It’s not every day that you have to replace a wide receivers who capped his career with three consecutive seasons of 70 receptions, 1,000 yards, and 10 touchdowns, but that’s the position Liberty wide receiver coach Maurice Harris and his unit faces entering the 2020 campaign.
Gone is the big body, catch everything thrown his way Antonio Gandy-Golden, who was selected in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Washington Football Team. There’s no way Liberty can replace AGG’s production with a plug and place replacement, instead, Harris and the Flames will use a committee approach.
“I don’t think we have anyone, right now, that is as talented as AGG was for us,” said Harris. “But we have constant competition every single day. A guy can’t just come in and rest on his laurels. He has to play and compete every single play, every single snap, kn order to hold spot.”
Liberty does have its 2nd and 3rd leading receiver from last year’s team back, both seniors, in DJ Stubbs and Kevin Shaa. That combo combined for 58 receptions for 747 yards and 5 touchdowns last season. Stubbs looks to lead a very talented and deep slot receiver position, while Shaa is more of a utility guy who can be used both in the slot and on the outside.
Harris will also turn to several youngsters to step up their production led by Noah Frith and CJ Yarbrough. Frith had 15 receptions for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns in 9 games played last year while Yarbrough saw playing time in 4 games while preserving his redshirt, catching 6 passes for 124 yards. At 6’4″ and 6’3″ respectively, Frith and Yarbrough possess similar size to what AGG brought to the position.
“I would feel comfortable with us throwing the ball to either Noah Frith or CJ Yarbrough,” Harris said when asked if he had a guy who could catch the 50/50 balls like Gandy-Golden did last year. “I think they are big enough and physical enough to make those kind of contested catches on a consistent basis. Those guys have proven it throughout spring ball last year, through the fall. Look, if I’m Buckshot and I’ve got a shot between AGG and Noah, 1-on-1 situation, I’m choosing AGG, as well, if things equal, but I feel really good about CJ Yarbrough and Noah Frith right now.”
Yarbrough is fighting back from a Jones fracture in his right foot and has yet to complete in a practice this fall. Harris feels confident he will be ready to go for the team’s first game, whenever that may be.
In addition to Stubbs at the slot, Harris can also turn to a couple freshmen in Demario Douglas and CJ Daniels for production. Douglas played in 4 games last season before preserving his redshirt, catching 9 balls for 136 yards and 1 touchdown. In limited action, he proved that he has the type of game-breaking ability when he gets his hands on the ball. Daniels is expected to play as a true freshman as he brings a bit of a bigger body to the slot position.
“Demario has a very unique skillset,” said Harris. “I have yet to see the first guy get him down. Over and over he has proven that he can make the first guy miss. CJ Daniels, he’s just a bigger body guy. Where we may have had trouble with catching some of those 50/50 balls, with a bigger body guy, he can just out-body those guys. I’m trying to think who has better hands than CJ Daniels right now. He can catch the football anywhere you put it. We call him ‘Sticky’ around here. He can catch the football.”
The Flames’ coaching staff is also very high on JUCO transfer wideout Jaivian Lofton. The 6’2″, 195 pound receiver joined the program this summer out of Chaffey College.
“One thing about Jaivian, he can run,” said Harris. “He and Shaa will probably be our fastest outside guys. He can run. Being a junior college kid, he’s a little bit more mature than some of our freshmen. He understands that he doesn’t have the time that some of our freshmen have. So, he’s in the meeting room. He’s asking questions. He’s going over the script prior to us practicing, going through after us getting through practicing. He’s preparing himself a little differently than some of our freshmen right now. I’ve been pleased with him, his progression. He’s a very mature kid. He’s a guy that will speak up from a leadership standpoint.”
Not only will the Flames have to replace all-time great Antonio Gandy-Golden, the receivers will also be catching passes from a new quarterback. After four year starter Buckshot Calvert has graduated, the team is going through camp with Malik Willis and Chris Ferguson splitting the first team reps. Both Willis and Ferguson are much more mobile than Calvert was, and Willis is an SEC level athlete.
“With the combination of Chris and Malik, they bring something a little bit different than Buck brought to the table with their escapability,” Harris said. “I think that will also give us more opportunities to make plays on the ball, as well.”
Still, there’s 79 receptions, 1,396 yards, and 10 touchdowns that has moved on to the NFL and not in camp with Liberty right now. Despite that, Harris believes in his receivers and knows they’re confident enough to get the job done.
“These guys still want the ball in their hands,” he said. “They’re always open, that’s their mindset. ‘I want the ball. I’m going to do what it takes to get open and get the ball.’ The confidence is high right now. I’m excited where we are at this point.”
*photo courtesy Liberty Athletics
