Maryland freshman defensive back William Likely has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Rookie of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
The native of Belle Glade, Fla., scored his first career touchdown on Saturday in Maryland’s 27-24 overtime win against Virginia Tech with a 63-yard punt return midway through the second quarter. Likely finished with 106 punt return yards, the fourth-highest total in an ACC game this season.
It was Maryland’s first punt return for a touchdown since Tony Logan returned a punt 84 yards against Duke on Oct. 2, 2010, and marked the Terps’ first special teams touchdown since Stefon Diggs returned a kickoff 99 yards at North Carolina last season (Nov. 24).
Likely is averaging 13.8 yards per punt return, which ranks fourth in the conference and 12th nationally. It is currently the fifth-highest single-season average in school history and would break Maryland’s freshman record held by Orlando Strozier (10.46 ypr, 1993).
Orlando Strozier
That record stood for 21 years. I’m pretty proud of that!!!!
· 11/12/2019