CJ Yarbrough, a former wide receiver for Liberty who had opted out of spring practice and chosen to take a break from college football, is back with the Flames’ football team, ASOR has learned. He will participate in spring practice and be part of the team for the 2022 season.
Following the conclusion of the 2020 football season, Yarbrough had decided to move on from college football and had announced he was focusing on his time in the ROTC program at Liberty. When asked about Yarbrough’s future with the program last spring, Freeze stated, “CJ is a great kid. I think his decision was made that he was going a different direction than college football. That is my understanding in my conversations with him. We respect that and wish the best for him.”
The 6’3″, 205 pound receiver played in 11 games over two seasons with the Flames. He recorded 23 receptions for 392 yards and 1 touchdown. As a true freshman in 2019, the Tanner, Alabama product played in four games and had six receptions for 124 yards while preserving his redshirt season. In 2020, Yarbrough fought through injuries throughout the season to play in 7 games while making 6 starts. He finished the year with 17 receptions for 268 yards and 1 touchdown.
Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze has often spoken very highly of Yarbrough and his potential. In 2019, shortly after he broke out with four receptions and 83 yards to lead the Flames in receiving against Virginia, Freeze said he thought Yarbrough would eventually become a star.
“I think CJ’s going to be a star,” Freeze said in November 2019. “He’s shown it time and time again in practice. He is a great kid, loves to work, is a very outspoken leader. I think that’s something that’s going to be really good building our program around kids like him. Guys that are really strong in their faith, strong in who they are, and are willing to lead not only by actions but vocally.”
Yarbrough will instantly provide a valuable outside wide receiver for the Flames on the field. Alongside the addition of Campbell transfer Caleb Snead, the Flames have added some much needed depth and big body targets to compliment the rest of the offense.
