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It didn't take South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp long to say what was painfully obvious in watching his team's loss to Florida. "We need to play better in the secondary," the fifth-year coach said. They gave up five explosive plays, defined by Muschamp and his staff as plays of 20 yards or more. Last year, they averaged allowing just more than two per game. The culprits in South Carolina's problems were multiple. Safety/dime linebacker R.J. Roderick struggled on some plays. Redshirt freshman corner Cam Smith had at least one that didn't look good. Five Gamecocks misplayed things on a long catch and run by Gator Kadarius Toney. The Gamecocks also gave up 10 yards after the catch on third-and-14. And that came in a game in which the Gamecocks played a multitude of options in the secondary. Roderick spent a lot of time as a sixth defensive back. Jaylin Dickerson played a lot of safety, as did Israel Mukuamu. Anchors such as Jammie Robinson and Jaycee Horn were in there plenty. - Rock Hill Herald

(DS#999 SS) rSr/2024

SS R.J. Roderick, Liberty
News Source: Rock Hill Herald
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10/05/20 - Joshua Mack, rSr/2022, Liberty, 5-11, 201 (DS#98 RB) + More +

Liberty redshirt senior running back Joshua Mack rushed for 130 yards on 16 carries Saturday, and in the process became the first Liberty player since Carrington Mosley in 2017 to rush for at least 100 yards in three straight games. Mack had opened the 2020 campaign with rushing performances of 100 yards at Western Kentucky and 107 yards against FIU. He totaled 95 of his 130 yards in the second half against UNA. "That's definitely a big accomplishment for me," Mack said. Mack is two games away from matching Eugene Goodman's record of five straight games with 100 yards to open a season. Goodman set the mark in the 2004 season. - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#98 RB) rSr/2022

RB Joshua Mack, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/03/20 - Chris Ferguson, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-3, 230 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Chris Ferguson threw three first-half touchdown passes and Liberty beat North Alabama 28-7 on Saturday. The Flames have opened their season with three straight home wins. Ferguson completed 12 of 21 passes for just 64 yards but didn't throw an interception. Joshua Mack ran for 130 yards on 16 carries for Liberty (3-0). Mack's 46-yard run helped set up a Ferguson 12-yard TD pass to DJ Stubbs. Ferguson added a 7-yard score to Demario Douglas and a 2-yarder to Brody Brumm. Johnathan Bennett's 5-yard touchdown pass to Chris Barrett stretched the Flames' lead to 28-0 early in the fourth quarter. Anthony Butler collected his first two interceptions for the Flames, the first inside his own end zone late in the first half. Parker Driggers scored on a 5-yard touchdown run for North Alabama (0-1) with 5:49 remaining. Driggers finished with 55 yards rushing. Rett Files was 15-of-24 for 156 yards passing with two interceptions. - AP College Football

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2022

QB Chris Ferguson, Liberty
News Source: AP College Football
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10/02/20 - CJ Yarbrough, rSr/2024, Liberty, 6-2, 195 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Wide receiver CJ Yarbrough has not played for six straight quarters as his right foot continues to recover from Jones fracture surgery. He started against Western Kentucky, but was unable to finish the game because of pain he felt in his foot. Yarbrough dressed but did not play against FIU. "Really, really pleased with him," Freeze said of Yarbrough, adding he looked "really good" in practice this week. "He makes us a different team, too, when he's in there. Really hopeful. He feels good, he looks good, so anxious to see him play." - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2024

WR CJ Yarbrough, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/02/20 - Durrell Johnson, rSr/2023, Liberty, 6-3, 251 (DS#27 DE) + More +

