19 sign to play for UM Fitzy finalist Villacci commits

Coach Jack Cosgrove realizes not everyone is a good fit to play football at the University of Maine. Each year, he and his staff try to identify student-athletes who truly want to become Black Bears.

Cosgrove on Wednesday announced 19 players have signed National Letters of Intent to attend UMaine in the fall.

“It’s quite an extensive process, one that’s challenging and always a little nerve-wracking, but for the most part we end up with the guys who want to be here and who want to be part of this program and part of this environment,” Cosgrove said.

In recent years, UMaine has successfully recruited several talented players who had not attracted much attention. Players such as Stephen Cooper, Montell Owens, Mike DeVito and Daren Stone excelled at UMaine, then earned roster spots in the NFL.

“They had no other opportunities,” Cosgrove said. “They’re guys that arrived at UMaine with a point to prove, a chip on their shoulder and they flourished in the system here.”

Beefing up the offensive and defensive lines was a point of emphasis for UMaine, which received commitments from four offensive linemen and four defensive linemen.

That group includes two Maine players, Donald Clark of Winslow (6-foot-4, 275 pounds) and Matthew Spearin of Limington (6-2, 275), along with junior college transfers Jonas Rousseau (6-2, 230) of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Eric Lee (6-3, 260) of Changewater, N.J.

Rousseau played last fall at Nassau Community College in Garden City, N.Y. Lee, who attends Dean College in Franklin, Mass., signed his NLI in December.

“We did sign a couple of junior college guys,” Cosgrove said. “We signed them in the D-line because we need some help there a little sooner than at other positions.”

Other linemen who signed were Christopher Howley (6-3, 280) of Runnemede, N.J., and Garret Williamson (6-3, 245) of Flemington, N.J., on the offensive side and Brent Rice (6-3, 250) of Jersey City, N.J., and Doug Alston (6-3, 215) of East Orange, N.J., on defense.

The class also features two other Mainers, Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist Justin Villacci of Gorham (5-8, 170) and tight end Joshua Sundquist of Windham (6-4, 225), who is attending Bridgton Academy this year.

Cosgrove said UMaine had the chance to evaluate instate players during summer camps.

“We had a chance to work with them up close and personally in summer camp and see their skills on our field,” Cosgrove said. “These are guys we had targeted and we really take a ton of pride in getting the top Maine players to play here.”

Villacci, who was a versatile running back, defensive back and kick returner at Gorham, is projected as a wide receiver/kick returner.

“He’s an active kid with his feet and his hands. He can catch the football,” Cosgrove said. “I think he loves the game and that’s an important quality that they all have to have.”

One key position the Bears need to fill is place-kicker.

Senior Bobby Donnelly of Westbrook will graduate, while sophomore Devin McNeill of Portland has left the team.

UMaine has signed Jordan Waxman (6-0, 185) of Kitnersville, Pa., in the hope of filling that void.

According to kicking.com, Waxman successfully converted 57 of 61 PAT attempts and made 14 of 19 field-goal tries in three seasons at Quakertown High. He also averaged 40.0 yards on 55 punts as a senior on his way to all-league, first-team honors as a place-kicker and all-state second-team recognition as a punter.

“We felt that he was a very good kicker and had a real natural leg swing,” Cosgrove said. “He kicks and punts, which made him more attractive to us.”

The rest of the UMaine recruiting class, which includes 10 players from New Jersey, is made up of: tailback Pushaun Brown (5-10, 200), North Brunswick, N.J.; linebacker Donte Dennis (5-11, 205), Rahway, N.J.; LB Kris Enslen (6-4, 225), Middletown, N.J.; tight end Jeff Falvey (6-5, 225), Cicero, N.Y.; LB Vinson Givans (6-0, 216), Cambridge, Mass.; safety Michael Kuhn (5-10, 180), Martinsville, N.J.; wide receiver Daniel Parker (6-3, 215), New Rochelle, N.Y., and WR Demetrius Washington-Ellison (6-2, 180), Rahway, N.J.

All NLI signings are contingent upon admission to UMaine and compliance with NCAA initial eligibility guidelines.

pwarner@bangordailynews.net

990-8240