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Liberty's Malik Willis joined Memphis' Brady White and Florida's Kyle Trask as quarterbacks to throw for six touchdowns in a game this season. Willis also ran for a score, giving him a Flames' program-record seven touchdowns in a 56-35 win over Southern Mississippi. The junior passed for a career-high 345 yards. - AP College Football

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: AP College Football
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10/25/20 - Durrell Johnson, rSr/2023, Liberty, 6-3, 251 (DS#27 DE) + More +

The Flames, in addition to boasting the nation's No. 7 pass defense (166.4 yards per game), also rank seventh nationally in third-down defense. Opponents have converted on 18 of 65 third-down chances through five games, and the number drastically drops to 4 of 36 when facing 7 yards or longer to gain. "We talk about coverage and the rush going hand-in-hand and you look at the ability for us to not have to play a lot of pressure," Liberty safeties coach Corey Batoon said. "We've been rushing four [defenders] a lot of times and not having to devote five into the charge. The job that we're doing up front in terms of disrupting quarterbacks with just bringing four has really led to our ability to play some zones and some max drop situations and really put the passing game in our favor."

Liberty's defensive front has thrived on third downs this season. The group has recorded 11 of its 16 sacks on third down, and nine of those sacks have come when opponents need to gain 7 yards or more. "Our D-line is outstanding," Liberty safety JaVon Scruggs (Appomattox) said. "Those two edge rushers in Durrell Johnson and TreShaun Clark, those guys are big, scary guys that the tackles don't like to really see because they're easily faster than any O-lineman that we're facing." Johnson is tied for third in the nation with six sacks and five of those have come on third down. Clark has added another 2.5 sacks on third down. "They're good up front, there's no doubt about that," Kubik said. - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#27 DE) rSr/2023

DE Durrell Johnson, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/24/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Malik Willis threw for 345 yards and six touchdowns - five in the first half - and Liberty remained unbeaten after dominating Southern Mississippi 56-35 Saturday. The Flames (6-0) piled up 537 yards of offense, racing to a 35-7 halftime lead as Willis found five different receivers with scoring strikes. Willis also ran for a 38-yard score, taking part in a school-record seven touchdowns. Willis completed 24 of 31 passes without an interception and rushed for 97 yards on 12 attempts. Southern Miss (1-4) rallied with a 21-point third quarter on three rushing touchdowns by Tate Whatley and came as close as 35-28. Whatley rushed for four touchdowns and passed for another, picking up 52 yards on the ground and 188 in the air. With interim coach Scotty Waldren unable to travel with the team after testing positive for COVID-19, the Golden Eagles were led by interim interim coach Tim Billings, who had last coached in 2005 at Southeast Missouri State. The game was played before 1,000 fans. - Liberty/AP College Football

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Liberty/AP College Football
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10/23/20 - T.J. Green, rSr/2023, Liberty, 5-11, 205 (DS#63 RB) + More +

The Utah Utes running back room will be losing a player, as TJ Green announced on Tuesday via Twitter his decision to transfer. Green thanked God, his family, the Utah football program, fans and his teammates for making his time in Salt Lake City a positive experience (he graduated), but he concluded by writing, "This decision has come after deep thought and conversations with those close to me. With that being said, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal, and I am excited for what my future holds." A three-star prospect out of Chandler, Arizona, in the Class of 2017, the 5-foot-11, 209-pound Green redshirted that fall and then has gotten a bit of playing time since but nothing consistent. He'll leave Utah having tallied 39 carries for 258 yards, most of which came in 2018. - Deseret News

(DS#63 RB) rSr/2023

RB T.J. Green, Liberty
News Source: Deseret News
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10/23/20 - Aidan Alves, rSr/2023, Liberty, 6-1, 220 (DS#999 P) + More +

Punter Aidan Alves had a topsy turvy 2018 season. He had some highlights but even more poor outings in an inconsistent first year. The punter, though, has become more and more consistent under special teams coordinator Tanner Burns. Alves is averaging 42.3 yards on 14 punts this season, and he was particularly effective against Syracuse. Alves averaged 43.2 yards on four punts, and Johnson only returned one punt for 3 yards. Johnson entered the game ranked sixth in the nation with a 12.2-yards-per-return average. "Might also say Aidan Alves did an incredible job of placing his punts the other day at Syracuse. That doesn't go in the stat sheet anywhere, but that returner is extremely dangerous," Freeze said. "Man, he pinned him to the sideline every single punt. I thought both of those kids had good days." - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#999 P) rSr/2023

P Aidan Alves, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/19/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis completed 16 of 20 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown against the Orange. It was an efficient outing for the redshirt junior after he completed 38% of his passes the week before against Louisiana-Monroe. Willis put up those gaudy numbers without three of his top receivers. CJ Yarbrough, Noah Frith and Javian Lofton did not play against Syracuse. Flames coach Hugh Freeze revealed Yarbrough took a hit on one of his shoulders during practice and the injury "just kind of flared back up." Wills completed passes to seven different receivers. "Everybody on this roster can roll and we have trust in them," said Willis, who added 58 rushing yards and a 4-yard touchdown in the second quarter. "When the ball is in the air, we trust them to go get it."

