The first two-deep football roster released Monday by DJ Durkin did not reveal many big surprises, but it showed that the new Maryland coach plans on using Will Likely and a couple other players on both sides of the ball when the Terps open the season Saturday at home against Howard.
The team's most versatile player last season, Likely is listed as a co-starter at wide receiver along with DeAndre Lane (Catonsville) and as a starter at nickel cornerback.
Likely gained 93 yards on 11 carries last season, caught five passes for 17 yards while averaged 17.7 yards on 23 punt returns and 22.5 yards on 35 kick returns. He scored twice on punt returns, and once on a kick return.
True freshmen Jake Funk and Tino Ellis can also be found on both offense and defense.
Funk is listed as the team's second-team safety along with Josh Woods (McDonogh) and its third-team running back, while Ellis is D.J. Moore's potential backup at wide receiver along with Jahrvis Davenport and Alvin Hill's backup at cornerback.
Some of the other interesting notes about the depth chart:
*Sophomore Ty Johnson, who averaged better than seven yards a carry as a change-of-pace running back last season, has apparently won the starting job ahead Virginia Tech graduate transfer Trey Edmunds and senior Kenneth Goins (Gilman). That could change after Wes Brown returns from a three-game suspension to start the season.
*Mike Minter, whose dramatic rise from injured freshman walk-on to a starter at guard last season was cut short after three games by a labrum injury, has reclaimed his old spot at left guard. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound redshirt senior is listed ahead of JaJuan Delaney and Quarvez Boulware.
*Quarterbacks Caleb Rowe and Gage Shaffer didn't make the two-deep or as is the case at their position, three-deep. It's not clear whether it's due to injury or performance with Rowe, who missed the first couple of weeks of preseason camp.
True freshmen Tyrrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager are listed as co-No. 2s behind expected starter Perry Hills.
*Former Gilman quarterback Shane Cockerille could make start at the WILL linebacker spot. It's the fourth position he has played since arriving at Maryland. Cockerille, who is listed as a co-starter with Jalen Brooks, has also played safety, fullback and quarterback during his first three years.
*Sophomore Darnell Savage Jr., who made a career-high five tackles in his first career start in a season-ending win at Rutgers last year, won one of the safety jobs over Brooks, who has played mostly on special teams his first two seasons.
Durkin will likely talk about some of those depth chart decisions when he speaks to the media Tuesday in his first game-week press conference since taking over as coach.
The Terps open the season against Howard at Maryland Stadium, with a noon kickoff.
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