The return of CJ Yarbrough to the Liberty receiving corps is something that should excite Flames fans everywhere. A big bodied pass catcher, Yarbrough adds an element to the offense that was lacking in situations last year. His size and length combined with his ability to go up and get the ball over defenders will be a welcome skill-set for whichever quarterback is taking snaps next season.
The game that stood out the most in his last season on the team in 2020 was Virginia Tech. Liberty’s first score in the game came off of a go route where Yarbrough completely faked the defender outside before burning him for a wide open 32 yard touchdown. The catch displayed his ability to draw in defenders with his route running then use that leverage with his speed to create separation on deep routes.
This skill in footwork created a lot of space for an easy catch, but even with a close defender on him Yarbrough can go up and get the ball with his high catch radius. This is displayed on a crucial 3rd and 8 with four minutes to go in the game. With the pocket collapsing around Malik Willis, he gets hit and tosses up a lofty pass about 15 yards forward where Yarbrough jumps up and grabs it with defenders around him. It’s a clutch play that really shows his nose for the ball. When things start to collapse, you see Willis look to the big number 13 to come down with the ball. He was key in many drives in that VT game.
A play that got much attention drawn to Yarbrough was the 20 yard one-handed catch made against Western Kentucky. He is running straight in his route and when he sees the pass coming the corner does not seem to realize the pass has been thrown and Yarbrough slows up just enough to make a spectacular grab falling out of bounds. It’s a beautiful catch and it shows off the elite hands of Yarbrough.
His receptions routinely come away from his body, pinpointing the ball with his eyes and stretching out to secure it. It may seem like a minor detail but the ability of a receiver to do this creates a significantly larger catch radius for the quarterback to throw to. Giving a quarterback that kind of confidence translates to improvement in their game overall. You never want your offensive general to be second guessing himself as a play pans out. This addition brings physicality, size, and skill to the position
Liberty struggled with some drops last year and Willis found himself resorting to the run more often than optimal on many pass calls. Adding Yarbrough to the already talented receiving corps gives the offense a safety blanket that the quarterback knows will go up high and fight for any pass thrown in his direction. Different, complementing skill-sets is what makes many teams great. Variety is the spice of life, and the variety added to the team in the form of CJ Yarbrough could really make this dish sizzle.