Willis' favorite targets were slot receivers DJ Stubbs and DeMario Douglas. Both had four catches and combined for 91 receiving yards. Stubbs hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass to cap the Flames' opening drive of the third quarter for a 28-14 lead. "Really wasn't sure if we could win a lot of one-on-one battles on the outside with their corners; I thought they were very talented there," Freeze said. "I thought we could win some in the slot and we waited and calculated our shots there with those guys, and I thought we were dead-on with most of those." - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/19/20 - Ralfs Rusins, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-5, 305 (DS#93 DT) + More +

Rusins was a relative unknown to many fans entering the 2019 season. His playing time was sporadic in his first two seasons on the field, and the most reps he received in one game was the Flames' unforgettable outing in the 2016 finale at Coastal Carolina. Fans, though, knew exactly who Rusins was throughout the 2019 opener against Syracuse. Rusins was a force up the middle with nine tackles and a sack. He constantly disrupted the Orange's run game and thoroughly dominated at the point of attack. This season, Rusins' disruptive nature hasn't resulted in quite as many tackles (he has 13 with one sack through four weeks), but he's been able to get enough pressure up the middle to force quarterbacks into the waiting arms of the Flames' defensive ends. - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#93 DT) rSr/2022

DT Ralfs Rusins, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/17/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Seldom-used running back Shedro Louis scored on touchdown runs of 75 and 52 yards, quarterback Malik Willis passed for one and ran for another score and Liberty stayed undefeated, downing Syracuse 38-21 Saturday. It was Liberty's first win against an Atlantic Coast Conference team. Louis, a third-string sophomore, rushed for a career-high 170 yards for the Flames (5-0). Liberty, which averaged 250 yards on the ground entering the game, had 258 yards rushing in the first half and 338 for the game. In a 24-0 shutout over Liberty a year ago, Syracuse (1-4, 1-3 ACC) held the Flames to minus 4 yards on the ground. Louis' previous game high was 57 yards against North Alabama earlier this season. His longest run from scrimmage was 30 yards in the same game. Entering the contest, Louis had just 23 carries for 140 yards in his career. Willis was 16 of 20 passing for 182 yards with one touchdown pass, and added 58 yards on the ground. DJ Stubbs had four receptions, including a 36-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Peytton Pickett, who added 115 yards rushing, scored on a 16-yard run. Alex Barbir had a 20-yard field goal. - Liberty/AP College Football

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Liberty/AP College Football
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10/17/20 - Skyler Thomas, rSr/2022, Liberty, 5-09, 184 (DS#91 CB) + More +

In a span of 57 days, Washington State defensive back Skyler Thomas has entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal, removed it and now entered it for a second time. The redshirt senior from California explored playing options outside of Pullman when it seemed the Pac-12 wouldn't be holding a football season, entering his name in the portal on Aug. 18. Within a week of that decision, though, Thomas announced he'd be returning to WSU for his senior season. Now, the Riverside, California, native has changed his mind again, entering his name in the transfer portal on Wednesday.

First-year WSU coach Nick Rolovich confirmed a report from Rivals.com that Thomas had resubmitted his name in the portal. After taking Tuesday off, the Cougars returned to the field Wednesday for their fourth practice of this preseason camp. "We had a talk yesterday and he feels like it's the best thing for him right now, and we wish him nothing but the best," Rolovich said. "There's no ill will from either side, in my opinion. This is a real difficult time for all of these kids and I think right now we've just got to be as supportive as we can with them, and know who's going to roll with us and who's not. Skyler, we've been through a lot already in a short period, and I wish him nothing but the best in success in where he plays next." - Spokesman-Review

(DS#91 CB) rSr/2022

CB Skyler Thomas, Liberty
News Source: Spokesman-Review
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10/17/20 - Joshua Mack, rSr/2022, Liberty, 5-11, 201 (DS#98 RB) + More +

Saturday's game can be looked at as a homecoming for Liberty redshirt senior running back Joshua Mack, a native of Pittsford, New York. Mack has rushed for 359 yards and one touchdown on 59 carries this season. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder will return to his home state with the 12th most rushing yards in the nation. Liberty ranks seventh in the nation in rushing, as Peyton Pickett has 178 yards on 36 carries and a pair of touchdowns, while Shedro Louis has totaled 140 yards and one touchdown on 23 attempts this season. - The Post-Standard

(DS#98 RB) rSr/2022

RB Joshua Mack, Liberty
News Source: The Post-Standard
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10/13/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Malik Willis looked calm and composed in the pocket on several plays Saturday. On others, he appeared out of sync and looking to make something happen against the Louisiana-Monroe defense. The Liberty quarterback, in his first action since Sept. 26 against FIU, said he "was a little rusty; I was a lot rusty," while wearing a protective brace on his left elbow in the Flames' 40-7 victory over the Warhawks at Williams Stadium. Willis led the Flames with 87 rushing yards on 13 carries, but he was not sharp in the passing attack. He completed 11 of 29 passes for 177 yards and his first interception of the season.

