Maryland's Will Likely named to Thorpe Award Watch List

Carroll County Times |

Jul 11, 2016 at 12:40 PM

Maryland got off to a fast start in its season opener against Richmond, but cornerback Will Likely got off to the fastest of all. In the Terps’ 50-21 victory over the Spiders, the junior returned eight punts for 233 yards and a touchdown, breaking the conference’s record for punt return yardage set by Iowa legend Nile Kinnick in 1939. Likely had 296 all-purpose yards on 10 touches that game. It kickstarted a season that would end with Likely winning the Big Ten’s newly created Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award to honor the conference’s top returner. Likely finished the season averaging 17.7 yards per punt return with two touchdowns, and he also had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown at Iowa on Oct. 31. For the season, Likely averaged 118.8 all-purpose yards per game, while playing defense, offense and special teams by the end of the season. He sat out the season finale at Rutgers with an ankle injury. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

The preseason recognition for Maryland cornerback Will Likely continued Monday when the senior from Belle Glade, Fla., was named to yet another award watch list. Last week, it was the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy.

The latest is the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List.

The Thorpe Award is given to the nation's top defensive back, while the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy are for the overall defensive player of the year.

Iowa's Desmond King, who returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown in the Hawkeyes' 31-15 win over Maryland in October, won the Thorpe Award last season.

Likely led the Terps with 11 pass breakups last season, though he did not record an interception. As a sophomore in 2014, he tied for the Big Ten Conference lead with six picks. He's the lone returning starter from last season in Maryland's secondary.

daniel.gallen@carrollcountytimes.com

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Maryland's Will Likely named to Thorpe Award Watch List

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