COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland sophomore defensive back William Likely has been added to the 2014 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced Wednesday. The Chuck Bednarik Award is in its 20th year and recognizes the college defensive player of the year.
Likely earned a spot on the watch list following an impressive to start the 2014 season. Through six games. Likely has totaled three interceptions, which is tied for the best mark in the Big Ten and is tied for 16th nationally. He has a team-high eight passes defensed and is averaging 1.33 per game, which is tied for second in the conference.
The Belle Glade, Fla., native also has the sixth-longest interception return in the country this season. Against Syracuse, Likely took the interception back 88 yards for his first career interception return for a touchdown, which earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced November 3 and three finalists will be announced November 24. The winner of the 2014 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be held December 11.
The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., on March 13, 2015.
– Maryland –
