ORONO, Maine — Drew Belcher arrived on campus in August and immediately began challenging for the University of Maine’s starting quarterback job.
Two months later, it is his.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder from Reading, Massachusetts, will make his first collegiate start on Saturday when the Black Bears entertain the University at Albany in a 12:30 p.m. Homecoming football game at Alfond Stadium.
“I’d definitely say it’s a little more exciting, for sure,” Belcher said of being the No. 1 guy. “I’m ready to go; not really nervous, just kind of anxious.”
Belcher becomes UMaine’s first freshman starter at quarterback since Jake Eaton in 2009.
Belcher replaces sophomore Dan Collins, who suffered a significant injury to his right (throwing) shoulder while being sacked during the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s 19-7 loss at Stony Brook.
“It wasn’t as violent as it was crushing,” UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove said of the tackle. “Here’s a big, heavy guy [295 pounds] just landing on a shoulder in a way that did the damage that it did.”
Collins suffered a Grade 3 separation of his acromioclavicular (AC) joint that likely will keep him on the shelf for three to five months. Depending upon his rehabilitation, he should be able to participate in UMaine’s spring workouts next April.
The injury opens the door for Belcher to speed up the learning curve as the Black Bears’ quarterback. He has enjoyed limited success while playing in four games this season after debuting against Boston College on Sept. 7.
Belcher has completed only six of 18 passes for 64 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He has netted eight yards on 18 carries, having been sacked several times.
Cosgrove nonetheless likes what he has seen out of the rugged quarterback, especially on the mental side.
“He exhibited a maturity, maybe a little beyond his years,” Cosgrove said. “He did have an advantage in that he ran a very similar offense at his high school. He picked it up quickly.”
That said, Belcher admitted it’s a whole new ballgame at the Division I level. Everything happens much faster, thus putting a premium on preparation and game experience.
“I’d definitely say the biggest challenge is how complex some of the defenses are. They’ll bring more at you,” said Belcher, who credited Collins with providing valuable insight in how to recognize coverages and defensive tendencies.
“Film study [is crucial]. You’ve got to make sure you know what your opponent’s doing, kind of get the answers before you take the test,” Belcher added.
Belcher will make his first start without some of the jitters that might have occurred had he not played previously. It should aid in making the transition to being the starter.
“The way things worked out, that’s to our advantage to have had him on the field,” Cosgrove said.
“You’ll see some fire in his eyes,” he added.
Belcher is among several first-time starters on the offensive unit, which has lacked consistency because of considerable inexperience. He was part of a similar dynamic in his first year as the starting quarterback at Reading High.
It further magnifies the importance of how he approaches his role as the leader of the group.
“I just try to let the guys know that I’m confident, let them know that I’m with them and I’m going to do everything it takes to win,” Belcher said. “Every day I’m trying to earn the older guys’ respect because they’ve been around, they’ve been in this system.”
Belcher said that while he knows he must play better, his work leading up to Saturday’s game really has not differed from that of previous weeks.
“Obviously, it’s a little bit of a different mindset knowing I’ll be starting and playing a lot more, but the preparation’s kind of the same,” he explained.
Redshirt freshman Daniel Hoffer has moved into the backup quarterback spot, while classmate Kellen Croce, a left-handed thrower who also has been working out as a wide receiver, is No. 3 on the depth chart. UMaine has no other recruited quarterbacks on the roster.
Despite playing behind an offensive line that did not protect him well during the first six games, Collins completed 77 of 143 passes for 908 yards with nine touchdowns and only two interceptions.
His consistent growth was evident to Cosgrove and the coaching staff.
“It’s unfortunate for Danny because he had really accelerated his performance, his growth as a quarterback, over the course of the last three weeks,” he said.
“He had found a new level of competition for himself, both in practice and in games,” Cosgrove added. “Hopefully, that’s something that will be a big benefit not only for him but for our program down the road.”