ORONO —While he was terrorizing opponents on both sides of the ball and leading Leavitt to a state championship in 2009, Matt Pellerin attracted the attention of a number of Division II and III schools, including Bates, Plymouth State and Maine Maritime.

Pellerin wanted desperately to catch the eye of the University of Maine, but 6-foot tall linemen aren’t the hottest commodities on the Division I football market. So he accepted a spot at Maine Maritime, started on the defensive line as a freshman, and, after the season, politely asked Maine coach Jack Cosgrove if he had his attention yet.

He did. With some encouragement from his position coach at Leavitt, Dave Bochtler, Pellerin transferred to Maine this summer and will redshirt this season.

“I’m at the bottom of the totem poll,” Pellerin said. “I have to work my way up again.”

Pellerin has to sit out this season due to transfer rules, but it still might not take him long to climb the totem poll.

“We’re excited about him,” Cosgrove said. “He reminds us a little bit of Raibonne (Charles) in regards to his tenacity and his toughness. He’s stout, strong, plays hard, loves the game, all of those good things.”

Charles, a senior starting nose tackle from Windham, is also listed at 6-feet tall. But he sees more similarities than just height.

“He’s all work. He don’t talk. He’s all business on the field,” said Charles, who has taken Pellerin under his wing in the preseason. “He hasn’t been overly too nervous. He hasn’t been scared to ask questions. I think playing a year of college football, he kind of understands what it takes.”

Pellerin understands that his season on the sidelines shouldn’t hold him back.

“It’s just a year to get bigger, faster, stronger, learn the plays, and then next year, hopefully start playing,” he said.

“It’s like a full-time job already,” he added.