As young players growing up in Florida, Maryland football defensive backs Elisha and Elijah Daniels admired Will Likely.
The two freshmen have followed the Terps defensive back’s career since his first year in high school. They attended almost all of Likely’s games at Glades Central, where both the Danielses’ father and Likely’s father went to high school. As Likely started at Maryland, they watched from afar.
When the Terps offered the twins scholarships, and a chance to play alongside Likely, they jumped at the opportunity. The two have since become some of the players Likely has mentored as he’s worked to become one of the team’s vocal leaders.
“He’s probably the biggest reason I came to Maryland,” Elisha Daniels said. “He just pushes me and lets me know the reason I came here and that I can get better.”
Since coach DJ Durkin took over the program last December, he’s met with Likely in one-on-one settings. He first sought to convince the All-American punt returner to delay his entry into the NFL draft. After Likely decided to return to College Park for his senior season, Durkin challenged him to take a bigger presence on the team.
“Not only is that going to help you in your football career,” Durkin remembered telling Likely, “it’s going to help you in life.”
The instructions weren’t limited to private conversations, though. Durkin also highlighted Likely in Terps meetings as someone the younger players should emulate.
“It’s one of those challenges, so it’s not like something’s coming as a surprise,” Likely said. “The team knows, so they look at me as one of the leaders, and I just got to step up and do whatever it is.”
For Likely, that’s meant breaking out of his comfort zone. He’s worked on praising his teammates’ accomplishments and speaking up when he sees something wrong.
On the field, he plans to lead by example. The Terps staff said Likely will play on defense, offense and special teams this season. He enters as a preseason first-team All-Big Ten punt returner and a second-team All-Big Ten defensive back.
He also earned spots on preseason watch lists for the Paul Hornung Award, Jim Thorpe Award, Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award, which honor the nation’s most dynamic player, top defensive back, and best defenders, respectively.
“Will is so dynamic that we just want Will to be Will,” defensive coordinator Andy Buh said. “Anytime we have an opportunity to put him in on offense or special teams, or start him at different positions on defense, we’re going to do that, because we don’t want to miss an opportunity to lose his talent.”
But until he starts his senior season Sept. 3 against Howard, Likely has focused on forming bonds with his younger teammates.
When Elisha Daniels met him upon arriving in College Park, he was star-struck for a moment before he and Likely formed a bond that has lasted into fall camp. They sit together in the defensive back meetings. Daniels peppers the veteran with questions while Likely feeds him tips.
“They’re watching everything that I do,” Likely said. “If I decide to slack off, they’re going to feel like they can slack off, so I have to make sure that I’m on top of my game every single day.”