It was noticeable on FIU's final offensive possession this past Saturday the internal clock on each play was ticking faster and faster for Panthers quarterback Stone Norton. The redshirt freshman had to make quick decisions because of the pressure he felt on his blind side from Liberty defensive end Durrell Johnson. Johnson utilized head fakes and quick first steps to either gain leverage or beat FIU left tackle D'Antne Demery off the snap, and Johnson's ability to pressure Norton on three consecutive plays helped the Flames secure a thrilling two-point victory over the Panthers. The dominating conclusion capped a four-tackle, 2.5-sack performance the Liberty coaches knew Johnson was capable of producing when recruiting him out of ASA College in Brooklyn, New York. "We feel like we've hit a home run," defensive line coach Josh Aldridge said. Johnson, through two games, leads the Flames (2-0) with 4.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He ranks second on the team with 10 tackles, only trailing linebacker and roommate Anthony Butler. "I think it makes a huge difference having a guy like that you know is going to win his one-on-one battles nine times out of 10," Butler said. "He's made a huge impact on this team, and as you guys saw it on that last drive, was basically able to take over the entire game and finish the game out." - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#27 DE) rSr/2023

DE Durrell Johnson, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/01/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

The last sight Liberty football fans had of quarterback Malik Willis on Saturday was his left arm cushioned in a massive sling as the Flames were celebrating a 36-34 victory over FIU. The reactions on social media were expected: Some fans wishing Willis a speedy recovery, others being optimistic, and a few expressing concern it could be a serious injury. Willis answered those questions Sunday on Twitter by telling one fan, "He's ok," and another, "I'm good!!" The redshirt junior's assessment backed Flames coach Hugh Freeze's announcement Monday Willis is day-to-day with a left-elbow injury. Freeze did not specify the extent of Willis' injury.

"You've got to love Twitter. That's where most of the news is broken these days, it seems," Freeze said Monday with a chuckle. "Malik looked good this morning. He's in therapy. It's a left- elbow issue and he's getting fitted for his brace today. "He'll be anxious to play; we'll see how the week goes. It will be kind of day-to-day with him. It's not something that should keep him out for an extended period of time, if any at all. "We'll just have to see how the week goes. We're very blessed that that's the case, because some of the time you see some of those injuries, it could be a structural or a bone fragment or something that's also involved, and that takes a little longer. It appears we're blessed that's not the case. Hopefully he'll be good to go very soon." Willis has completed 37 of 51 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns and leads the team with 253 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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09/28/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

The dual-threat quarterback, who last week used his feet more than his arm, recorded his first two career passing touchdowns Saturday. Willis went 24 for 30 for 285 yards through the air, including a 24-yard TD pass to Noah Frith and a 14-yard TD toss to DJ Stubbs. The latter featured some acrobatic work from Stubbs, who tipped the ball and somehow corralled it in the back left corner of the end zone. "It was one of the most exciting plays of my life. Felt like AGG for a moment," Stubbs said, referring to Antonio Gandy-Golden, the highlight-reel-producing former LU receiver who is with the Washington Football Team now. Stubbs hauled in eight passes for 119 yards as Willis' favorite target of the day. Willis once again was Liberty's leading rusher, picking up 116 yards on the ground, 67 of which came late in the game when he scrambled on third down, then spun out of a tackle in the middle of the field, setting up an eventual field goal in the fourth quarter. - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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09/26/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Malik Willis threw two touchdown passes and accounted for 370 yards of offense to lead Liberty to a 36-34 victory over Florida International on Saturday. Willis was 24-of-30 passing for 285 yards and added 85 yards rushing. His 67-yard run helped set up Alex Barbir's 27-yard field goal that stretched the Flames' lead to 36-28 with 6:32 remaining. Lexington Joseph returned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards. Four plays later Stone Norton made it 36-34 with a 6-yard TD pass to D'vonte Price, pulling FIU to 36-34 with 4:30 to play.

Joseph also ran 100 yards into the end zone on the opening kickoff. Norton was sacked twice as the Panthers went four-and-out on their final possession deep inside their own territory with 1:32 left. Joshua Mack had a 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and finished with 107 yards rushing for Liberty (2-0). Price, a senior, ran for a career-high 148 yards with TD runs from 30 and 65 yards in the Panthers' season opener. The freshman Norton was 9-of-13 passing for 120 yards with two touchdown passes. Capacity was limited to 1,000 at 25,000-seat Williams Stadium. It was the first meeting between the teams. - Liberty/AP College Football

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Liberty/AP College Football
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09/19/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Malik Willis rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns in his Liberty debut as the Flames opened their season with a 30-24 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday. Willis, a backup quarterback at Auburn for two seasons before transferring and sitting out last year, ran for two short touchdowns in the first half and added an 18-yard run early in the fourth quarter for a 30-17 lead. He had 21 carries and threw for 133 yards on 13-of-21 passing. Tyrrell Pigrome, a grad transfer from Maryland where he started seven games over four years, threw three touchdown passes, including a 36-yard score to Craig Burt Jr. to get the Hilltoppers (0-2) within 30-24 with three minutes left.

