LIBERTY FLAMES NEWS

Lucas scores 3 TDs and Liberty extends Conference USA run with 28-10 victory over UTEP

Billy Lucas scored three touchdowns and Liberty continued its successful run in Conference USA with a 28-10 victory over UTEP

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Catches TD Mobley caught four passes for 36 yards and a score against UTEP on Saturday.

Impact Mobley had 40 catches for 490 yards and five touchdowns in 2022 with Costal Carolina, but he decided to stick around when Jamey Caldwell left for Liberty. It did not pan out, and Mobley decided to join his old coach. This is his first touchdown since those five in 2022.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Nets 77 yards Sibley caught four passes for 77 yards versus UTEP on Saturday.

Impact Once again, Sibley was comfortably the top receiver for Liberty, even if he didn't get to 100 yards for a third game in a row. While he only has one touchdown, Sibley also has 14 catches for 341 yards, so that is a small quibble.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Steps up big with three TDs Lucas ran 21 times for 104 yards and three touchdowns Saturday against UTEP.

Impact Quinton Cooley, Liberty's star back, left this one early with an apparent leg injury. It would certainly seem that Lucas is the next man up, and he showed what he can do with a larger role. There's a good chance Lucas will be the lead back against East Carolina in Week 4.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers injury early against UTEP Cooley ran six times for 45 yards on Liberty's first two drives against UTEP on Saturday, but then suffered an apparent leg injury and did not return.

Impact In his post-game press conference, head coach Jamey Caldwell said in regard to Cooley's injury "It does not sound good." It seems unlikely Cooley will play against East Carolina next week, but there is no official word at this time. If you are looking for the next man up, Billy Lucas ended up getting 21 carries.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Can't keep pace with 2023 numbers Salter went 15-for-19 for 228 yards and a touchdown against UTEP on Saturday. He ran nine times for 24 yards, but fumbled twice, losing one of them.

Impact Well...it's been three games now. The opponents have all been easy. Salter was a star last season, a top fantasy performer. This year, he has as many turnovers as touchdowns. The utter lack of rushing is really concerning. Last season Salter ran for over 1,000 yards with 12 touchdowns. This year he has 95 yards on 28 attempts without a single score.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

How to Watch Liberty vs. UTEP: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – September 14, 2024

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Liberty Flames vs. UTEP Miners game, Saturday, Sept. 14.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • DATA SKRIVE

Liberty vs. UTEP Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 14, 2024

Preview the Sept. 14 matchup between the Liberty Flames and UTEP Miners with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines and more.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • DATA SKRIVE

Rushes for 23 yards Lucas ran eight times for 23 yards and had one catch for 18 yards Saturday versus NMSU.

Impact This is a step down after Lucas managed 78 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Campbell in Liberty's opener. He has three catches, though, and has clearly established himself as the number-two back for the Flames. This is an offense that tore it up on the ground in 2023, so that's not a bad role to be in.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cooley runs for 2 fourth-quarter TDs as Liberty rallies, beats New Mexico St. 30-24

Quinton Cooley had 112 yards rushing and ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, CJ Bazile Jr. returned a fumble 22-yard for a TD and Liberty rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch New Mexico State vs. Liberty: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – September 7, 2024

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the New Mexico State Aggies vs. Liberty Flames game, Saturday, Sept. 7.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 • DATA SKRIVE

Liberty vs. New Mexico State Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 7, 2024

Preview the Sept. 7 matchup between the Liberty Flames and New Mexico State Aggies with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines...

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 • DATA SKRIVE

Liberty gets it going in second half, defeats Campbell 41-24 in opener

Kaidon Salter threw two touchdown passes, Quinton Cooley had 110 yards on the ground and Liberty defeated Campbell 41-24 in the season opener for both teams

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nets 77 yards Canion caught three passes for 77 yards against Campbell on Saturday.

Impact First, Canion couldn't find his footing at Auburn. Then, the same thing happened at Purdue. Finally, he's decided to take his talented to a Conference USA team, where the competition for touches is usually less stiff. Breaking off a 50-yard reception probably will help Canion stay in the mix going forward.

AUGUST 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gets over 100 yards in opener Sibley caught five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown against Campbell on Saturday.

