COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland senior cornerback William Likely has been named to the preseason Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Tuesday.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (class of 1969) and the NFL Hall of Fame (class of 1967).
Likely, who’s been named First Team All-Big Ten as a defensive back each of the last two years, posted a strong junior campaign in 2015. He registered 44 tackles, four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and led the team with 11 pass breakups.
As a sophomore in 2014, Likely posted 83 tackles (66 solo), tied for the conference-lead in interceptions (6) and tied for the FBS lead by returning a pair of interceptions for touchdowns. The Belle Glade, Florida native also tied for first in the Big Ten with 15 passes defensed that year.
Also an All-American return specialist, Likely led the country with 1,197 kick return yards in 2015. 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. He was also 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.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced October 31, while the three finalists will be unveiled November 21. The winner of the 2016 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 8. The formal presentations of award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Revel Casino Hotel Atlantic City on March 10, 2017.
The Chuck Bednarik Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more.
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