ORONO -- Just prior to a game, University of Maine linebacker Donte Dennis typically is in quiet reflection.

Headphones on, his trusty iPod shuffles a little R&B from Mary J. Blige. Ginuwine. Something light and easy to clear his mind.

On his wrist tape, in pen, will be a message written to himself: "Stay focused."

Then the proverbial calm before the storm lifts. And the football field is his playground.

"I have so many things going through my mind. Then it's like it just goes blank and it's so simple: 'Get the person with the ball,' " said Dennis. "In those moments I feel like nobody can stop me."

This year, few can.

The sophomore from Rahway, N.J., is having a breakout year at linebacker for Maine. He leads the team with 70 total tackles, eight of them for a loss. He's the third-leading tackler in the Colonial Athletic Association.

And, say teammates and coaches, his potential in years to come is even greater.

"With Donte, the sky's the limit," linebacker Brandon McLaughlin said. "He has all the intangibles. And he comes to work hard every day."

Dennis, at 6 feet and 219 pounds, was a two-time all-state high school running back and linebacker at Rahway High, just south of Newark, N.J.

A few college football programs came calling -- fellow Football Championship Subdivision teams Hofstra and Towson.

Only Maine made a scholarship offer.

"I think he can be a great linebacker in the league," Maine defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said. "He has a chance to be a special guy for us. He's not there yet, but if keeps making progress he will be."

Dennis played in nine games as a freshman, primarily on special teams. But he did earn a chance to rotate in at linebacker, and finished the year with nine tackles and one sack for a loss of 9 yards.

"In practice he always showed flashes of what you see now," McLaughlin said.

He came into spring practices and impressed quickly. By preseason he was on the depth chart as an outside linebacker.

"I knew the opportunity was there and I told myself, 'I'm not gonna let this pass me by,' " Dennis recalls.

Added Maine coach Jack Cosgrove: "He made an impression on us. And he's been very productive on the field as he should be. There's great ability there. Great skill. But he's still growing up mentally. Getting used to the grind. You don't have 11 great games or 70 great plays a game."

Just recently Dennis has been moved to middle linebacker, where more responsibility falls on him prior to the snap.

His best game this fall came Oct. 3 against Delaware. He made 23 tackles that day, including a third quarter goal-line stand on fourth down -- where he bombed like a freight train into Blue Hen running back Leon Jackson. The tackle knocked Jackson's helmet off and kept Maine within one score.

Dennis' roommate Vinson Givans, also a sophomore, will earn his first start at linebacker today against Massachusetts (4-3, 2-2 CAA).

Maine (3-4, 2-2) faces an uphill battle to reach the postseason, if any chance at all still remains. Six CAA teams are ranked in the FCS Top 25, and Maine's four losses are unlikely to inspire a berth.

That, said Dennis, has soured his accomplishments this year.

"I'm proud. But then again I'm not. We're not winning," he said.

Dennis said that has used its bye week wisely and are reinvigorated for rival UMass.

"The team is young. But we can't use that as an excuse," Dennis said. "Like our coach tells us, they don't ask for ID out there. UMass. This is it. They're a good team. We've got to earn our respect."

As for the future, Dennis has a few inspirational names he pays attention to on Sundays.

Of the seven former Maine players now in the NFL, three are linebackers -- Kansas City's Jovan Belcher, San Diego's Stephen Cooper and Seattle's Lofa Tatupu.

"It tells me I have a chance. If I keep on driving and pushing. It can happen," Dennis said. "I kind of like being the underdog."