Former Maryland football defensive back Will Likely has signed with the New England Patriots, the school confirmed Monday.
While CBS Sports listed Likely as the 32nd best cornerback in the 2017 NFL Draft, he wasn’t selected. In fact, no Maryland players were chosen, and though Likely was perhaps the most high-profile Terp in the draft, he didn’t sign with a team until about a month after the event.
The defending Super Bowl champions’ top kick returners last season, Danny Amendola and Cyrus Jones, are still on the roster, as Likely will compete for a special teams spot. But Jones is coming off an inconsistent rookie season after starring at Alabama.
As a junior in 2015, Likely was named an All-American Punt Returner while earning Big Ten honors as a defensive back. He scored three return touchdowns while averaging 18.2 yards on punt returns and 22.5 yards off kick returns.
The year before, Likely was tabbed First Team All-Big Ten after recording a team-high six interceptions and notching the fourth-most tackles on the squad (83). His 170 yards after interception that campaign is the most ever for a Maryland player in a single-season.
Entering last season, NFL.com tabbed Likely the sixth most versatile player in college football. But Likely tore his ACL in the sixth game of the campaign, ending his Maryland career and lowering his draft stock.
Likely’s 2,233 career kickoff return yards are the second most in program history (trailing Torrey Smith), as are his four punt return touchdowns.
After an extensive rehab process, the 5-foot-7, 175-pound defensive back made his return for Maryland’s Pro Day on March 30 in front of 27 NFL scouts. At that event, Likely said he expects to be at full strength come training camp in July.
