We heard a lot of good things about true freshman wide receiver C.J. Yarbrough during training camp, but then the 6’3″, 195 product of East Limestone High School in Tanner, Alabama never made his way onto the field for gamedays.
Well, to be correct, he played in two games throughout the season, but hadn’t recorded any stats. Until Saturday against Virginia in Charlottesville.
He broke out in a huge way against the Cavaliers, leading the team with 83 receiving yards on 4 receptions in his third career game. Afterwards, Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze spoke very highly of the freshman wideout.
“He’s been that way all year,” Freeze said of Yarbrough. “We just tried to save his games.”
With the new redshirt rule, players can play in up to 4 games and still maintain their redshirt year. As Yarbrough has been behind senior Antonio Gandy-Golden, the Flames were able to pick and choose the spots to use Yarbrough while still maintaining his redshirt season. With only one game guaranteed, C.J. could see action Saturday against New Mexico State. If he does and the Flames make a bowl game, unfortunately Yarbrough would have to sit out.
“I think C.J.’s going to be a star,” Freeze said on Monday. “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, Demario Douglas, and 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 almost had his football career cut short before he ever arrived on Liberty’s campus. He committed to Liberty in March 2018 over offers from Virginia, South Alabama, Troy, and Jacksonville State, but his life changed just a few months later.
On July 4, 2018, Yarbrough was in an unfortunate car accident which involved fireworks going off inside the vehicle causing severe burns to him and three of his friends.
“I was in the hospital for weeks, months, something like that,” Yarbrough said during an interview this past August. “I underwent some surgery, I had skin graphs on my legs, I couldn’t walk for a couple weeks. It was basically like learning how to walk again. Rolling around, walking, the recovery it was long. The recover process lasted months.”
He has scars on his ankles, legs, and the back part of his right arm. Doctors told him he would never play football again, but he made it back in time for the first football game of his senior season just a couple months later.
The Flames are thankful to have him fully healed and now excelling in a Liberty uniform.
