Portland, Maine — After months of evaluation, spring practices, and internal competition, Maine State University has officially released its first depth chart ahead of the upcoming season. For a program still in its formative stages, the chart is less about final answers and more about direction, a snapshot of how head coach Rob Tierney and his staff see the pieces coming together as the Majestic Pines prepare to take the field.
The depth chart reflects a roster built on balance: experienced anchors holding key roles, young talent pushing for snaps, and versatility prioritized across every unit. While roles will continue to evolve as the season unfolds, this initial release offers the clearest look yet at Maine State’s identity, tough in the trenches, athletic on the edges, and built to compete from Week One.
MAINE STATE UNIVERSITY - OFFENSIVE TWO-DEEP DEPTH CHART
| POS | NO | STARTER | NO | BACKUP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR-X | 1 | Jaden Whittaker | 8 | Kaleb Monroe |
| WR-Z | 5 | Tobias Westbrook | 18 | DeShawn Kelly |
| WR-SL | 14 | Micah Bellamy | 16 | Xavier Delmar |
| LT | 50 | Marquis Dalton | 79 | Blake Navarro |
| LG | 73 | DeShawn Ridley | 62 | Chris Cardenas |
| C | 52 | Khalil Morgan | 62 | Chris Cardenas |
| RG | 66 | Jared Lindstrom | 75 | Zachary Pitts |
| RT | 77 | Landon Griggs | 79 | Blake Navarro |
| TE | 88 | Beau Landry | 19 | Logan Byers |
| QB | 9 | Walker Sims | 4 | Tavion Reese |
| RB | 6 | Jamari Dixon | 3 | Malik “MJ” Jenkins |
Wide Receivers
This is a quietly deep and versatile receiver room with defined roles.
Jaden Whittaker has emerged as the most reliable pass catcher on the roster, consistently winning at the catch point with strong hands and body control. Kaleb Monroe backs him up and shows solid route discipline with upside as he gains strength.
Tobias Westbrook is the team’s best receiver against press coverage. His physicality and release package make him a chain-mover. DeShawn Kelly provides speed off the bench, still raw but dangerous once the ball is in his hands.
In the slot, Micah Bellamy is the most refined route runner on the team and thrives working underneath and between zones. Xavier Delmar brings elite speed and is the true home-run threat, capable of turning a short throw into a touchdown anywhere on the field.
Offensive Line
The identity of this offense starts up front.
Marquis Dalton anchors the line at left tackle and is the best pure pass protector on the roster. His experience and length give the quarterbacks confidence on their blind side. DeShawn Ridley at left guard is a powerful mauler who generates consistent push in the run game.
At center, Khalil Morgan is the most versatile lineman, capable of handling protections, pulling, and climbing to the second level. Jared Lindstrom at right guard excels in space and is especially effective on pulls and counters.
Landon Griggs, at 6'6" and 315 pounds, is an imposing presence at right tackle. His size alone alters defensive alignments, and he continues to grow into a complete lineman. Overall, this group leans physical and run-oriented with improving pass protection.
Tight Ends
Beau Landry is the prototype tight end, capable of staying in to block or flexing out as a reliable target. His all-around skill set makes him a fixture in multiple personnel groupings.
Logan Byers is more of a traditional inline blocker and adds value in heavy sets and short-yardage situations.
Quarterbacks
Walker Sims currently leads the room due to his accuracy, poise, and command of the offense. He’s comfortable operating from the pocket and making progression reads.
Tavion Reese brings a different element as a more athletic quarterback who can extend plays with his legs, giving the staff flexibility in game planning.
Running Backs
This is a classic thunder-and-lightning pairing.
Jamari Dixon is a downhill bruiser who runs through contact and wears down defenses between the tackles.
Malik “MJ” Jenkins is the most explosive back on the roster, with superior burst and agility that make him dangerous on the edge and in space.
MAINE STATE UNIVERSITY – DEFENSIVE TWO-DEEP DEPTH CHART
| POS | NO | STARTER | NO | BACKUP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LDE | 96 | Javon Stanley | 98 | Tyler Branch |
| LDT | 90 | Malcolm Clay | 92 | Rodney Truehill |
| RDT | 95 | Erick Talbert | 94 | Brendan Keyes |
| RDE | 91 | Zion McClain | 85 | Eli Stackhouse |
| SAM | 44 | Corey Langford | 47 | Brendan Cotwright |
| MIKE | 45 | Derrick Jamison | 51 | Marcus Talley |
| WILL | 40 | Zyrek Douglas | 42 | Reggie Polk |
| CB | 24 | Jalen Bowens | 32 | Javion Tate |
| FS | 33 | Kendrick Lowe | 36 | Marcellus Grant |
| SS | 20 | Trayvon Battle | 21 | Isaiah Copeland |
| CB | 30 | TreSean Barber | 26 | Amari Glenn |
Defensive Line
This front is built on size, strength, and clearly defined roles.