Impact The core of the high-powered Liberty run attack returned in 2024, but the one key piece of the 2023 offense that is gone is CJ Daniels, who had over 1,000 yards receiving last season. Sibley is the team's top returning receiver, and through one game seems primed to step into Daniels' role, and perhaps his production as well.

AUGUST 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Finds end zone Lucas ran 17 times for 78 yards and a touchdown while also catching two passes for 17 yards versus Campbell on Saturday.

Impact Lucas actually had the most touches of any Liberty player in this game, but that's because it was an FCS opponent the coaching staff felt like it could handle, and rightfully so it turned out. That being said, while Lucas is behind Quinton Cooley in the pecking order, this offense was so good last season he still got to carry the ball 114 times for 597 yards and six touchdowns.

AUGUST 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Rushes for 100 yards and a score Cooley ran 16 times for 110 yards and a touchdowns Saturday against Campbell.

Impact Last year Cooley transferred to Liberty from Wake Forest to finally get an opportunity. He made the most of it, rushing for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns. This was ultimately an easy win for the Flames. If they had needed more from Cooley, he could have given them more.

AUGUST 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Throws two TDs Salter went 16-for-23 for 242 yards and two touchdowns against Campbell on Saturday. He also ran nine times for 48 yards but lost a fumble.

Impact It took the Liberty offense a bit to get going, but this game featured a weather delay and was not played in the best of conditions. Salter did enough to lead the Flames to a win while putting up respectable numbers. He threw for 32 touchdowns while running for 12 last season as one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in college football. There's no reason to worry.

AUGUST 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

How to Watch Liberty vs. Campbell: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – August 31, 2024

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Liberty Flames vs. Campbell Fighting Camels game, Saturday, August 31.

AUGUST 31, 2024 • DATA SKRIVE

Listed as starter for Week 1 Canion is listed as a starter for the Week 1 matchup against Campbell on Saturday.

Impact Canion and Treon Sibley are the only two wideouts who have claimed regular starting spots for the season opener. Canion spent the first two seasons of his career at Auburn, but he only recorded seven catches in that span.

AUGUST 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Listed as running back Copeland is listed as a running back on Liberty's initial depth chart of the season.

Impact Copeland, a redshirt freshman, is listed as the backup Running Back (A) behind Vaughn Blue. He's still listed as a wide receiver on Liberty's official roster, but the Flames are clearly trying to find creative ways to use the talented Alabama native.

AUGUST 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Reportedly 100 percent physically Liberty's head coach Jamey Chadwell said Tuesday that Smith (undisclosed) is 100 percent healthy physically, Jon Manson of A Sea of Red reports.

Impact After sitting out 2023 and using much of 2024 to recover, Smith is physically healthy for the first time since August last year. Before transferring to Liberty, he was part of West Virginia's football program. During his enrollment there from 2020 to 2022, Smith logged at least 100 receiving yards each year. But having never recorded 225-plus in that category or multiple touchdowns, he aims to achieve both during 2024, which is possible for a Liberty team whose receiver corps remains wide open concerning opportunities.

AUGUST 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Emerging as offensive contributor Copeland has been observed emerging as a potential contributor for the Liberty offense, Jon Manson of ASeaOfRed.com reports.

Impact Copeland has been recovering from an ACL injury that he suffered in high school but has been taking full advantage of his opportunities by flashing during training camp. The redshirt freshman wide receiver could see the field for the first time during the upcoming season but still has a long way to climb in the depth chart.

AUGUST 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Odds vs. AP Top 25 vs. RJ Young's Ultimate 134: Most overrated/underrated teams

Which college football teams are overrated or underrated from a gambling perspective? We broke down the betting odds and compared them to fi...

AUGUST 13, 2024

Slowly getting back to normal Smith (undisclosed) is slowly getting back to normal, Jon Manson of A Sea of Red reports.

Impact According to Liberty's head coach Jamey Chadwell, Monday marked the first time Smith went beyond his normal process for recovery. While there is still a ways to go for the wide receiver, his physical status inching towards normalcy is welcome news for Liberty, whose 2024 season should begin against Campbell in 2.5 weeks.

AUGUST 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE