D.J. Durkin has made plenty of changes since he was hired five weeks ago.

From bringing on an entirely new coaching staff to locking down four-star recruits, the first-year Maryland coach has had plenty on his plate that involved change.

But there was one key player he had to get to come back in 2016. Do-it-all junior William Likely had the option of pursuing his NFL dream and forgoing his final year of eligibility.

Instead, he elected to give Durkin and the Terps one more year.

https://twitter.com/4GoLive/status/685560221889118208

Likely’s return is major for a group that struggled to find playmakers in 2015. He led the nation in kickoff return yards and he became the first ever winner of the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award, given annually to the B1G’s top returner. Likely also broke a 76-year-old B1G record for punt return yards in a game.

As a cornerback, Likely received All-B1G accolades after a year in which he led Maryland with 11 pass breakups. He showed off his versatility against Wisconsin by starting at both cornerback and wide receiver.

It remains to be seen what kind of role Likely will have working with his first-year head coach.

But at the least, Durkin will have one of the nation’s most dangerous open-field weapons in 2016.