Monday Maryland Musings: Five Takeaways From Syracuse

Oct 19, 2013; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Maryland Terrapins defensive back William Likely (4) returns a kickoff during the fourth quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB&T Field. Wake defeated Maryland 34-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

4.) The defensive MVP is Will Likely, but the offensive MVP isn’t Stefon Diggs

That Will Likely can record tackles for loss, manufacture an opposing special teams error, intercept a ball for six, and come up with huge red zone plays shows how important he is for this defense. Likely is pound-for-pound (or inch-for-inch) one of the top ten corners in NCAA football. Size be damned, he is amazing.

Likely’s stature is one of the biggest reasons he arrived at Maryland, but don’t consider it a disadvantage. He’s  playmaker on two sides of the ball and the Terps emotional leader. Anytime Maryland needs a big play, Likely always seems to be the one who makes the big play for them that gives the team a spark.

Offensively, though, it’s hard to argue Marcus Leak not being the MVP of the team. Leak’s not leading the receivers in yards with 208, but he’s tied for 32nd nationally in touchdowns (with a ton of other players). Leak is also 31st nationally in yards per catch (18.36) among players with ten or more receptions. He’s doing a ton with the few balls he’s getting and reaching the end zone.

Diggs may lead the team in receptions and C.J. Brown may command 65% of this offense, but Leak is reaching the end zone with ease and Maryland has needed a threat like that.