Liberty, however, was able to run out the clock. Pigrome finished 18-of-25 passing for 193 yards. The Flames snapped a 14-all tie late in the third quarter when Shedro Louis sped around the left side for a 29-yard score. Willis started the 85-yard drive with a 51-yard run. Joshua Mack added 100 yards rushing on 23 carries with Liberty finishing with 354 yards on the ground. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, attendance was restricted to 20 percent of the 22,113-seat stadium with fans required to wear masks. - Liberty/AP College Football

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Liberty/AP College Football
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09/15/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty, 6-1, 223 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Malik Willis was widely expected to take over the reins of Liberty's offense for the 2020 season following the graduation of record-setting signal caller Buckshot Calvert. The dual-threat quarterback who transferred from Auburn was seen as the type of athlete who would thrive in Hugh Freeze's RPO offense. Willis, who battled Chris Ferguson and Johnathan Bennett during training camp, was tabbed by Freeze on Monday as the Flames' QB1 for Saturday's season opener at Western Kentucky. "Malik will get the start on Saturday," Freeze said. " … We feel very good about he and Chris and even JB. They both have continued to improve. Just feel like Malik maybe gives us just a little extra something when plays don't quite go the way we want with his legs. He's going to get the start on Saturday." The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Willis gives the Flames an extra dimension to the offense that wasn't available last season with Calvert. The program's all-time leader in most every passing category was a pure passer who could move around in the pocket with his eyes up the field, but was never a consistent threat to run the ball. - Lynchburg News and Advance

(DS#2 QB) rSr/2022

QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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09/07/20 - Duron Lowe, rSr/2022, Liberty, 5-10, 186 (DS#75 CB) + More +

First UTEP avoided embarrassment in a 24-14 season-opening victory against Stephen F. Austin. Then they generated some real reason for hope. After digging an early 14-3 hole against the Football Championship Subdivision Lumberjacks, the Miners didn't give up a point in the final 42 minutes while forcing two turnovers and slamming the door shut for the win. Quarterback Gavin Hardison made good use of his primary targets Jacob Cowing and Justin Garrett, and tailback Deion Hankins, a Parkland alum, flashed some moments of brilliance that made him one of the great tailbacks in El Paso high school history. "Our defense started playing at a dominant level," coach Dana Dimel said after winning an opener for the second consecutive season. "You could see how much more athletic we are defensively with what we're doing, so much more quick twitch on our football team. "I noticed how much faster we were playing, how more physical we were playing. We're in that stage where we're learning how to win football games. Offensively we had some play makers step up and make some plays for us."

The defense turned the game around with a turnover to set up a go-ahead touchdown at the end of the first half. UTEP turned a 14-3 deficit into a 17-14 halftime lead in the space of two and a half minutes, then got a Duron Lowe end zone interception in the fourth quarter when SFA seemed poised to retake the lead. "That was a great play and it wasn't easy," Dimel said of Lowe's interception that was the play of the game. "That was a winning play, a big difference in this ball game." "They are a big smash-post-corner team in the red zone," Lowe said. "I saw No. 1 (Jermiah Miller) run a smash route, I sunk and made a play on the ball. That got us the ball back." - El Paso Times

(DS#75 CB) rSr/2022

CB Duron Lowe, Liberty
News Source: El Paso Times
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09/05/20 - Charlie Brewer, rSr/2023, Liberty, 6-1, 200 (DS#25 QB) + More +

