A former NFL star is fueling Will Likely's Heisman Trophy campaign
You probably won’t see William Likely’s name pop up on any preseason Heisman Trophy watch list.
After all, the last defensive player to win the award was former Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson in 1997. And he actually played on offense, too. The odds of another defensive player winning the award are unlikely, to say the least.
But not all of the preseason support is going to the typical offensive stars.
Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor tweeted out his endorsement of Maryland’s All-B1G cornerback/returner Will Likely:
#Iam4LikelyHeisman2016 pic.twitter.com/XyOBu9us20
— Fred Taylor (@FredTaylorMade) June 22, 2016
What’s the connection? Well, Taylor and Likely both went to Glades Central High School in Florida. Now that Taylor’s son, Kelvin, is off to the NFL it appears he’ll switch his allegiance to Likely.
Likely did break a 76-year-old B1G record for punt return yards in the season opener last year. The senior was already an All-B1G returner and cornerback in 2015. Odds are, he’ll wind up on a preseason All-American team or two as a returner.
If he somehow winds up on a Heisman list, he might have Taylor to thank for that.