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Maine 2024 Football Gatorade POTY commits to in-state Black Bears

IMG_8358by:Andy Villamarzo•06/25/25•

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One of Maine high school football’s top players from the 2024 season has made his decision on where he will be playing after his playing days on the prep gridiron. Thing is, he won’t be having to go too far for his next team.

On Tuesday, Portland High School‘s Cordell Jones, a Class of 2026 prospect, announced his commitment to stay in-state with the University of Maine Black Bears. Jones in ’24 was named Maine’s Gatorade Player of the Year after helping lift Portland to the Class A state championship.

Last season for the Bulldogs, Jones did a little bit of everything in leading Portland to an 11-2 record and a state crown.

Jones played quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense, totaling 1,562 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns for the Maine Principal Association (MPA) Class A champs. As a junior, Jones rushed for 971 yards on the ground, scoring 16 times and had just under 600 through and air, with nine more scores.

Defensively, Jones was a key contributor in the secondary as he notched 46 tackles, three for a loss and intercepted two passes.

“Cordell has a huge football skill set,” Bonny Eagle head coach Kevin Cooper said in a Gatorade POTY press release when Jones won the award. “He affects the game running, receiving, throwing and on defense. He really makes Portland High School go because they can use them in all these capacities. Rarely does a player come along that can do all of those things.”