Working under offensive coordinator Larry Fedora, the Bears hope Brewer won't take as many hits this season. Throughout preseason drills, Brewer has focused on releasing the ball quicker and staying in the pocket longer to avoid get slammed by defenders. "Coach Fedora has helped me a lot, just getting a good grasp of the offense and really just understanding the scheme and what we're trying to do," Brewer said. "I think he's helped me a lot with my feet, whether it's dropback or one-step quick game. He emphasizes getting the ball out quick. I do feel like my arm is stronger. I feel like my shoulder is healthy." Brewer put up big numbers last season as he completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 3,161 yards and 21 touchdowns with just seven interceptions in 389 attempts. Brewer has seen strong progression in the offensive line as veterans like center Xavier Newman-Johnson, left tackle Connor Galvin and guard-tackle Casey Phillips have led a unit that appears to be much improved over last season.

The addition of UCLA grad transfer right tackle Jake Burton will also give Baylor's offensive line a lift. "I'm impressed with the improvement and the attitude and the work ethic of our offensive line," said Baylor coach Dave Aranda. "I feel like it's going to be a strength of our team, and I feel like the attitude and the edge that is developing there is a real positive for us and something that can lead out in front as compared to kind of supplementing from behind." Brewer has worked on improving his footwork in the pocket, which could help him get in position to make quicker, more accurate passes. Fedora's up-tempo offensive scheme should also allow Brewer to release the ball faster. "I've worked on a multitude of things, and I think that ties in with your feet," Brewer said. "Having good feet in the pocket I think is going to help me this year, help our offense and probably will limit the chance of getting injured." - Waco Tribune Herald

(DS#25 QB) rSr/2023

QB Charlie Brewer, Liberty
News Source: Waco Tribune Herald
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09/05/20 - Charlie Brewer, rSr/2023, Liberty, 6-1, 200 (DS#25 QB) + More +

Brewer, out of Lake Travis, helped elevate the Bears last season by leading them to 11 wins and a Sugar Bowl appearance, a major leap from their one-win season two years prior. He's never been one to holster his deep ball; he completed at least one 40-yard pass in eight different games last year, including four of them in a double-digit win at Oklahoma State. The biggest question is about Brewer's health. Former Bears coach Matt Rhule previously said Brewer suffered three concussions in his career, including last year's Big 12 championship game, in which he was removed. Baylor's calling card in 2019 was its fortified defense, which managed to check the majority of its Big 12 counterparts. But only two starters are back from that defense. Combine that with a new coaching staff and Brewer's arm appears vital to the Bears remaining near the top of the conference. - Austin American Statesman

(DS#25 QB) rSr/2023

QB Charlie Brewer, Liberty
News Source: Austin American Statesman
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08/27/20 - Skyler Thomas, rSr/2022, Liberty, 5-09, 184 (DS#91 CB) + More +

Despite entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal last week, Washington State's Skyler Thomas will stay put this fall and finish his college career with the Cougars. Thomas announced the news Monday morning on Twitter: "I will be pulling my name from the transfer portal and returning to WSU." The Pacific-12 Conference's postponement of fall football two weeks ago prompted the Southern California native to enter his name in the portal and seek opportunities elsewhere. While the Pac-12 and Big Ten have moved on from the idea of playing this fall, the Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference still plan on a season starting next month. Thomas' WSU teammate, wide receiver Tay Martin, made a similar decision and found a vacant scholarship at Oklahoma State, announcing his transfer to the Big 12 Cowboys on Saturday. - Spokesman-Review

(DS#91 CB) rSr/2022

CB Skyler Thomas, Liberty
News Source: Spokesman-Review
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08/25/20 - Charlie Brewer, rSr/2023, Liberty, 6-1, 200 (DS#25 QB) + More +

2021 SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST: Charlie Brewer, Baylor,...A fourth-year starter at quarterback, Brewer has passed for 7,742 yards in his career – the third most in program history. The Austin native has started 30 games, the most since Robert Griffin III's 40 starts between 2008-11. - Baylor Football

(DS#25 QB) rSr/2023

QB Charlie Brewer, Liberty
News Source: Baylor Football
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