The University of Maine football team wants to go big.

“The girth factor needs to get better,” is how Coach Joe Harasymiak put it.

With that in mind, Maine signed some sizeable linemen Wednesday on the first day high school football players could sign letters of intent to accept scholarships.

Besides adding a couple of tackles, at 315 and 280 pounds, Maine also ramped up its quarterback competition while also filling other needs, including a place-kicker.

In all, Maine signed 15 players Wednesday – including Thornton Academy quarterback Michael Laverriere (who will move to fullback) and Deering defensive lineman Raffaele Salamone.

More players are expected to be announced later, including Thornton wide receiver Johnny Rosario. While Rosario signed his papers Wednesday, apparently all his paperwork is not in Orono because the Black Bears, because of NCAA rules, could not comment about him.

Besides the recruits out of high school, the Black Bears previously announced that three players will transfer in from other colleges – quarterback Max Staver, tight end Brendan O’Neil and offensive lineman Quadrick Barnes.

Staver, 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, has one year of eligibility left after spending time at Tyler Junior College, the University of Florida and Houston Baptist.

O’Neil, 6-4, 230, is from Burlington, Massachusetts. He spent the last two seasons at Wake Forest.

Barnes, 6-1, 320, was a junior college All-American at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

“We needed some older guys at those spots,” Harasymiak said.

Staver’s presence is intriguing. Maine graduated starting quarterback Dan Collins but brings back two quarterbacks – senior Drew Belcher and redshirt freshman Chris Ferguson. Sophomore Jack Walsh left the school.

Plus, Maine signed quarterback Isaiah Robinson, 6-1, 190, from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore.

“His upside is huge,” Harasymiak said of Staver. “He can run a little bit and he does have an (strong) arm. That’s what we like most about him – he can do both.”

Robinson initially gave a verbal commitment – which is not binding – to Rhode Island. Then he visited Maine.

“Maine just was a better fit,” Robinson said. “I liked the coaching staff and I loved the guys. I feel I can grow more as a player.”

But Maine already has three quarterbacks.

“I love competition,” Robinson said.

That’s the idea, according to Harasymiak.

“We want to create as much competition as you can at that position – you live and die by the quarterback,” Harasymiak said.

And the quarterback needs to be protected. Maine felt its offensive line struggled at times last season.

“One of our goals – even with guys we already have – we want to get bigger and stronger,” Harasymiak said.

Thus the transfer of Barnes, along with the signing of Liam Dobson, 6-4, 315, of Ottawa, Ontario; and Archie Callahan, 6-4, 280, from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Harasymiak also said focusing on the defensive line was a goal – not surprising because two starters graduated – and he not only picked up Salamone but ends Daniel Rymer, 6-5, 210, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Jamehl Wiley, 6-2, 256, from St. Frances Academy.

“Jamehl is a great athlete. He’s going to make a huge impact,” said Robinson, his high school teammate.

Maine was 1 of 7 in field-goal attempts last year, including 1 of 4 inside the 20. Maine had a kicker on its shopping list and signed Kenny Doak, a four-year starter at Central Bucks West High in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

According to statistics provided by maxpreps.com, Doak had a stellar sophomore year (8 of 12 field goals made, the longest 43 yards), but was only 1 of 8 this past season, with a 23-yarder. He did made 19 of 20 extra-point kicks and averaged 60 yards on kickoffs.

Among the remaining signees were two wide receivers (Jayvaun Shears, 5-9, 165, McKeesport, Pennsylvania; and Devin Young, 5-10, 170, Binghamton, New York); a running back (Ramon Jefferson, 5-9, 175, New York); a tight end (Grant McDonald, 6-3, 220, Vancouver, British Columbia); a linebacker (Maurice McCray, 6-1, 231, Philadelphia), a cornerback (Shaquille St-Lot, 5-11, 186, Montreal) and a safety (Erick Robertson, 6-1, 190, Haddonfield, New Jersey).

Many will see backup duty next year and some might sit out a season as a redshirt.

But there are always a few that break into starting roles. Last year three freshmen – defensive back Manny Patterson, running back Joshua Mack and receiver Earnest Edwards – were starters.

“We have a lot of guys that excite us,” Harasymiak said.

“Maybe like Manny, Josh and Earnest, some of these guys can step right in.”

Kevin Thomas can be reach at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: @KevinThomasPPH

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