|
 McGowan, Pereira and Williams To Sign With NFL Teams
April 25, 2005 ORONO, Maine - Three members of the 2004 University of Maine football team have agreed to sign free agent contacts with National Football League teams. Marcus Williams will sign with the Indianapolis Colts, Christian Pereira will sign with the Green Bay Packers and Brandon McGowan will sign with the Chicago Bears. All three will take part in mini-camps this weekend with their respective teams. Williams (Amherst, Mass.) ended his Black Bear career as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,940 yards. In 2004 he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 first team and earned team Most Valuable Player honors with 1,077 yards on 218 carries. He is the only player in school history to rush for 1,000+ yards in three seasons. His 35 career rushing touchdowns are the most in school history. As a junior in 2003 he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award and earned first team All-Atlantic 10 honors with 1,284 yards on 248 carries. Pereira (Bronx, N.Y.) was named All-Atlantic 10 third team in 2004 after leading the team with 58 catches for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns. The ten touchdowns in both 2003 and 2004 are the second-most in a single season at Maine. He was also named third team All-Atlantic 10 in 2003, when he posted 52 catches for 820 yards. Single-game career high was set in 2003 at New Hampshire when he had 14 catches for 198 yards. McGowan (Jersey City, N.J.) was named first team All-Atlantic 10 in 2004 as he was the team's leading tackler on the season with 101 total tackles. He also had 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and one forced fumble. In 2003, he was named second team All-Atlantic 10 as he posted a team-high 85 tackles. He added 2.5 tackles for loss and one interception. He ended his career with 44 games played and 293 total tackles. "I am excited for the wonderful opportunity that these three young men have," said head coach Jack Cosgrove. "These three players received the most interest this year from NFL teams. I know that all of them are excited for the opportunity to perform at the next level. It would not surprise me to see all three on an NFL roster in the fall." The 2005 Maine football team has three practices remaining of the fifteen spring practices. On Wednesday, April 27 and Friday, April 29, the team will practice at 3:50 pm. On Saturday, April 30 the team will take the field at 9:30 am for the final scrimmage, which will be followed at 11:00 am by the Black Bear Youth Experience. For more information about Maine Athletics, please visit www.GoBlackBears.com.
|
