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Feb. 1, 2006

ORONO, Maine - University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove announced on Wednesday that 22 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent or committed to attend the University and compete for the Black Bears football team beginning with the 2006-07 school year.

This year's class marks the second-consecutive year Maine has received at least 20 commitments from top high school players throughout their respective states and regions. The class includes six defensive backs, three offensive lineman, three wide receivers, three running backs, two kickers, two defensive linemen, one quarterback, one linebacker and an athlete that can play several positions.

The group of incoming student-athletes also include three from the state of Maine. Lisbon Falls native Levi Ervin (DB), Skowhegan native Aaron Chambers (H-Back) and Temple native Jordan Stevens (LB) are the three players who chose to stay in their home state and continue their careers.

"We are pleased with the group of young men that have committed to become student-athletes here at the University of Maine," Cosgrove said. "We are very excited about the quality of the student-athletes, especially those in the skill area category. Our staff did a great job of identifying these outstanding young men, while our current players served as hosts and ambassadors. We are fortunate to have such great support from our President, our faculty and the students here at the University of Maine."

All National Letters of Intent signings are contingent upon admission to the University of Maine and compliance with NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

The following is a list of student-athletes who have signed NLIs or committed as of February 1. Additional NLIs may be received later during the signing period.

**Matthew Barber (6-6, 285, OT, Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus H.S.): First-Team All-Conference; honorable mention All-State.

**Alexander Batanian (6-4, 270, OT, McMurray, Pa./Peter's Township H.S.): Three-year letterwinner; 2005 "IRA Man" award winner for the hardest worker in the off-season.

**Ryan Callahan (5-7, 160, ATH, Glen Burnie, Md./Old Mill H.S.): Second-Team All-Metro; Maryland state record of 87 career touchdowns.

**Aaron Chambers (6-1, 215, HB, Skowhegan, Maine/Skowhegan Area H.S.): First-Team All-State; Fitzpatrick Award Finalist.

**Dominic Cusano (5-9, 160, CR, Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan H.S.): First-Team All-League; First-Team All-Southern Connecticut Conference; First-Team All-State.

**Levi Ervin (6-2, 205, S, Lisbon Falls, Maine/Lisbon H.S.): Three-time Mountain Valley Conference All-Star; Mountain Valley Player of the Year; Sun Journal Athlete of the Year; First-Team All-State.

**Adam Farkes (6-1, 184, QB, Boston, Mass./Bucking, Brown & Nichols H.S.): All-New England Co-Player of the Year.

**Derrick Harris (5-11, 180, DB, Bedford, Pa./Bedford H.S.): First-Team All-Conference.

**Jermaine Henderson (5-11, 215, TB, Batavia, N.Y./Batavia H.S.): Second-Team All-State; First-Team All-Conference.

**Tyrell Jones (6-3, 215, WR, Gaithersburg, Md./Good Counsel H.S.): Two-time All-Conference selection; Second-Team All-State; Second-Team All-County.

**Carwan Karim (6-2, 215, K, Gaithersburg, Md./Good Counsel H.S.): Three-time All-State selection; Two-time First-Team All-League selection.

**Jeremy Kelley (6-5, 200, WR, West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca H.S.): First-Team All-State; First-Team All-Conference.

**Mark Masterson Jr. (6-3, 200, S, Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown H.S.): Two-time All-Conference selection; All-South Jersey punter.

**Ryan McCrossan (6-1, 210, S, Sparta, N.J./Seton Hall Prep): First-Team All-Conference.

**Brandon McLaughlin (6-3, 200, S, Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenley H.S.): First-Team All-City; City champion in the long, triple and high jumps.

**Ryan Nani (6-2, 300, DT, Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Toms River North H.S.): First-Team All-Shore; First-Team All-Division.

**Michael Rambo (6-2, 240, DL, Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe H.S.): First-Team All-Conference.

**Desmond Randall (5-11, 205, TB, West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca H.S.): First-Team All-Conference.

**Luigi Sebastiani Jr. (5-11, 175, K, Sewell, N.J./Paulsboro H.S.): No. 6 rated kicker in the country by Scout.com; South Jersey Special Teams Player of the Year; First-Team All-South Jersey.

**Jordan Stevens (6-1, 215, LB, Temple, Maine/Bridgton Academy): First-Team All-PTC linebacker; Sun Journal and Centinal All-Star.

**Landis Williams (5-10, 175, WR, Pemberton, N.J./Pemberton H.S.): First-Team All-Conference; First-Team All-State.

**Mark Zielinski (6-3, 240, C, Voorhees, N.J./Eastern H.S.): First-Team All-Conference.

Maine concluded the 2005 season with a 5-6 record, but won three of its last four contests to close out the campaign. The Black Bears, who are slated to return 15 starters from last season's squad, will begin spring practice in early April with a definite starting date still to be determined.