Baltimore, MD — The University of Maine football team has been predicted to finish ninth according the the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) preseason poll, which was released at the annual CAA Media Day held at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. on Tuesday, July 25.

Individually, the Black Bears received four CAA Preseason All-Confernence Team honors. Senior offensive lineman Jamil Demby, senior cornerback Najee Goode, junior linebacker Sterling Sheffield and junior receiver Micah Wright each received a spot on the league's preseason All-Conference team.

Head coach Joe Harasymiak enters his second year at the helm after guiding the Black Bears to a 6-5 mark, 5-3 in CAA play, in his first year. Maine, which returns 15 starters (8 off., 7 def.) and 42 total lettermen, open the season on Aug. 31 when they travel to rival New Hampshire for the Thursday Night Throwdown.

Demby receives his first preseason honor a year after being named to the CAA All-Conference third team. Demby, voted Maine's offensive lineman of the year in 2016 after starting all 10 games he appeared in, will lead a veteran group up front. In 2016, Demby spearheaded an offensive line which tied for fourth in the CAA in sacks allowed (14).

Goode, who also was named to the CAA All-Conference third team in 2016, started all 11 games during his junior season and ranked seventh on the team with 40 tackles. He ranked third in the CAA in forced fumbles (3) including a one that sealed a win for the Black Bears at William & Mary and another in which he returned 74-yards for a score at UConn. Goode added two interceptions in 2016 and made a season-high seven tackles in Maine's season finale against New Hampshire.

Sheffield had a terrific sophomore campaign, earning him a spot on the CAA All-Conference third team. Sheffield set career-highs in sacks (5) and tackles-for-loss (11.0) while ranking third on the team with 65 total tackles. Sheffield, who started all 11 games, also added a forced fumble and an interception. The junior linebacker ranked sixth best among CAA leaders in sacks and seventh in TFLs. Among several highlights was his career-high nine tackle performance against eventual national champion James Madison.

Wright proved to be one of the top offensive weapons in the CAA after earning a spot on the CAA All-Conference first team as a receiver and a second team recognition for his work at punt return. Wright, a Hero Sports FCS Sophomore All-American Honorable Mention, ranked fifth in the CAA with 4.89 receptions per game, third in receiving yards per game (76.4) and eight with 100.9 all-purpose yards per game. Despite playing in just nine games, Wright led the Black Bears in receptions (44), receiving yards (688) and touchdowns receptions (7); the second-highest total receptions for a score in the league. Wright led the CAA in punt return average (11.1) and took one back for a touchdown at William & Mary, helping him earn CAA Special Teams Player of the Week. Wright closed out his season with a career showing after totaling 121-yards and two touchdowns against New Hampshire.

The CAA Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and media relations directors.

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2017 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish

Place	Team (First-place votes)	Total points
1	James Madison (21)	241
2	Richmond (3)	210
3	Villanova	209
4	New Hampshire	169
5	Delaware	133
6	UAlbany	129
7	William & Mary	124
8	Stony Brook	118
9	Maine	100
10	Towson	84
11	Elon	36
12	Rhode Island	31

-UMaine-