University of Maine junior defensive end Xavier Holmes, who became the first defensive lineman in over a decade to lead the Black Bears in tackles this past fall, was chosen to the All-Coastal Athletic Association second team recently.
He was one of six Black Bears to earn spots on the all-league team.
Senior wide receiver Montigo Moss, junior kick returner Trevin Ewing and graduate student center Joe Horn were third team selections and graduate student defensive tackle Izaiah Henderson and redshirt sophomore cornerback Jamaree Gibson were honorable mentions.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Holmes, a native of Clarksburg, Maryland, had a career-high 72 tackles this fall and also led the team in tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (6). He also forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and had an interception.
He also led the team in quarterback hurries with seven.
Holmes was ranked seventh in the CAA in tackles for loss per game (1.04) and ninth in sacks per game (.50). He was involved in at least five tackles in 10 of UMaine’s 12 games and he had six or more six times.
He was involved in a game-high 13 tackles in a loss to Delaware including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Ewing, a wide receiver, was 12th in the CAA in all-purpose yards per game with 87 and his 27.5-yard average on kickoff returns was third best. The wide receiver caught 10 passes for 182 yards and he also carried the ball 13 times for 120 more yards.
He had a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD against Monmouth.
Moss set career-highs for receptions (61), receiving yards (722) and receiving touchdowns (7). He had at least five catches in nine games including nine grabs for 80 yards in a loss to Rhode Island. He was sixth in the CAA in receiving TDs and receptions per game (5.1) and ninth in receiving yards.
Horn was the anchor in the middle of the offensive line and played an important role in UMaine’s rushing for at least 100 yards in eight games. Horn and his linemates helped quarterback Carter Peevy and the Black Bear passing attack finish second in the CAA in passing completion percentage (65.58).
Henderson had 47 tackles including 7.5 for lost yards and a career-high five sacks. He had three tackles for loss and two sacks in a win over Albany and then had seven tackles and two sacks in a win over No. 5 Villanova. He also had seven tackles in the victory over Bryant.
Gibson had career-highs in tackles (34) and pass breakups (10) and he returned an interception 78 yards for a touchdown to sew up UMaine’s win at Albany. He had a career-high six tackles on two occasions, back-to-back games against Bryant and Elon. He capped his season with a career-high three pass deflections against New Hampshire.
