Orono, Maine -- Earnest Edwards, Taji Lowe and Kayon Whitaker have each been named to the 2019 New England Football Writers College Division All-New England Team. Edwards, selected to the squad as a kick returner, joins linebacker Lowe and defensive lineman Whitaker as the trio of UMaine senior's representing the Black Bears on the All-New England roster.

Edwards, selcted to the All-CAA first team as both a wide receiver and a kick returner, matched his own school record by returning two kick returns for touchdowns at Colgate, one for a school record 100-yards, is Maine's all-time record holder in total kick return touchdowns (6), kick return yardage (2,311) and total kick returns (90). Edwards led the nation in kick returns in 2019, averaging 28.5-yards per return with 20 total returns for 570 yards. The senior, who earned his third consecutive All-CAA First Team kick return accolade and first selection to the All-CAA First Team as a receiver, finished his career as Maine's all-time leader in receiving yards, racking up 2,641 yards on 143 career receptions, good for 11^th best all-time at Maine. Edwards, who recorded a touchdown in 18 of his last 19 career games, finished his senior campaign ranked third in the CAA in receiving yards (1,097), second in receiving yards per game (99.7) and ninth in receptions per game (4.5). In 11 games, Edwards registered five, 100 yard receiving performances including a season-high 153-yard day at Elon. He graduates with 5,436 all-purpose yards.

Lowe, also an All-CAA first team selection, ended his career with 249 total tackles. Lowe led the Black Bears with a career-high 98 total tackles to go along with 9.5 tackles for loss and a half sack. Lowe ranked fourth among CAA leaders at 8.9 tackles per game and wrapped up his senior season with a total of four, double-digit tackling performances including a career-best 15 stops in a win over Rhode Island.

Whitaker, an All-CAA first team member and three time all-conference honoree, ranked fourth in the CAA with 9.0 sacks and 20.0 tackles for loss. Whitaker, whose 20.0 tackles for loss are the most by a Black Bear in over 20 years, ends his career with an impressive 45.5 tackles for loss, 27.0 sacks and 183 total tackles. In 2019, Whitaker tallied a trio of multi-sack performances and ended the season with a five-game, multiple tackle for loss streak, registered a total of 14.5 tackles for loss over his last five games.

The team will be honored as the New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Rosaria Restaurant and Function Facility in Saugus, Mass. Tickets are $60/person and are available only by credit card at https://newenglandfootballwriters.com/captains-%26-awards-banquet. People interested in attending should contact Dick Lipe at Bentley University at 781-891-2334 so tables can be assigned.

-UMaine-