ORONO, Maine — It’s 6 a.m. and on Morse Field, a solitary figure sprints to a spot, makes a hard cut to his right and catches an imaginary football before making a quick move and sprinting upfield.
Later, Damarr Aultman will attend classes, then spend 2 ½ hours back at Alfond Stadium during the University of Maine’s football practice.
It’s all in a day’s work for Aultman, who doesn’t shy away from doing a little extra to achieve his football goals. It’s a mindset he learned from his father, David Aultman.
“He told me, the day you know that you want it bad is the day you can go out there yourself, put on the shoes and just run,” Damarr Aultman said of his father, who served in the U.S. Army, as did his mother Shuwanda.
“He really taught me you’ve got to be hungry and if you want something, you’ve got to work for it and go get it,” Aultman said.
Aultman, a fifth-year senior from Wheatley Heights, New York, hopes to demonstrate the fruits of his labor on Saturday when UMaine plays host to sixth-ranked Villanova in a 12:30 p.m. Colonial Athletic Association game at Alfond Stadium.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound wide receiver is a big-play threat for the Black Bears. This season, as part of a rebuilding offense, he has made 11 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown.
UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove praised Aultman’s notable effort in the Bears’ 27-21 win at Towson last Saturday.
“He made five big catches for us in the game, blocked his butt off, played his fanny off,” Cosgrove said. “He’s really working at being a major influence on this football team.”
Aultman was among the key offensive weapons on UMaine’s 2013 CAA championship squad as he made 46 catches for 550 yards and five touchdowns. This year, his numbers are down as the offense adjusts to new personnel, including a new starting quarterback in Dan Collins.
It’s a transition Aultman has made before. He caught passes from senior quarterback Warren Smith in 2011, then developed a rapport with Marcus Wasilewski the next two years.
While the catches haven’t come as frequently this season, Aultman tries to concentrate on his own efforts.
“I’ve been working extra hard, running extra routes in the morning by myself,” he explained.
“I usually point the finger at myself, how can I get better, before anything else,” he said.
Aultman’s efforts have paid dividends in his on-field productivity. He goes into Saturday’s game ranked 11th in receiving yards (1,728) and 12th in receptions (125) on UMaine’s career lists.
He brings a variety of skills to the table as a receiver. He’s fast, strong and shifty, which means any play could turn into a touchdown.
“He’s a playmaker,” UMaine wide receivers coach and offensive special teams coordinator Kyle Archer said.
“He’s always fighting for yards. That’s the fun thing with him, when the ball’s in his hands, anything can happen,” he added.
Aultman serves as a kickoff returner. He is averaging 25 yards per attempt this season and has 996 career return yards.
“He has great physical tools — speed, vertical jump, quickness, lateral agility,” Cosgrove said. “He’s strong through the legs and hips and has had some electrifying plays in his career here.”
Aultman’s accountability and his passion for the game are dynamics noted by Archer.
“This kid loves to play football,” Archer said. “He loves to compete, he loves to make plays. He’s always got a smile on his face when it’s football.”
According to Aultman, the UMaine coaching staff discovered him by accident. Former coach Dwayne Wilmot was recruiting on Long Island when he saw a TV postgame interview with a young wide receiver from Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, New York.
The interview subject was Aultman who, after an outstanding performance in a Long Island championship game, was asked why he didn’t have any scholarship offers.
“Ironically, coach Wilmot was at his hotel and he saw that and he said let me see what this kid is about,” Aultman explained.
He chose a subsequent scholarship offer from UMaine over one from Bryant University, citing the program’s status in the CAA and its propensity for producing NFL players.
Although he will earn his business management degree in December, Aultman plans to continue pursuing his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL by helping UMaine have a strong season.
“I’ve always been a hundred percent dedicated to that since I started playing football,” Aultman said. “I’ve been trying to stay focused, not lose the hunger. I’m chasing perfection.”