University of Maine graduate student linebacker Christian Thomas, whose 120 tackles this season are the 11th most in program history, has earned a spot on the All-Coastal Athletic Association first team.
The all-conference honors were announced on Tuesday, and five other Black Bears earned spots on the second or third teams. Four more were given honorable mentions.
Harvard University transfer Scott Woods, a graduate student, claimed two spots as he was the second team punt returner and third team wide receiver.
Sophomore offensive tackle Anthony Iliano was chosen to the second team as was sophomore free safety Devin Vaught.
Junior running back Sincere Baines and sophomore defensive tackle Elias Sherman were third team choices.
The honorable mentions were graduate student quarterback Carter Peevy and cornerback Vincent Nwachi, senior kickoff returner Trevin Ewing and junior cornerback Jamaree Gibson.
Thomas, whose 120 tackles is second-most in the CAA, led the team with 12 tackles for lost yards and was second in sacks with five. He forced a fumble, recovered one and had three pass breakups.
Thomas had five games with 10 or more tackles and nine with eight or more for the 6-6 Black Bears. He had 19 tackles in a loss to CAA regular season champion Rhode Island and 15 against Football Bowl Subdivision team Liberty University.
“He has been relentless to the ball,” UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens said recently. “He finds a way to get to the ball. He has a tenacity and a passion you can feel when he plays.”
Iliano anchored an offensive line that helped produce an average of 163.8 rushing yards per game, fourth best in the 14-team league, and an average of 4.8 yards per rush which was third best. UMaine allowed just 18 sacks for an average of 1.5 per game, which was tied for second fewest.
Woods averaged 24.9 yards per punt return including an 85-yarder for a touchdown against Elon. As a wide receiver, he had a team-high and career-high 55 catches for 653 yards and five touchdowns.
Vaught was the team’s second-leading tackler with 60 and was second in the CAA with three interceptions. He had five pass breakups which tied for the team lead.
Baines, a transfer from the University of North Carolina Pembroke, rushed for 709 yards on 122 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry. That was second-best in the CAA and 25th in the Football Championship Subdivision among 126 schools.
Baines also caught 13 passes for 45 yards. He ran for three touchdowns and caught a TD pass.
Sherman had a team-high 5.5 sacks among his 48 tackles, which were fourth most on the team. The 5.5 sacks were 12th-most in the CAA. His 10 tackles for loss was second-most on the team.