At LE, Javon Stanley sets the tone with power. He overwhelms tackles with strength and leverage, collapsing the pocket from the edge. Tyler Branch provides depth and rotational flexibility.
Inside, Malcolm Clay and Erick Talbert form a massive interior duo, both north of 300 pounds and extremely difficult to move. Clay anchors against the run, while Talbert brings surprising push as a pocket disruptor. Rodney Truehill adds quickness off the snap and interior pressure, while Brendan Keyes offers depth and developmental upside.
On the right edge, Zion McClain is the prototype speed rusher. His first step and bend off the edge give the defense its primary pass-rush threat. Eli Stackhouse complements him with length and power.
Linebackers
This group is the heartbeat of the defense.
Corey Langford at SAM is a sure-tackling, instinctive linebacker who diagnoses plays quickly and consistently finds the football. Brendan Cotwright backs him up and offers strength and versatility across multiple linebacker roles.
In the middle, Derrick Jamison is the classic MIKE, physical, vocal, and in complete control of the defense. He eats up tackles and keeps the unit aligned. Marcus Talley brings sideline-to-sideline range and excels at beating blockers in space.
At WILL, Zyrek Douglas is constantly around the ball, slipping through blocks and finishing plays. Reggie Polk adds coverage ability and instincts, giving the defense flexibility against spread looks.
Secondary
The back end blends physicality with coverage instincts.
At corner, Jalen Bowens burst onto the scene in spring camp, earning the starting role through elite man-coverage ability and recovery speed. Javion Tate provides reliable depth and continues to develop.
At free safety, Kendrick Lowe is the defensive quarterback of the secondary. He excels at reading plays, staying disciplined, and putting himself in position to make stops. Marcellus Grant backs him up with athleticism and range.
Strong safety is a true tandem. Trayvon Battle is a downhill, box-oriented safety who plays like an extra linebacker, while Isaiah Copeland brings coverage skills and versatility. They’ll be used situationally depending on opponent and game plan.
On the opposite corner, TreSean Barber offers ideal size and consistency in both man and zone looks. Amari Glenn provides depth and flexibility across the secondary.
MAINE STATE UNIVERSITY – SPECIAL TEAMS TWO-DEEP
| UNIT | NO | STARTER | NO | BACKUP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 34 | Cole Armstrong | ||
| P | 37 | Nathan Stovall | ||
| KR | 18 | DeShawn Kelly | 14 | Micah Bellamy |
| PR | 18 | DeShawn Kelly | 14 | Micah Bellamy |
| KOS | 34 | Cole Armstrong | ||
| LS | 49 | Cole Schmidt |
Kicker
Cole Armstrong handles both placekicking and kickoffs, bringing a strong, reliable leg to a unit that values consistency over flash. His ability to drive the ball deep on kickoffs helps limit return opportunities, while his range allows the staff to be aggressive on longer field-goal attempts.
Armstrong’s presence provides stability which is an important factor for a first-year program still finding its footing in tight games.
Punter
Nathan Stovall gives Maine State a calm, technical punter who excels at placement. Rather than simply booming punts, Stovall’s strength lies in his ability to pin opponents deep, flip field position, and avoid dangerous returns.
For a young team, that hidden yardage will be crucial, especially against more established opponents.
Kick Return
DeShawn Kelly is the primary kick returner, and it’s easy to see why. His combination of speed, acceleration, agility, and vision makes him a legitimate threat to change momentum in a single play. He hits creases decisively and doesn’t waste steps.
Micah Bellamy serves as the backup and offers a slightly different style, more patience and route-running instincts, giving the staff flexibility depending on game flow and opponent coverage units.
Punt Return
Kelly again headlines the unit as the punt returner, trusted for his burst and fearlessness in traffic. His ability to secure the ball and immediately transition upfield makes him valuable in high-leverage situations.
Bellamy remains the secondary option, valued for his hands and spatial awareness, particularly in fair-catch-heavy situations.
Long Snapper
Cole Schmidt anchors the operation as the long snapper. His experience and consistency are critical to keeping both the kicking and punting units clean. In a phase of the game where mistakes are magnified, Schmidt’s reliability cannot be overstated.
Maine State University will open their inaugural season on Saturday, August 30th at home against UAlbany.
on finally kicking this off after kicking the tires for a while