ORONO, Maine — Every successful team needs a reliable jack-of-all-trades.
Former Lawrence High School of Fairfield standout quarterback-safety Spencer Carey is hoping to be that man for the University of Maine’s football team this season.
The fifth-year senior will be playing his third position for the Black Bears as he makes the transition from safety to wide receiver to outside linebacker.
He will also be on all four special teams — kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return — and is the holder for the field goal unit. He can also be used as a long snapper.
“You need those guys in your program. There’s no doubt he’s got tremendous value for us,” said Black Bear second-year head coach Joe Harasymiak during Tuesday morning media day at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium. “He can play a lot of positions. We’ve moved him around to give him the best opportunity to get on the field. He will be on all of our special teams.
“He broke his hand last year and that hurt our special teams a little bit,’ added Harasymiak.
Harasymiak said Carey has “great hands” which makes him a natural to hold for field goals and extra points.
“That also allows us to do different things,” said Harasymiak.
“He has had a real good start to camp so far,” said UMaine defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman. “He’s a guy who played in the past and made plays in games. Now, playing a new position, we’re really excited about what he brings to us depth-wise and in different packages.
“We’re excited about some of the different things he can do athletically. He’s a sharp kid so he can handle a lot on his plate, playing a couple different positions,” added Hetherman.
Carey said the transition to outside linebacker hasn’t been “too bad.”
“You’re playing in front of the safety and those positions are intertwined with our calls. It wasn’t like I had to learn anything new, it was just more technique type of stuff. It has been an awesome transition so far,” said Carey who added that he was fortunate enough to to get a head start on making the transition during spring ball.
“I liked it a lot. It was fun,” said Carey.
Hetherman said the technique required by outside linebackers and safeties is “very similar.”
“He just won’t be in as much space now,” said Hetherman.
Learning to become a holder “was a little different” according to Carey.
“[Offensive coordinator Liam Coen] did a great job teaching me. Now it seems natural,” said Carey who added that it is important to establish a rhythm with the snapper and the kicker and he has to make sure he gets “the right tilt” for the kickers.
He predicted a significant upgrade in the kicking department from last year when the Black Bears were a league-worst 1-for-7 in field goals.
“The kickers have been kicking real well in camp and they’re kicking with confidence. There is definitely going to be a big improvement over last year and that’s going to be very important for us,” said Carey.
The six-foot-two, 220-pound Carey was a redshirt his freshman season in 2013 and had a breakthrough campaign in 2015 when he made 22 tackles while seeing action in all 11 games.
His broken hand limited him to seven games last season as he made the transition to wide receiver.
“We were down in numbers at wide receiver due to injuries so the coaches thought I could help over there and then I went back to safety and, in spring ball, to outside linebacker,” said Carey who led Lawrence to Class A North championships in 2011 and 2012 and was also an all-KVAC basketball choice.
Carey is well-respected by his teammates.
“Spencer has been a great leader for me,” said junior linebacker Sterling Sheffield. “Since he’s older than me, he understands the grind and what you have to do.
“Spence has one of the best football instincts I’ve ever seen. His instincts are crazy,” added Sheffield. “Sometimes, he won’t read his keys but he’ll buzz out to the flat and make an interception. [Outside linebackers coach Jared Keyte] will ask him how he knew it was going to be a pass.”
Carey will be filling in at times for Sheffield when Sheffield moves up to play defensive end.
“He means a lot. He hasn’t been the front face of the program but he has stuck with it and, hopefully, it will pay off for him this year,” said senior cornerback Najee Goode. “He always gives everything he has. He did a very good job at rover (outside backer) in the spring. We were very impressed. He made a couple of plays that safeties would make. That fits in perfectly against the passing game. He will really help us. He’ll also help us in the running game because he’s a good tackler.”
“He’s a guy who does everything right,” said senior offensive tackle Jamil Demby. “He is what a Maine Black Bear is supposed to be. He represents that well, especially being a Maine guy. He takes a lot of pride in that. Wherever we need him, he steps in and does his job. A lot of people don’t see that from the outside looking in but a lot of us guys appreciate him. He’s a really special guy for this team.”
Carey said he is “very excited” about the season. He doesn’t care where he plays.
“I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win,” said Carey who feels in order to get significant playing time he has to “keep making plays, make my reads, play fast and fly to the ball.”
He has no regrets about his decision to attend UMaine.
“It has been a great ride so far,” he said.