Jovan Belcher broke into the defensive lineup for the University of Maine football team in 2005 as a linebacker.

He turned in two solid seasons for the Black Bears, but the coaching staff believed Belcher had the potential to be more productive in a different spot.

UMaine needed to replace first-team All-America defensive end Matt King, who had passed down his No. 9 jersey to Belcher as part of the team’s “Senior Will.”

Belcher made a rapid and successful transition to end last fall. He made enough of an impression to be selected Monday for The Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision All-America Third Team.

“He really had a tremendous impact,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove. “He had what you would call a lot of Matt King in him. We really feel as if Jovan can continue to grow, to play better and really achieve at a high level.”

The recognition was the fourth postseason honor for Belcher, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior from West Babylon, N.Y. He previously was named to the All-CAA football first team and was selected for The Associated Press All-America second team.

He also was named to the New England Football Writers Association Football Championship Subdivision All-Star Team.

“He’s doing a lot of things in the community, in the classroom [3.84 grade point average last semester] and on the football field,” Cosgrove said, “and to me he’s an All-American in all those areas.”

In 2007, Belcher registered 85 tackles, 17 for a loss of yardage, including 10 quarterback sacks. He ranked first in the CAA, seventh in the FCS and 18th in all of Division I football in sacks per game (0.91).

He also led the league with 1.55 tackles for loss per contest.

“He’s got a great burst coming off the edge. He’s a tenacious tackler,” Cosgrove said. “When he gets to the ball, he’s usually in a pretty bad mood. He doesn’t give up for a second. He fights to the whistle.”

Belcher is the 32nd player in UMaine history to gain All-America status. His selection marks the fourth straight year a Black Bear has garnered multiple All-America honors.

UM undergoes youth movement

The UMaine women’s basketball team opened America East play Saturday night with a 67-55 victory over Maryland Baltimore County.

Coach Cindy Blodgett’s 4-10 Black Bears, who have won three of their last five games, continue to exhibit a considerable youth movement.

Freshman forward Tanna Ross of Newburgh and frosh guard Emily Rousseau of Biddeford lead the way among UMaine’s first-year players.

Rousseau, the starting point guard, earned her second straight America East Rookie of the Week honor Monday. She scored nine points, pulled down five rebounds and handed out four assists in Saturday’s win.

Rousseau is averaging 8.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range, second among conference players.

Ross, who finished with two points, grabbed six rebounds and made a steal against the Retrievers, already has won the AE rookie honor three times.

She ranks second on the team with 9.1 points per game and is averaging 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Ross is shooting 37 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and her 2.14 3-pointers per game rank third in AE.

Freshman post player Christina Mosher of Farmington also has been contributing of late. She is averaging 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, we’re playing our young players and we’re playing them a lot,” Blodgett said.

UMaine’s freshmen have accounted for 35 percent of the team’s scoring, 27 percent of the assists, 20 percent of the total rebounds, 19 percent of the steals and 33 percent of the turnovers.

Continuing the youth trend, the Bears’ underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) have accounted for 75 percent of the scoring, 56 percent of the rebounds, 33 percent of the steals and 68 percent of the turnovers.

Brittany Boser, a sophomore forward, continues to set the tone for UMaine. She leads the squad with 10.2 ppg and is second in rebounding (5.3 rpg).

Boser ranks second in AE field-goal percentage at .533, is fifth with an .838 free-throw percentage and is eighth in average minutes played (31.64).

Amanda Tewksbury, a sophomore guard-forward, continues to demonstrate growth. She has contributed 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

With only one senior, guard Kris Younan, on the ballclub and Colleen Kilmurray the lone junior contributor, UMaine has been dealing with inconsistency and mistakes.

Blodgett is trying to be patient with the players when they make mistakes, but refuses to settle for less than maximum effort and intensity from them in trying to work out the kinks.

“I think they all have a pretty good idea of what I’m looking for,” Blodgett said. “If they do the right thing and they do it consistently, they’re going to get consistent minutes.”

pwarner@bangordailynews.net

990-8240