Drew Belcher of the University of Maine, who made the transition to tight end after spending two seasons as a quarterback, signed an undrafted free agent deal with the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, according to a University of Maine news release.
In addition, UMaine linebacker Sterling Sheffield and wide receiver/punt returner Micah Wright received invitations to attend the Cincinnati Bengals and Cardinals’ minicamps, respectively.
Belcher caught 63 passes for 581 yards and three touchdowns over his last two seasons including 46 receptions for 357 yards and a TD last fall.
He was the team’s third-leading receiver.
Belcher caught at least four passes in six games with a season-high six catches for 14 yards against the University of Rhode Island. He caught five passes against New Hampshire, William and Mary and Weber State and four against Towson and Elon.
Belcher also threw four passes and completed all four for 61 yards and two touchdowns. He ran the ball six times for 13 yards.
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Belcher was a graduate student and was one of the captains of the first UMaine team to ever reach the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals.
UMaine went 10-4 and won the Colonial Athletic Association with a 7-1 record after being picked eighth in the preseason poll.
In his first two seasons as a quarterback, Belcher completed 57 percent of his passes (155-for-272) for 1,468 yards and seven touchdowns. The versatile Belcher also rushed for 626 yards and three TDs on 203 carries and was the team’s second leading rusher each season.
He had a redshirt year in 2016 and became a tight end/H-back in 2017.
Sheffield was an All-American and an All-CAA first-team pick last season. He notched 84 tackles and led the CAA in tackles for loss with 18. He tied for third in sacks with 9.5.
The 6-2, 240-pound Sheffield also recovered three fumbles, including one for a touchdown, and had an interception and seven pass breakups. He forced two fumbles.
He concluded his career with 229 tackles, including 44.5 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks and five interceptions.
The 6-0, 195-pound Wright was named to the All-CAA third team after finished second on the team in receptions with 47 for 539 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned 18 punts for 97 yards.
Wright made at least four catches in seven games. He concluded his career sixth on UMaine’s all-time list for receiving yards (2,143) and seventh in receptions (160).