When Jovan Belcher is evaluated by NFL scouts they will knock him for his size, the competition he has faced and anything else they can focus their nit-picky eyes on.

That doesn't bother the senior defensive end, who has grown into the unquestioned leader of the University of Maine defense.

He went from barely being recruited out of high school to starting as a true freshman and contributing to one of the nation's top defenses at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. After switching positions halfway through his career, Belcher has turned into an elite player in the FCS and has racked up numerous awards along the way.

The Black Bears' co-captain will hit the turf at Alfond Stadium for one last time Saturday afternoon on Senior Day when No. 17 UMaine clashes with the No. 11 Wildcats of the University of New Hampshire in the "Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket." The Colonial Athletic Association North Division Title will also be up for grabs, as well as a possible playoff berth.

Due to its remote location and lack of high-class facilities, UMaine is at a recruiting disadvantage, unlike most of the southern schools. Most top players in the Northeast don't even consider the Orono campus as an option, so coach Jack Cosgrove and his staff are faced with finding players who get overlooked, with Belcher being a prime example.

The 6-foot-2, 228-pounder didn't attract much interest out of high school and was more known for his prowess on the mat. He was a three-time All-American wrestler at West Babylon Senior High School in West Babylon, N.Y.

"He was lightly recruited, but was an impressive young man that had enough of the things you look for on tape that make you pay attention," Cosgrove recalled.

When Belcher first stepped on campus, the 16-year head coach knew he had something special. In a preseason scrimmage, he was listed as a third-string linebacker, but after such an impressive performance, he became the starting outside linebacker, a position he would not relinquish, using his intensity to thrive.

"I get a little hostile," said Belcher of his on-field persona. "Once you step on that field, it's a totally different atmosphere."

"Jeff Comissiong, who recruited him and who's now a [defensive] line coach at Boston College, said he was a special kid in the way that he handled himself," Cosgrove said. "A very polite, soft-spoken young man."

As a freshman and sophomore, Belcher anchored a solid linebacking corps, and after the graduation of All-American Matt King, he moved to defensive end to take advantage of his speed. It was a move that was difficult at first, but the 2008 CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year was willing to embrace the role.

"A football rule [is] you never really want to put your hand on the ground," Belcher said. "You always want to be standing up. [The transition] took a while because I jumped right into it, but I got more comfortable as the season went on."

In the final month of last season, Belcher burst onto the scene, garnering CAA Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks and sacking All-American quarterback Ricky Santos four times in the season finale at UNH.

With his great performance at UNH, Belcher finished the season leading the CAA in sacks (10.0) and tackles for loss (17.0), which was good enough for First Team All-CAA and Second Team All-American honors.

Heading into his senior season, Belcher received numerous accolades, including being a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, an award given to the top defensive player at the FCS level.

With the recognition, he has also been the direct focus of many teams when drawing up a game plan as he rarely sees one-on-one coverage.

"I've never seen more offenses worry about an individual than Jovan Belcher," said Cosgrove, who has coached current NFL players Stephen Cooper and Mike DeVito.

"It's frustrating," Belcher said. "You think you got one guy beat and you see two more coming at you."

Even though he is the focal point of the defense, Belcher has had a successful season. He ranks first among CAA defensive linemen in tackles (86) and is tied for second in sacks (6.5).

Belcher's high-end motor and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier - something that has carried over from his days as a wrestler - are his greatest attributes on defense.

"We have an expression around here: 'Play forever,'" Cosgrove said. "He epitomizes that."

Off the field, Belcher has career goals as well. The child development and family relations student is expected to graduate in December after just 3 1/2 years.

"I would like to work with young adolescents around the high school age that [have] gone down a bad road in life and guide them to better things with their life," Belcher said.

The NFL also is a dream of Belcher's, who will get a significant number of calls leading up to the draft this spring.

But first, the senior has his eyes set on the current prize at hand: the Brice-Cowell Musket. With a win against UNH Saturday, it will punch the Black Bears' ticket to the playoffs and serve as a storybook ending to Belcher's star-studded career.

"I want us to be national champions. I want to take this school to a place it's never been before."

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