Jovan Belcher, who will co-captain the University of Maine football team this season, was named Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Defensive Player of the Year at Wednesday’s CAA football media day in Baltimore.

The defensive end from West Babylon, N.Y., was one of four Bears chosen to the Preseason All-CAA team. The others were tailback and co-captain Jhamal Fluellen, center Ryan Canary and linebacker Andrew Downey.

All are seniors.

Maine was picked to finish fourth in the CAA’s North Division according the preseason poll chosen by the league’s 12 coaches and selected media.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Belcher, who made the transition from linebacker to defensive end last season, led the CAA in sacks with 10 and tackles-for-loss with 17. He was seventh in sacks per game (0.91) in the Football Championship Subdivision and 18th in all of Division I football.

Belcher finished with a career-high 85 tackles. and was a first team All-CAA selection, a second-team AP All-American, a third-team Sports Network All-American and a New England Football Writers’ All-Star.

He has received two preseason All-American honors this summer.

“We’re obviously pleased at the recognition of Jovan’s talents and the talents of our defense,” said 16-year Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove. “I’m excited about Jovan and his development. He’s got such [great] physical ability. He’s got explosive tenacity. He’s a very hostile kid on game day.

“Jovan could surprise people. He has prepared so well in the off-season, I think he’s going to have a great, great year,” added Cosgrove.

Belcher said he was “shocked” when he learned of his preseason honor.

“I was surprised. It just makes me want to work a lot harder. I want to crush everything I did last year,” said Belcher.

Fluellen, of Lockport, N.Y., rushed for 1,052 yards last fall, becoming just the eighth back in school history to top 1,000 yards in a season. He averaged 4.7 yards per rush and 95.6 yards per game. He was also the team’s No. 2 receiver with 27 receptions for 302 yards.

Fluellen was a third-team All-CAA pick a year ago.

“He’s very talented,” said Cosgrove. “He’s a great running back and a great receiver. And he’ll block.”

Cosgrove said Fluellen continues to work hard on his strength and conditioning so he can stay in games longer and get more touches on the ball. He added Fluellen is capable of averaging better than 4.7 yards per carry and could catch even more balls this season.

Canary, a native of Point Pleasant, N.J., has started 22 games at center over the past two seasons and was an integral part of an offensive line that enabled Maine to rush for 178.7 yards per game and average 4.2 yards per rush. He was an All-CAA second-team choice a year ago.

“He has been a consistent performer for us,” said Cosgrove. “He’s a great technician. He’s a tough hard-nosed kid who loves the game. He’s very smart and, being the center, he has to focus in on [defensive] fronts and call the blocking assignments and help the quarterback. And he is really tuned in to that stuff.”

Downey played in just nine games due to injury last season but was still in on 78 tackles including five for losses. He also forced two fumbles.

“He’s an outstanding football player who was a high school quarterback and had to learn the position. He has a tremendous upside,” said Cosgrove. “He has a lot of physical similarities to [former Maine All-American and current San Diego Charger] Stephen Cooper and he also has the same passion for the game. He could be a one of the best linebackers in the conference.”

Cosgrove also said he wasn’t surprised at being picked fourth in the North Division.

“That’s pretty standard over the years. The league is clearly defined,” said Cosgrove. “We’ll have more experience this year. We’ll have 16 seniors instead of 10. Last year we lost a couple of overtime games and a couple more games late and, with more experience, hopefully we’ll pull those out this year.”

University of Massachusetts senior quarterback Liam Coen was picked as the CAA’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

UMass was picked to be the league’s overall champion as well as the North Division winner. Richmond was chosen to win the South Division.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

990-8231