Recruiting is the most important dynamic in building a successful Division I athletic program.
First-year head football coach Joe Harasymiak hopes the group of 15 student-athletes the University of Maine is bringing in will be the building blocks of the Black Bears’ future.
Two NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision transfers and a pair of Maine high school standouts were among the players UMaine introduced on Wednesday as being members of their 2016 recruiting class that will join #Club207, its Twitter hashtag for the program.
It was the first day of the National Letter of Intent signing period, during which high school players formally commit to colleges.
“It’s a special class for me being my first time, being in charge of the recruiting deal and being the head coach, and going through the process was a rewarding,” Harasymiak said.
“We’re very pleased that we have tremendous football players, but also great young men in terms of their character and the way they represent their families and the schools they come from,” he added.
UMaine will bring in two Mainers, Hunter Smith of Foxcroft Academy and Owen Elliott of Thornton Academy in Saco. Both players have participated in UMaine’s summer camps.
Smith is a 6-3, 180-pound wide receiver whose stock rose as he attended the Boston College Football Camp and subsequently earned a nod to play in the North-South All-American Bowl last month. The son of former UMaine basketball star Dean Smith, Hunter was an All-LTC receiver as a sophomore in 2013 then played quarterback as a junior and rushed for 1,037 yards and 22 touchdowns.
He missed last season with a hip injury, but he returned to play basketball for the Ponies and is a top qualifier in three events for next week’s Penobscot Valley Conference-Eastern Maine Indoor Track League championship meet at UMaine.
“I think he’s got a tremendous up side,” Harasymiak said. “Being a multisport athlete, and throughout the injury that he went through, the kid hasn’t even touched the weight room yet. He’s got tremendous athleticism.”
Elliott (6-0, 210) was a linebacker for the Golden Trojans in their run to a second straight Class A football title last fall. He led the team with 96 tackles and was an all-state, first-team selection as a senior and a three-time All-Southwestern Maine Activities Association all-star.
“He’s a high-character, high-motor kid that we recognized at camps,” Harasymiak said. “He has a tremendous work ethic and is very coachable.”
One of Elliott’s teammates, quarterback Austin McCrum, signed an NLI on Wednesday to attend Division I Lafayette College of the Patriot League, where former UMaine quarterback Mickey Fein is the offensive coordinator.
UMaine previously added Temple University transfer Zaire Williams, a 5-11, 200-pound tailback from Sicklerville, New Jersey, and former Arizona State cornerback DeAndre Scott (5-9, 190) of Philadelphia. Both players were already enrolled at UMaine for the spring semester after completing their transfers.
“We’re really excited about getting those two guys in here. We know they’re probably good enough, but it’s their character (that comes through),” Harasymiak said.
This UMaine recruiting class includes one quarterback, four defensive backs, three linebackers, two wide receivers, two running backs and a pair of defensive linemen. The group represents five states, including four from Pennsylvania, three each from New York and New Jersey, two apiece from Maryland and Maine, and one from Canada.
Earnest Edwards (5-10, 180) is a wide receiver from Aquinas Institute in Rochester, New York. He was a first-team, all-state pick after amassing 28 touchdowns.
“I call him ‘Electric Earnest,’” Harasymiak said. “He’s very quick, dynamic, and has a great presence about him.”
Edwards, who runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, chose UMaine over the likes of Colonial Athletic Association rival Delaware and FBS school Massachusetts.
“There were some high-profile schools that predominantly, since I’ve been here, we haven’t beat [in recruiting], but there’s a connection that was made here between the coaches, him and the school,” Harasymiak said.
With three quarterbacks on the roster and a new scheme in the offing under offensive coordinator Liam Coen, UMaine has brought in Chris Ferguson of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. Ferguson (6-4, 220) captained his La Salle College High School team to a Philadelphia Catholic League 4A championship and a District 12 City of Philadelphia 4A title.
Ferguson is a pro-style quarterback who through 11 games last fall had passed for 1,336 yards and 15 touchdowns, completing 58 percent of his throws.
“You’ve got to be in command. You’ve got to be a leader. You’ve got to not show weakness. I think he’s done that throughout the recruiting process,” Harasymiak said, adding that Ferguson has a long way to go to be a productive CAA quarterback.
Joining Scott at defensive back are safety Demian Thomas (6-0, 185) from Camden (New Jersey) High School and Maryland cornerbacks Jesse Stauffer (5-8, 190) of North Point High in Waldorf and Manny Patterson (5-10, 185) of Mount Saint Joseph High in Baltimore.
The linebacker trio is made up of Jaron Grayer (5-11, 210) from Steelton-Highspire High School in Steelton, Pennsylvania, Toronto native Deshawn Stevens (6-2, 230), who spent two years at Kent School in Connecticut, and Elliott.
The Black Bears also will welcome defensive linemen with 6-3, 260-pounder Skylar Bowman of South Western High in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and Alejandro Oregon (6-2, 230) of Lincoln High in Brooklyn, New York.
Offensive additions include running backs Joshua Mack (6-0, 200) of Pittsford Mendon High School in Rochester, New York, and Williams, along with offensive guard Alejandro Alvarado (6-2, 270) of Bergenfeld (New Jersey) High School and wide receivers Edwards and Smith.