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Jovan Belcher Named Preseason All-American by Lindy's
June 10, 2008
ORONO, Maine - University of Maine senior defensive end Jovan Belcher has been named a Second-Team Preseason All-American by Lindy's in its national 2008 college football preview magazine. The publication also tabbed the Black Bears to finish fourth in the CAA North Division. Belcher earned the honor from Lindy's after garnering numerous post-season All-America honors during the 2007 campaign. Following a season in which he led the CAA in sacks and tackles for loss, Belcher earned Second-Team All-America honors from the Associated Press and third-team honors from The Sports Network. In his first season at defensive end in 2007, Belcher quickly became a force in the CAA and was one of the most feared players in the league. Belcher switched from linebacker to end prior to the season, and embraced the move by finishing with a career-high 85 tackles (second most on the team). More importantly, Belcher recorded 17.0 tackles for loss, including 10.0 sacks. He became just the seventh player in program history to register at least 10 sacks in a season. Belcher was a key force for Maine in the final four weeks of the season, which saw the Black Bears go 3-1 during that stretch. He made at least two tackles behind the line of scrimmage in each of the four games, while totaling a career-high 4.0 sacks in the season finale at New Hampshire. That performance marked the third time during the year he made at least two sacks in a game (3.0 at Villanova, 9/15; 2.0 at Northeastern, 10/28). Belcher was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week two-straight weeks (Nov. 5 & Nov. 12), thus becoming the only player in the league during the season to earn the defensive award on back-to-back occasions. Belcher ranked seventh in the nation in sacks and 16th in tackles for loss. Belcher's average of 0.91 sacks per game ranked 18th in ALL OF DIVISION I college football.
Belcher and the rest of the Black Bear football team will begin preseason practice in early August in preparation for the 2008 season. Maine returns 15 starters and 34 letterwinners from last season's squad. The Black Bears' 2008 schedule features six home games and all five CAA playoff teams from a year ago -- thus making Maine the only school in the conference to face all five post-season squads.
Black Bear football season tickets are currently on sale. Fans can order tickets over the phone by calling (207) 581-BEAR or toll-free at (800) 756-TEAM. Fans can also purchase tickets online by visiting www.GoBlackBears.com(.) |
