Orono, Maine -- University of Maine football standouts Earnest Edwards (return specialist), Manny Patterson (defensive back), Sterling Sheffield (linebacker) and Kayon Whitaker (defensive lineman) have been named to the 2018 New England Football Writers University Division All-New England Team.

The latest honor comes after the four honorees were selected to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) all-conference first team.

Edwards became the first Black Bear, and first CAA player in history, 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Black Bears, who earned the No. 7 in the upcoming NCAA FCS Playoffs, will host their second-ever NCAA Playoff game when they meet Jacksonville State. Tickets for the Second Round game 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-