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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Liberty

Previous 15 Notes

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10/12/20 - Duron Lowe, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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CB Duron Lowe, Liberty
News Source: Conference USA Football
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10/10/20 - *Demario Douglas, rSo/2023, Liberty + 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

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WR *Demario Douglas, Liberty
News Source: AP College/Liberty Football
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10/09/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/09/20 - Joshua Mack, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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RB Joshua Mack, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/08/20 - R.J. Roderick, rSr/2024, Liberty + More +

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

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SS R.J. Roderick, Liberty
News Source: Rock Hill Herald
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10/05/20 - Joshua Mack, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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RB Joshua Mack, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/03/20 - Chris Ferguson, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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QB Chris Ferguson, Liberty
News Source: AP College Football
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10/02/20 - CJ Yarbrough, rSr/2024, Liberty + 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

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WR CJ Yarbrough, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/02/20 - Durrell Johnson, rSr/2023, Liberty + 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

rSr/2023

DE Durrell Johnson, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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10/01/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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09/28/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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09/26/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Liberty/AP College Football
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09/19/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Liberty/AP College Football
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09/15/20 - Malik Willis, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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QB Malik Willis, Liberty
News Source: Lynchburg News and Advance
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09/07/20 - Duron Lowe, rSr/2022, Liberty + 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

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