Likely Earns Big Ten Player of the Week Honors
9/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Maryland sophomore defensive back William Likely has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
The native of Belle Glade, Fla., is Maryland's first Big Ten football player of the week after he recorded his first career interception return touchdown in Maryland's 34-20 win over Syracuse Saturday.
With Syracuse threatening at the Maryland 17-yard line late in the second quarter, Likely jumped in front of a Terrel Hunt pass and returned it 88 yards for the score. The interception was Likely's second of the season and the third of his career. It also marked Maryland's longest interception return for a touchdown since Eddie Tomlin returned one 97 yards at Michigan on Sept. 30, 1989.
Likely also tallied a team-high nine tackles Saturday, all solo, including one for a loss to go along with his interception.
This season, Likely is tied for the league lead in interceptions (2) and is tied for second in passes defensed (5). Likely ranks third on the team in tackles (27) and tackles for loss (3.0).
Maryland travels to Bloomington Saturday for its first-ever Big Ten matchup as the Terps take on Indiana at 1:30 p.m. from Memorial Stadium.
– Maryland –
