest men on the UMaine squad. He owns the school record in the squat at 705 pounds and the hang-clean (402).

“[Former strength and conditioning] coach [Will] Biberstein, especially, really showed me lifting for football and putting on weight,” said DeVito, who built on what his father had showed him.

His amazing progression, both in the weight room and on the field, since high school days is a reflection of his willingness to work hard.

“Mike’s a driven and hardworking a kid as we’ve ever had here, a wonderful kid,” Cosgrove said. “He deserves the credit for taking himself to where he is.”

DeVito went from a lightly-recruited, undersized high school player to a full-scholarship Division I tackle.

“He’s a disrupting force who can get in the backfield and disrupt blocking schemes and pressure quarterbacks,” Cosgrove said. “Quarterbacks have got to be aware of him.”

DeVito has caught the eye of NFL scouts with his determined play.

“The best thing about [playing tackle] is there’s really not much thinking going on,” he chuckled. “I just pick a spot and go as hard as I can.”

“Mike has a chance to have a very special season,” Cosgrove said. “He’s being looked at by people who play the game for a living, so he’s got a tremendous opportunity in front of him.”

DeVito, who is majoring in accounting and hopes to work for his father’s construction company, is more concerned about the team’s goals.

“I think it’s all about how you play your last year,” DeVito said, “but right now my focus is the season and this team.”

Leadership and commitment have helped DeVito develop into a respected captain.

“He’s a gentleman in every sense of the word,” Cosgrove said. “Mike’s not afraid of doing anything extra for the betterment of this operation.”