Orono, Maine -- Head football coach Jordan Stevens the Black Bears coaching staff have announced the following list of student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Black Bears.

*Keegan Andrews | QB | 6-0 | 175 lbs | Kennebunk, ME / Bridgton Academy* - Highlights
"Keegan has put in the work and continued to progress through his high school and prep career. We look for Keegan to continue to improve and make plays here at Maine." - Coach Stevens
All-conference (2021) ... captain in 2021 ... also all-conference in baseball ... national honor society.

*Ta'kai Chisolm | DL | 6-3 | 213 lbs | Edison, N.J. / St. Joseph Regional* - Highlights
"Ta'kai is a long- rangy defender with a huge upside. Ta'kai will grow into a playmaker in our defense." - Coach Stevens
All-county first team defense ... senior captain ... guided St. Joseph Regional to the playoffs all three years he attended.

*Jaykob Dow | OL | 6-5 | 255 lbs | Hermon, ME / Hermon* - Highlights
"Jaykob has the frame and athleticism to develop and grow into a great CAA OL. We can't wait to get going with Jaykob. He will flourish in our program." - Coach Stevens
First team all-conference (2022) ... second team all-conference (2021) ... guided Hermon to appearances in the 2021 and 2022 Northern Maine title games ... also earned all-conference honors in basketball in 2022.

*Pius Ejindu | OL | 6-3 | 320 lbs | Lynn, MA / Saint John's Prep School* - Highlights
"Pius is a big- strong OL with versatility to play inside and on the edge. Pius brings passion to everything he does." - Coach Stevens
All-league ... AA-1 Defensive Player of the Year ... Senior Titan Award recipient ... Defensive MVP of his Senior Bowl ... guided team to a 9-1 mark his senior season ... honor roll

*Jaxon Gross | DL/TE | 6-1 | 225 lbs | Bucksport ME / Brewer* - Highlights
"Jaxon brings a toughness and a great sense of pride to Maine Football. I look forward to seeing Jaxon play alongside his brother, David." - Coach Stevens
2022 PTC second team selection ... 2019 LTC first team (RB) and second team (LB) ... rushed for 1,431 yards in 2019 ... 2019 class D runner-up at Bucksport ... captain his junior and senior years ... also excelled in wrestling where he was crowned the 2022 class B state champion at 220 lbs ...  

*Jack Lillie | OL | 6-4 | 275 lbs | Boulder, CO / Fairview* - Highlights
"Jack is an exciting addition to our program. We believe that Jack is just scratching the surface of what he is going to become as a leader and football player." - Coach Stevens
All-State honorable mention (2022-23) ... first team all-conference (2022-23) ... second team all-conference (2021-22) ... guided Fairview to the playoffs all four years ... league champions in 2019, 2020, and 2022 ... team advanced to Elite 8 in 2019-20 ... four-time city champions ... senior captain ...academic all-state first team (2022-23).

*Amari Mack | DB | 5-10 | 173 lbs | Jeannette, PA / Greensburg Central Catholic* - Highlights
"Amari has very good cover skills and the range to play corner or safety. We are excited to have Amari bring his talents to Maine." - Coach Stevens
All-State second team (DB) ... all-conference first team (DB) and all-conference second team (WR) ... senior captain ... honor roll student ... WPIAL finalist in the 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and triple jump.

*BJ Mayes | LB | 6-1 | 210 lbs | Aurora, Il. / Taft School* - Highlights
"BJ is just scratching the surface of what he will be as a football player and leader. BJ will be a ladder on our defense." - Coach Stevens
Second team all-state selection ... all-NEPSAC honorable mention ... Two-time all-conference honoree ... all-founders league selection ... high school national championship competitor (IMG Academy) ... guided Kenwood Academy to the high school city championship ... captain in 2021 ...three-time honor roll ... honor society.

*Kye Pressley | DL | 6-2 | 220 lbs | Hammonton, N.J. / Hammonton* - Highlights
"Kye is a natural pass rusher with a tremendous ability to bend and make an impact off the edge."- Coach Stevens
3 star recruit (Rivals) ... ranked 17th player in N.J. ... ranked as No. 2 WDE in N.J. ... led the state of N.J. in sacks in 2022 ... two-time first team all-conference ... two-time all stars division honoree ... first team all-south Jersey ... 2nd team all-state ... named to Super 100 all-star team ... two-year captain ... guided team to a state championship appearance ... conference championship ... four playoff appearances ... honor roll.

*Devin Vaught | DB | 6-0 | 185 lbs | Charlotte, N.C. / Mallard Creek* - Highlights
"Devin brings toughness to our secondary. His aggressive play and coverage ability will make him a playmaker in our defense." - Coach Stevens
Two-time all conference honoree ... A/B honor roll.

*Sheaquan Walters | DB | 6-2 | 170 lbs | Nyack, N.Y. / Don Bosco* - Highlights
"Sheaquan brings elite coverage skills and a work ethic that will help him develop into a dominant player." - Coach Stevens
Allowed only five catches against him while making 28 tackles with an interception and a sack his senior year at Don Bosco ... guided Don Bosco to runner-up in states for three years ... team was once ranked No. 13 in the nation ... excelled in track & field where he ranked first in the county in the 100m and high-jump ... sixth in New York state in the high-jump.

The following student-athletes were announced during the early signing period in December of 2022:

*Chris Bacon | DL | 6-3 | 231 lbs | Hicksville, N.Y. / Holy Trinity H.S.* - Highlights

*Alex Berrouet | RB | 6-0 | 205 lbs | Acton, Mass. / Acton-Boxborough/Colorado State* - Highlights

*Na'Cire Christmas | DB | 6-0 | 180 lbs | Woodbury, N.J. / St. Augustine Prep* - Highlights

*Caden Drezek | QB | 6-3 | 215 lbs | Seymour, Conn. / Seymour H.S.* - Highlights

*Joe Horn | OL | 6-2 | 310 lbs | Hamilton, N.J. / The Hun School/UMass*

*Anthony Iliano | OL | 6-4 | 280 lbs | Cleveland, Ohio / Benedictine* - Highlights

*Kevin Jackson | WR | 5-11 | 180 lbs | Springfield, Mass. / Springfield Central* - Highlights

*Nicholas Kaptein | OL | 6-6 | 330 lbs | Ajax, Ontario / St. Thomas More School* - Highlights

*Tristen Kenan | RB | 5-11 | 190 lbs | Baltimore, MD / Dunbar H.S.* - Highlights

*Jake Kucera | TE | 6-4 | 230 lbs | North Haledon, N.J. / DePaul Catholic H.S.* - Highlights

*Nick Laughlin | WR | 5-10 | 180 lbs | Cape Elizabeth, Maine / Cape Elizabeth H.S.* - Highlights

*Michael Lewinski | K/P | 6-0 | 215 lbs | Wells, Maine / Wells H.S.* - Highlights

*Xavier Lozowicki | OL | 6-4 | 300 lbs | Ridley Park, PA / IMG Academy* - Highlights

*Jayden Platt | DB | 6-2 | 182 | Melville, N.Y. | St. Anthony's H.S.* - Highlights

*Blake Thomas | WR | 6-3 | 190 lbs | Seacaucus, N.J. / DePaul Catholic H.S.* - Highlights

*Jared Tynes | DL | 6-1 | 215 lbs | North Brunswick, N.J. / North Brunswick H.S.* - Highlights

*Ja'bari Odoemenem | LB | 6-1 | 230 lbs | Woodbridge, VA / Woodbridge H.S.* - Highlights

-UMaine-