Maryland football cornerback Will Likely’s college career is finished. The program announced Friday evening the senior suffered a torn right ACL in the second quarter of last weekend’s loss to Minnesota.
“In the short time I’ve been here at Maryland, I understand and have a great appreciation for the significant impact Will Likely has had on our football program,” coach DJ Durkin said in a statement. “Will was one of the first people I met with when I accepted this job, and it was quickly apparent how much he meant to his teammates and Maryland football.”
As the Terps prepared for Saturday’s game against Michigan State, Durkin revealed few details about Likely’s status.
The first-year coach said Monday Likely was still undergoing testing. On the team’s weekly depth chart Tuesday, Likely was listed as a starting cornerback, co-starter at wide receiver and the Terps’ top option on punt and kickoff returns. On Thursday, Durkin said the team would determine his status at the end of the practice week.
The announcement of his season-ending ligament tear he suffered on a special teams return play in the second quarter against the Golden Gophers deals a blow to the team’s defense and special teams units.
The two-time first-team All-Big Ten defensive back leads Maryland with three pass breakups and three passes defended. He’s also third on the team with 32 tackles as the lone returning starter from last year’s secondary.
Likely, a 2015 first team All-American punt returner, anchored the Terps’ special teams through the first half of this season, too.
The production came after he decided to forgo declaring for the NFL Draft last January and returned to College Park for the first season of Durkin’s tenure. The two met throughout the offseason, as Durkin challenged Likely to take a vocal leadership role in his final college season.
Before the campaign started, Likely also earned spots on four preseason watch lists for his prowess on defense and special teams.
“He will continue to play a vital role in our program as we lean on his leadership and experience,” Durkin said in the release. “I am confident Will has the work ethic, drive and focus to overcome this injury and continue his football career at the next level.”
Likely is the second senior to suffer a season-ending injury in the defensive backfield this season. Safety Denzel Conyers tore his ACL during the Terps’ nonconference slate.
Defensive backs RaVon Davis and Elijah Daniels are Likely’s projected backups at the slot corner spot on the depth chart entering Saturday night’s clash with the Spartans.
