ORONO, Maine — Rashawn Marshall had an impressive first season as a running back at the University of Maine last fall.
The Newark, New Jersey, native was the team’s second leading rusher with 684 yards on 128 carries for a 5.3 yards-per-carry average and was third in receptions with 21 for 147 yards.
He ran for four touchdowns and caught a TD pass and had two games in which he rushed for more than 140 yards.
His 831 all-purpose yards were 19th in the conference and second most on the team behind wide receiver Scott Woods’ 950 yards.
Marshall was chosen a Phil Steele Freshman All-American, and he was an All-Coastal Athletic Association preseason honorable mention.
And he is looking to be a more powerful runner this season after designing his workouts to add some weight to his 5-foot-10 frame.
“I want to be more physical,” said Marshall at the Black Bears’ first practice on Tuesday. “I felt like I had to get a little bit bigger. That was my biggest weakness so I did a lot of lifting and working out and stuff like that.”
“Rashawn did an excellent job in the weight room during the offseason,” said UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens. “He weighed in at 192 pounds. He came here at 156 pounds. He has been taking care of his body, and we’re excited to have him back.”
Marshall corrected his head coach, saying he came to UMaine at 153 pounds, and he said the good thing about his strength and weight gain is “I haven’t lost any speed or shiftiness. And I gained more power.”
He will use that power to fight through tackles to pick up extra yards.
“Coach Green (running backs coach Sean Green) has put a big emphasis on yards after contact. We’re looking to get half of our yards after contact. That’s going to be good,” said Marshall, who was a redshirt his first year and didn’t play.
The running back room will get a lift from the return of Cape Elizabeth’s Nick Laughlin, who sustained a knee injury that required surgery in October. In five games, he carried the ball 31 times for 164 yards, and he also caught 11 passes for 202 yards to lead the team in yards per reception (18.4) among those who caught at least three passes.
“Nick is consistently such a positive, high-effort, disciplined player and teammate,” said Stevens. “He is someone we can count on. He is sure-handed and if you throw the ball to him, you know he’s going to come down with it.”
“Things have been great,” said Laughlin. “Having all the resources around me the past nine months has kept my head on the right path. I worked every day to get back out there and to have it finally come true feels good.”
He said he is 100 percent and said “I am still going to work through it every day and make sure to be the best I can be from game one.”
His goals are to win the CAA championship and regain the Brice-Cowell Musket that is awarded to the winner of the UMaine-New Hampshire game every year. UNH won last year’s game 33-27.
“I will do whatever I can to help those goals come true,” said Laughlin, who will also line up as a receiver.
The offensive focus during training camp is on the battle for the starting quarterback position between redshirt sophomore Eddie Buehler, redshirt junior Caden Drezek and redshirt freshman Michael McHaugh.
Marshall and Laughlin said all three are capable of leading the team and getting the job done.
“I’m confident in all three,” said Marshall. “They’re all eager to learn. It doesn’t matter who is out there or if they rotate all three of them, they’re going to make it work.”
“At the end of the day we’re going to be in a good spot no matter what,” said Laughlin.
The quarterbacks and running backs will benefit from having a veteran offensive line in front of them that includes two preseason All-CAA selections in tackles Anthony Iliano and Andrew Kocan. Starting guards Noah Stanley and Jack Boutaugh are also back with Boutaugh moving to center this season. Tyler Williams got a lot of snaps at guard and he is also back.
Tight end Eli Mahan returns as well.
Iliano was a second team All-CAA selection last fall.
“I’m really excited about the offensive line with the amount of returners we have back,” said Stevens. “They are quality guys, really hard workers and they are leaders. They did an excellent job the past seven months preparing for training camp.”
“It has always been a dream of mine to run behind a line like that,” said Marshall. “They made me feel confident in myself. I love those boys.”
“It feels good running behind those big dudes up front,” said Laughlin.
UMaine placekicker Sam Tremblay was chosen an All-CAA preseason honorable mention.
On the defensive side of the ball, end Chris Bacon and cornerback Jamaree Gibson were chosen to the All-CAA preseason team and end T’Kai Chisolm was an honorable mention.
Gibson was an All-CAA honorable mention last fall.
“All four of our ends return and I’m excited about that group along with our secondary. Both starting corners are back,” said Stevens. “We think extremely highly of Jamaree and his size, strength and speed and ability to cover.
“We have to do a great job continuing to stop the run and eliminate explosive plays.”
The Black Bears were picked seventh among 13 teams in the All-CAA preseason coaches poll.
Defending champ Rhode Island was chosen to defend its title followed by Monmouth, Elon, New Hampshire, Stony Brook, Towson, UMaine, Campbell, Bryant, Sacred Heart, Albany, North Carolina A & T and Hampton.
UMaine opens at Towson in Maryland at 6 p.m. Aug. 27.