Liberty senior quarterback Buckshot Calvert will make his 43rd consecutive start in his illustrious career with the Flames, but this one is a little different for Liberty’s signal caller.
Calvert, one of the Flames’ 17 Florida natives, will get to play in his home state for the first time in his collegiate career as he grew up just outside of Miami and played for Miami Carol City Senior High School. He will get to play in Orlando, just over a three hour drive from his hometown, on Saturday for Liberty’s bowl game showdown against Georgia Southern.
“It’s a blessing,” Calvert said of being able to play in the Sunshine State. “All four years here, I’ve never gotten to come home to play a game. What a chance to make it my last game, it’s an honor. I got a lot of family members coming, they haven’t seen me play since probably little league or high school. I’ve got a lot of friends coming, it should be a lot of fun. I’m excited.”
Buckshot has rewritten the record book during his time at Liberty. He has thrown for a school record 11,755 career passing yards, 91 career touchdown passes, 3,393 passing yards this season, and 29 touchdown passes in 2017.
“There are very few people that have played this game that have put up the numbers (he) has,” Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze said. “There’s not many quarterbacks walking around with 11,000 yards in a career at a college.”
Calvert has had his best season this year as a senior as he’s completed 233-of-396 pass attempts for 3,393 yards and 26 touchdowns, but the biggest number is his 5 interceptions. He’s improved greatly from his 18 picks last season.
“Buckshot is one of the most humble, yet confident people I’ve ever been around,” said Freeze. “Sometimes those don’t go together. He’s truly humble and believes he can compete with anybody, any day.”
For Liberty and Buckshot, there have been 43 straight starts, but 44 will be special.
