Likely to Return for Senior Season
1/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football, Terrapin Athletics
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – All-American cornerback/return specialist William Likely has decided to return for his senior season at the University of Maryland.
“I'm excited to announce that I will be returning to Maryland for my senior season,” said Likely. “First and foremost, I'm looking forward to earning my degree. Secondly, I want to finish off what I started with my teammates. We believe in the direction of this program and know that the future is bright.”
Likely is coming off a stellar junior campaign in College Park where he led the country with 1,197 combined kick return yards. He was named to the Football Writers Association of America's All-America First Team and garnered Second Team All-America accolades from USA Today.
A Belle Glade, Florida native, Likely was also named First Team All-Big Ten and was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year.
Likely led the Big Ten in punt return average (17.7 yards) and broke a 76-year-old Big Ten record with 233 punt return yards in the Terps' season-opening win against Richmond. He finished the year with three return touchdowns, including two punts and one kickoff. His kickoff return touchdown was a 100-yard run back at Iowa. It marked the second 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Likely's career.
Likely, who's been named First Team All-Big Ten as a defensive back each of the last two years, also had a strong year defensively in 2015. He posted 44 tackles, four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and led the team with 11 pass breakups.
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