Orono, Maine -- Eleven members of the 2018 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) champion Black Bears received 12 CAA all-conference honors, as announced by the league on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Along with the all-conference accolades, Joe Harasymiak was named the CAA Coach of the Year.

Four Black Bears were honored to the CAA all-conference first-team: kick returner, Earnest Edwards; defensive lineman, Kayon Whitaker; linebacker, Sterling Sheffield and cornerback, Manny Patterson.

Selected to the CAA all-conference second-team were: wide receiver, Edwards; tight end, Drew Belcher; offensive lineman, Liam Dobson; defensive lineman, Charles Mitchell; linebacker, Deshawn Stevens and specialist, Mozai Nelson.

Wide receiver Micah Wright and offensive lineman Cody Levy rounded out Maine's all-conference honorees as each were named to the CAA all-conference third team.

CAA Football's all-conference awards were voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.

Harasymiak, also selected as a finalist for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award, led Maine to its most overall (8) and conference (7) wins since 2013. Under his leadership, the Black Bears earned the league's outright championship and a No. 7 seed in the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Harasymiak guided the Black Bears to wins over five nationally ranked opponents in 2018 and the school's third-ever victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent with a 31-28 victory at Western Kentucky. Harasymiak becomes just the fourth coach in Maine history to be named conference coach of the year.

Edwards, who received a first-team accolade as a kick returner and second-team accolade for his wide receiver performance, tallied 10 total touchdowns in the regular season. Edwards became the first Black Bear, and first CAA player, to return two kickoff returns for touchdowns when he took 95 and 93-yard returns back for scores against Elon. In total, Edwards tallied 19 kickoff returns for 539-yards, averaging 28.4 yards per return. The junior ranked second in the league and ninth nationally in kickoff return average (28.4) and second in the league and fourth nationally with two returns for scores. On the offense, Edwards led the Black Bears in receptions (43), receiving yards (673) and receiving touchdowns (7). Edwards averaged 15.7 yards per catch and 61.2 receiving yards per game. He completed the regular season ranked third in the CAA with 121.5 all-purpose yards per game, second with seven receiving touchdowns, sixth in total receiving yards and 10th in receptions per game (3.9). Edwards tallied three 100-yard receiving games including a career-high 196-yards on a career-best nine catches at William & Mary. For Edwards, the honors are his third overall all-conference honor and second-straight first-team all-conference kick returner accolade.

Whitaker's first-ever first-team accolade comes a year after he was named to the third-team. Whitaker ranked third on the team with 7.5 sacks and fourth in tackles for loss (9.5) while racking up 39 total tackles and a forced fumble. The junior lineman ended the season ranked tied for fifth in the CAA in sacks and tied for 15th in total tackles for loss. Whitaker's best game of the season came in a win over UAlbany where he racked up a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss on a career-best 3.0 sacks. Whitaker posted at least one tackle for loss in six of Maine's 11 games and had back-to-back multi-sack games against UAlbany and Towson.

Sheffield earns his third all-conference honor but first selection to the first-team. The senior linebacker features an impressive stat line of 69 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, six pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception. Through 11 games, Sheffield ranked second in the CAA in sacks and tied for fourth with 13.5 tackles for loss. His 6.3 tackles per game placed him tied for 25th among league leaders while he ranked 19th in the nation with 0.77 sacks per game. His 69 tackles mark a single-season career-high. Twice this season, Sheffield tallied career-highs with 3.0 tackles for loss while his 12 total tackles at Western Kentucky were a career-best. In the opener against New Hampshire, Sheffield tallied a career-high 2.0 sacks. The senior recorded at least one tackle for loss in nine of Maine's 11 regular season contests.

Patterson, the CAA pass breakup leader (20), earns his second all-conference honor and first selection to the first-team. Patterson ranked first in the CAA and second nationally with 1.8 pass breakups per game. He tallied his first career interception with a takeaway against Villanova and notched a career-best six tackles in Maine's win at Western Kentucky. The junior tallied multiple pass breakups in six of Maine's 11 games, including a season-best four against Elon. In total, Patterson racked up 33 tackles and at least one pass breakup in 10 of Maine's 11 contests.

