The University of Maine football team had its best season in recent years last fall, making it to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and earning a No. 8 national ranking at season’s end.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some Black Bears would draw the attention of the National Football League. It’s certainly not the first time it’s happened. Maine had one player drafted in last week’s National Football League draft and three others offered free agent tryouts by teams. That matched 2006 for Maine’s best showing in the NFL lottery when four players were also drafted or offered free agent tryouts.

Jerron McMillian, a defensive back, was drafted in the fourth round by the Green Bay Packers. It’s the highest a Maine player has gone in the draft since John Huard was selected in the fifth round by the Denver Broncos in the 1967 American Football League draft.

McMillian’s teammates Pushaun Brown, a running back; Trevor Coston, a defensive back and tight end Derek Buttles were offered free agent tryouts — Brown with the Jets, Coston with the Bears and Buttles with the Bills.

“There’s a sense of excitement in the program for the young men and their opportunity,” Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove said.

“We all feel a sense of pride for them getting a chance to play at the next level. Most players have a dream of being on a professional team. These guys have the opportunity. It’s exciting.”

In 2006, Maine players Kevin McMahan, Montell Owens, Jermaine Walker and Ryan Waller got the call from the NFL. Owens has been a Pro Bowl player for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Stephen Cooper of the Chargers and Mike DeVito of the Jets are former Maine players who have made it in the NFL.

For being such a football outpost, compared to the rest of their CAA rivals, it’s somewhat remarkable that Maine players are in that much demand by the NFL.

“It’s not like we say come to Maine and you’ll play in the NFL,” Cosgrove said.

In 2009, Maine led all FCS schools for the most players in the NFL with seven on active NFL rosters.

“Because of our remoteness, we have a hard time getting players to look at us,” Cosgrove said.

“We have to work at it. Sometimes, we’re fortunate in getting some very good players. It’s a very healthy environment here. There aren’t a lot of distractions. If they are willing to put in the work and go through the process of growing from an 18-year-old kid to a 22-year old man, they can achieve a lot. It’s a good environment for them.”

Cosgrove also said having teammates get a shot with the NFL can serve as a motivator for the rest of the team. Sort of like “if they can do it, I can do it.”

Cosgrove said there was some pretty significant interest in both McMillian and Coston.

“Both are defensive backs. We had scouts at our games and practices. They really do their homework,” he said.

McMillian was a first-team all-CAA selection and a second team FCS All-American safety last season. After struggling on defense last season, the Packers were looking for help on that side of the ball. The team’s first six picks were defensive players. McMillian is known as an excellent tackler with a very high football IQ.

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In another free agent signing, safety Jose Gumbs, a 2007 graduate of Hebron Academy, was picked up by the New Orleans Saints.

A native of Queens, N.Y., Gumbs spent three years at the Maine prep school, located just west of Auburn, as part of Pop Warner football’s Run to Daylight program.

A four-year starter at Monmouth University in New Jersey, the 5-10, 210-pound Gumbs led the Hawks in tackles in all four seasons.