Tuesday was an NCAA mandated off day for the Liberty football team for election day. So, on Wednesday, Liberty offensive and defensive players met with the media. Defensive tackle Ralfs Rusins, linebacker Anthony Butler, safety Javon Scruggs, offensive lineman Thomas Sargeant, and quarterback Malik Willis took a wide range of questions and below is ASOR’s report from the player interviews…
TALKING TOP 25
The Liberty football players were all understandably excited to see their name crack into the Associated Press Top 25 poll this week. Sunday was a day off for the team, but word quickly spread throughout the roster when the news came out that afternoon.
“I found out through text message through one of the group texts with the O-Line,” Thomas Sargeant said. “I think Brendan (Schlittler) had sent it in. When you first see it, it’s amazing, especially for this program. When I first got here, we were FCS. We couldn’t make the FCS Playoffs. Just to see where this program has gone since the the time I’ve been here and to be in the top 25, it’s amazing and no one can take that from us. But, at the same time, we can’t be complacent. Why can’t we go higher? We’ll win more games. Let’s keep pushing this thing.”
Javon Scruggs had a very similar feeling. Excited about the accomplishment, but he and the team aren’t satisfied.
“I had to look it up on the Internet first,” he said. “I had to see the number beside our name on ESPN and all that, but after I saw that, it was like ooh this is real. What an opportunity we have to climb the ranks. I’m not really settled in on 25. I want to go higher. We can’t let that number beside our name affect how we play or how we go out there and practice to prepare for the rest of the week. That was a big blessing, but I want to go higher.”
GROWING THE LIBERTY FOOTBALL BRAND
Starting the season 6-0 and now vaulting into the Top 25 has put Liberty football on a national stage more than any time previously. Many have pointed to the lack of quality wins the Flames have this season. Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech provides a huge opportunity for Liberty to continue to grow its brand and earn respect regionally and nationally.
“Being able to go there and play this weekend is big,” Sargeant said. “To show them that Liberty needs to be in the conversation for football in Virginia. Every game gives us the opportunity to grow the brand of Liberty. For us to go there to Virginia Tech, it’s huge for this program to go out there and beat them. It’s huge for this program to be able to go out there and say that we’re the best in Virginia because it helps in recruiting.”
Ralfs Rusins shared similar thoughts. “We are 6-0 right now. People still think that maybe we didn’t play against the strongest teams. I think if we win this game it will definitely make a statement and be a huge win for the school, definitely a big game.”
SARGEANT EXCITED TO FACE IN-STATE PROGRAM
Sargeant is from Mechanicsville, Virginia. His dad went to the University of Virginia and his entire family are big Cavalier fans. This game will be a little extra special for him.
“Growing up, you’re watching those two teams,” he said. “Coming from Virginia, you want to strive to go to one of those two teams out of high school to play there. I never got the looks I wanted out of high school.”
Sargeant did not get scholarship offers out of high school, but he came to Liberty as a preferred walk-on and quickly became a starter at center on the offensive line. A spot he hasn’t relinquished.
FLAMES PREPARING FOR QB HENDON HOOKER
Liberty will be going up against one of the better dual threat quarterbacks in the country when they square off against Tech’s Hendon Hooker this Saturday. Liberty’s players say they get a great look at what Hooker presents every day in practice with Malik Willis.
“Going up against Malik, we’ve been doing that since last year,” Scruggs said. “Having the ability to go against Malik every day in practice is a big advantage, especially when you’re going up against teams like V Tech. They have a mobile quarterback. It gives us the opportunity to see live action, live reps in practice before we get to the game. Seeing him in practice, it’s a big benefit for us as a defense.”
Rusins agrees. “Malik is an animal. I don’t think we’re going to have problems preparing for this one or any other running quarterback.”
PLAYING AGAINST A RUN FIRST TEAM
In today’s game, especially at the collegiate level, most teams have moved away from being a run first offense and have gone to an RPO or pass first look. Virginia Tech utilizes an RPO system, but with their athletes in Hendon Hooker and running backs Khalil Herbert and Raheem Blackshear, the Hokies have one of the more potent rushing attacks.
“Virginia Tech is a team that is sold on running the football, no matter what,” Butler said. “In any situation, they want to be able to run the football, pound the football. They are very sound in what they do and they do it very well. The game is so spread out now, it’s not often that you get to go up against teams like this where it’s man on man football. It’s basically can you stop the guy across the ball. I’m excited about the challenge to play against an offense like this.”
