ORONO, Maine — Sam Oppenheimer has paid his dues.
After failing to appear in a varsity game for two seasons at Army West Point, Oppenheimer transferred to the University of Maine and received some limited playing time on special teams and in third down situations last fall.
The linebacker earned a starting berth this season, and, through the first two games, he is making the most of the opportunity.
After his first two starts, the Alpharetta, Georgia, native is tied for most solo tackles among players at the 116 Football Championship Subdivision schools with 16.
He also has eight assisted tackles giving him 24 total tackles, which is tied for sixth. His 12 tackles per game average is tied for seventh.
He had 10 tackles in the 21-18 victory over Towson and 14 in last Saturday’s 55-3 drubbing at the hands of Football Bowl Subdivision school Appalachian State .
FBS schools have more resources than FCS schools like UMaine.
“He is a smart, tough, dependable guy and has a motor on the field,” UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens said. “He can make plays from side to side.
“He has had a ton of energy and enthusiasm ever since he got here. He dove into being the best football player he can be. He is seeing what can come from great preparation and focus. It is showing up on the field.”
Oppenheimer credited UMaine defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Umberto Di Meo and the defensive line with “putting me in the right spots to make plays inside the box. We’re swarming to the football.”
He admitted he never thought he would have as many as 24 tackles after two games but also noted that a “lot of work needs to be done” after the team’s underwhelming showing at Appalachian State.
“A lot of mistakes were made, but we’re going to clean those up and fix them. A lot of communication stuff needs to be cleaned up on my end. I’ve got to get everyone set the right way,” Oppenheimer said.
“I’m excited to see him continue to get better,” said Stevens. “There were a lot of things out there he probably wants to have back and wants to get corrected for this week. I know he will. He’s a humble guy who has the right approach to practice, to meetings, to training and to nutrition. I expect him to get better as the season goes along.”
Following last season, in which he had nine tackles in nine games, Oppenheimer said he reflected on what he needed to do to earn a starting spot this season.
“I had to get bigger. I needed to put on 15 pounds,” said the 5-foot-11 Oppenheimer. “I was at 212 pounds last year. Now I’m at 228. On top of that, I also needed to be able to understand the playbook the way Coach Di Meo wanted me to. And I really needed to be more physical. I had to get bigger, faster and stronger. I also had to work on my keys.”
Stevens said Oppenheimer’s weight and strength gains have enabled him to mix it up in the box with the bigger offensive linemen and tight ends.
“It has been great to see him step up,” said UMaine redshirt junior All-Coastal Athletic Association offensive tackle and co-captain Anthony Iliano, who noted that the two of them have a “fun little practice rivalry.”
“He has been playing great,” Iliano said. “I’m really proud of him, and he is going to keep making strides each week.”
The other UMaine co-captain, redshirt junior defensive end Kye Pressley, called Oppenheimer a “hard worker and a great player. To see him evolve as a person and a player has been great.”
Oppenheimer entered the transfer portal after two years at Army West Point “because I was behind two All-Americans and the coach there didn’t recruit me. It was a rough situation to be in.”
Di Meo reached out to him, and Oppenheimer said UMaine really wanted him so he felt it was his best opportunity for him to get playing time.
“The biggest thing that has been so cool about this experience is I’ve been able to see what Coach Stevens is trying to build. The camaraderie and family we have here is special. You don’t have this anywhere else in the country,” Oppenheimer said. “It’s really special to be around these guys. There isn’t one player on this team I wouldn’t want to have dinner with.”
He is looking forward to Saturday’s 5 p.m. home opener against Merrimack. UMaine is 1-1 while Merrimack is 0-2 with losses to nationally ranked and CAA preseason favorite Rhode Island and FBS team Delaware, a former CAA school.
Oppenheimer wants to keep improving and doing whatever he can to put the defense in “the best spots to be able to win.
“I could have zero tackles but as long as I do my job to the best of my ability, and we’re able to win games, that’s all I really want,” he said.