"I practiced with it on, but ain't nothing like live reps," Willis said of wearing the brace. "I just needed that whole environment to see how it feels and to take a hit on it and see how that feels. Everything worked out. I have a lot of information from this game and I have a lot to build upon." The signal caller, one of the most explosive players through the season's first two weeks, was not crisp or accurate in the passing attack like he was before the injury. Several of his throws sailed on him, and he missed at least four deep throws where his receivers were behind the ULM secondary. "At least two got to be hit, at least," Willis said. "I definitely want all of them back because I feel like I could have made better throws. I think at first I was playing a little timid, then I had to get out of that and just start back playing like myself and just stepping into all my throws and then doing the right fundamentals." - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/12/20 - Duron Lowe, rSr/2022, Liberty, 5-10, 186 (DS#75 CB) + More +

OCT 12 CONFERENCE USA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: UTEP senior KR Duron Lowe responded to a LA Tech touchdown drive by taking the ensuing kickoff to the house with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in fourth quarter to make it a 21-17 game. The 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Lowe in the fourth quarter was the second of his UTEP career. He also had a 100-yard kickoff return at North Texas on Nov. 2, 2019. On the night, Lowe had three kick returns for a total of 159 yards and a touchdown. Lowe is only the second player in school history with two 100-yard kickoff returns in his career. Autrey Golden also turned the trick against UTSA and Tulsa during the 2013 season. - Conference USA Football

(DS#75 CB) rSr/2022

CB Duron Lowe, Liberty
News Source: Conference USA Football
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10/10/20 - *Demario Douglas, rSo/2023, Liberty, 5-08, 179 (DS#36 WR) + More +

Treon Sibley and Damario Douglas starred on special teams and Liberty beat Louisiana-Monroe 40-7 on Saturday. Sibley recovered a dropped snap by punter Daniel Sparks in the end zone for a 21-0 lead in the second quarter and blocked a punt that Chancellor Smith recovered to lead 31-0 in the third quarter. Douglas had a 38-yard punt return that led to Liberty's first points and returned another 73 yards for a fourth-quarter TD. Malik Willis, who sat out Liberty's last game with an injury to his left arm, returned to throw for 177 yards and rush for another 87, including a touchdown. Interceptions by Javon Scruggs and Marcus Haskins led to scores and a 24-0 halftime lead. Liberty, in its third FBS season, is 4-0 for the first time since 2008. The Flames outgained the Warhawks 400-198. Colby Suits, who came in averaging over 260 yards passing to lead the Sun Belt Conference, was just 13 of 29 for 78 yards and two interceptions for ULM (0-5) before giving way to Jeremy Hunt, who threw for a touchdown in the final quarter. Josh Pederson became the fifth tight end in ULM history to go over 1,000 career yards receiving. Because of state COVID restrictions, attendance was limited to 1,000 fans. - AP College/Liberty Football

(DS#36 WR) rSo/2023

WR *Demario Douglas, Liberty
News Source: AP College/Liberty Football
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10/09/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Willis was injured on a third-down run in the fourth quarter during Liberty's Sept. 26 victory over FIU. He was fitted for a brace the following Monday and wore it during the pregame warmups and throughout the game on the sidelines against North Alabama. "He's ready to go. He could have played Saturday," Freeze said. "It's just a fact that if you have two weeks without him getting hit on it, the swelling has more time to go down and it's not near as sore. "I don't think, according to the doctors, he's in danger of structurally anything happening with that brace that he has on it. It's just a matter of how do we get it to where it's not as sore as it could be. We thought that the best way is to make sure he doesn't get hit on it for two straight weeks."

Freeze added Willis will wear the brace as he recovers from the injury. The coach has not specified the type of injury Willis suffered. Willis was electric in Liberty's victories over Western Kentucky and FIU. He accounted for 671 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, and his 253 rushing yards were the most by a quarterback in the season's opening month. Liberty averaged 32 points and more than 500 yards of total offense per game with Willis at quarterback. - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/09/20 - Joshua Mack, rSr/2022, Liberty, 5-11, 201 (DS#98 RB) + More +

Liberty received one vote in the coaches' Top 25 poll Sunday after improving to 3-0 following its 28-7 win over North Alabama. It was the first time the Flames received a vote in one of the two major FBS Top 25 polls. "That's certainly something that people would look at and give you some recognition. It can be short-lived, I know that, so I think of it as fake news kind of right now or rat poison, that's what I told our kids this morning, if it's not handled the right way," said Freeze, who is one of 62 head coaches who vote in the poll. "There's no doubt that's a positive. I love doing things that you're first at and if that truly is the first that we've gotten votes in the Top 25, that's an accomplishment and one that we can hopefully capitalize on and make us hungry to stay in those discussions. "Our schedule is getting ready to get very difficult. Not that it hasn't been difficult. I work for a great administration, but I tell them all the time that their scheduling and coaches' scheduling, we would do things differently a little bit. Our schedule is getting ready to get very difficult. We'll find out if we deserve to be in those discussions for real." - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#98 RB) rSr/2022

RB Joshua Mack, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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