COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Five players from the Maryland football team received All-Big Ten defensive honors as announced by the Big Ten Conference Monday night on Big Ten Network.
Junior William Likely highlighted the show for the Terrapins, becoming the inaugural recipient of the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award, in addition to being named First Team All-Big Ten return specialist (media & coaches) and First Team All-Big Ten defensive back (media) for the second straight season.
Additionally, junior defensive end Yannick Ngakoue was named First Team All-Big Ten (coaches & media), while Jermaine Carter, Jr. (coaches & media), Sean Davis (media) and Quinton Jefferson (coaches) were named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
Likely was one of the most feared returners in the nation this season, and currently leads the country in combined kick returns with 1,197 yards. He totaled three touchdown returns (two punt, one kick) and broke a 76-year-old Big Ten record with 233 punt return yards in the Terps' season-opening win against Richmond. Likely leads the Big Ten in punt return average (17.7) and also totaled 220 kick return yards at #10 Iowa – a Kinnick Stadium record.
Likely also had a strong year defensively, ranking sixth on Maryland with 44 tackles, four tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, in addition to a team-high 11 pass breakups.
Ngakoue became Maryland's single-season sack leader by posting 13.5 sacks in 2015, breaking a record that had been shared by Mark Duda (1982) and Bruce Palmer (1978). The junior ranks second in the nation with 1.13 sacks/g and is a member of the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List for the nation's top defensive end.
Carter started all 12 games for the Terps at middle linebacker, leading the team with 103 tackles and 14.0 tackles for loss. His 14.0 tackles for loss this season were the most for a Maryland middle linebacker since E.J. Henderson in 2002.
Davis transitioned smoothly from safety to cornerback in 2015, leading the Terps with 70 solo tackles and finishing with 88 overall. His five forced fumbles were the second-most in Maryland single-season history and rank second nationally, and he ranks third in the Big Ten with 5.8 solo tackles/g. He became the first Maryland player to record 200 career solo tackles since current NFL star D'Qwell Jackson in 2005.
Jefferson was a steadying force for Maryland in all 12 games on the defensive line, notching 39 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He had a habit of making big plays in key situations, posting an interception, blocked kick, forced fumble and fumble recovery.
The Big Ten will recognize players on the offensive side of the ball on Tuesday.
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