Belcher, one of two Maine captains, earns his first-ever all-conference accolade with a spot on the second-team. The senior tight end set single-season career-highs with 36 receptions and 279 receiving yards to go along with one rushing and one passing touchdown. Belcher, who averaged 7.8 yards per catch and 25.4 yards per game on the season, recorded a career-high six catches in Maine's win at Rhode Island.

Dobson earns his first-ever all-conference honor as a member of the league's second-team. The sophomore started all 11 games at right guard, helping guide the way for Maine's rushing offense which averaged 122.1 yards per game while assisting on a unit that ranked fifth in the CAA in sacks against. Dobson anchored an offensive line which paved the way for running back Ramon Jefferson to impressive single-game rushing totals, helping him earn three CAA Rookie of the Week accolades.

Mitchell, the man in the middle of Maine's stellar rush defense, earns his first all-conference accolade after making 22 tackles, 7.0 for loss, with 3.5 sacks. Mitchell ranks fifth on the team in both tackles for loss and sacks, while checking in 24th in the nation in sacks per game. Mitchell, who played a key part in Maine's CAA leading rush defense (73.4 ypg), tallied a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss in Maine's win over UNH on a career-high 2.5 sacks.

Stevens was named to his first all-conference team, with a second-team nod in his sophomore season. The all-conference linebacker led the Black Bears in tackles (93), tackles for loss (14.0) and ranked second on the team with 8.0 sacks. Stevens also tallied two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an interception. Stevens, who was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week after tallying eight tackles, 2.5 for loss, and 2.0 sacks in a win over Villanova, ranked second in the CAA in 40th nationally with 1.3 tackles for loss per game, fourth in the CAA and 30th nationally in sacks per game (0.73) and fourth in the CAA with 8.5 tackles per game. Stevens ended the year ranked third in the CAA in total sacks and tied for second in total tackles for loss. His 16 tackle performance against Elon was a new career-high while he added career-high performances in tackles for loss (2.5) at William and Mary and sacks (2.0) against Villanova. Stevens, who posted a tackle for loss in nine of Maine's 11 games, had a stretch of one sack in four-straight games while racking up double-digit tackling performances in three different games.

Nelson, who earns his second-consecutive CAA first-team selection as a specialist, started on all of Maine's special team units for the second consecutive season. Nelson racked up 17 tackles, including 2.0 sacks, with two pass breakups and a forced fumble. His 17 total tackles marked a new single season-high.

Wright received his third all-conference honor with a slot on the league's third-team as a wide receiver. The senior recorded 39 catches for 449-yards and five touchdowns, averaging 44.9 yards per game and 11.5 yards per catch. His top performance of the season came at Rhode Island, leading Maine to a last-second win after tallying a career-high 10 receptions for 125-yards and a touchdown. Wright notched a pair of touchdowns in Maine's win at Western Kentucky and finished the season ranked 11th in the CAA in both receptions per game (3.9) and touchdown receptions (5). For his career, Wright currently ranks sixth on Maine's all-time receiving list (2,143 yards) and seventh on Maine's all-time receptions list (160).

In his senior season, Levy earned his first-ever all-conference selection with a spot on the third-team. Like Dobson, Levy started all 11 games on the right side, helping guide the way for Maine's rushing offense which averaged 122.1 yards per game while assisting on a unit that ranked fifth in the CAA in sacks against. Levy, who played right tackle, anchored an offensive line which paved the way for running back Ramon Jefferson to impressive single-game rushing totals, helping him earn three CAA Rookie of the Week accolades.

Maine, who earned the No. 7 in the upcoming NCAA FCS Playoffs, will receive a bye through the first-round before hosting the winner of Jacksonville State and East Tennessee on Dec. 1 at noon at Alfond Stadium. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at GoBlackBears.com/tickets, by phone at 207.581.BEAR or by visiting the Alfond Arena Box Office.

-UMaine-