Walking into the Liberty Football Indoor Practice Facility earlier this week, it was noticeably different.
During the season, the Flames open up one practice each week to the media. During that time, it is a loud and boisterous atmosphere at the indoor facility as well as the adjacent outdoor practice field. Music is blaring, whistles are blowing, people are screaming. Liberty started the 2024 season with 117 players on its roster and most of the time there were close to that many practice.
This week the feel was much different as there were less than 75 players on the practice field for the Flames as the team prepares for the upcoming Bahamas Bowl on Jan. 4 against Buffalo. The roster has been scaled back to what Coach Chadwell called a shell of a team due to player opt outs, players who have gone into the transfer portal, and injuries.
One of the most noticeable differences comes at the quarterback room. Kaidon Salter has entered the portal and is not practicing with the team and won’t play in the bowl game. Ryan Burger, Salter’s backup throughout the season, suffered a concussion in Liberty’s regular season finale at Sam Houston on Nov. 29. He has been in concussion protocol since then with his practice time severely limited, relegated primarily to individual work.
Meanwhile, Jayden Bradford, the highly touted prospect out of IMG Academy who has redshirted this season, is putting off surgery until after the bowl game to be available to play in the bowl game, if needed.
This has left Nate Hampton, who is in the transfer portal but will be available to play against Buffalo, getting most of the reps as QB1 during the live team drills throughout practice since the end of the regular season.
“He was in concussion protocol after the last game,” Chadwell said on Tuesday of Burger, who he previously named as the starter for the Bahamas Bowl. “He’s still feeling the effects of that, so he’s been only able to do individual. Nate (Hampton) has been getting a lot of the reps. Nate’s done a nice job as far as directing our offense and doing some good stuff. Jayden has been getting some quality reps. Jayden, unfortunately, is going to have to have surgery. We’re postponing that surgery till after the bowl game. He’s going to have surgery. He’s going to miss about three months because of an injury he suffered during the season. Him and Nate have been getting the reps right now.”
Burger should be able to get cleared for team activity soon and be able to play, and likely start, the Bahamas Bowl, barring no setbacks. It will be the first significant playing time for the former Appalachian State transfer. He has played in four games this season, completing 4 of 7 passes for 48 yards while also rushing the ball 6 times for 13 yards and a touchdown. Burger played sparingly at App State, completing 11 of 17 passing attempts for 113 yards and a touchdown. He started the season opener in 2023 before suffering a season ending injury.
“They’ve all three improved during the practices that we’ve had, and our team has rallied around them, to be honest with you,” said Chadwell of his quarterbacks. “They’re excited about being out there. They’re good leaders. They care about their teammates, and so that’s been good for those guys to get in front of them.”
At running back, the Flames will be without Quinton Cooley as he prepares for the NFL Draft. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons, helping Liberty finish first and second in the nation in rushing each of the two years he was on the team.
In Cooley’s absence, the Flames will turn to Billy Lucas, Vaughn Blue, and true freshman Caden Williams. Lucas has been limited thus far in practice as he recovers from the bumps and bruises he suffered during the season.
“Billy Lucas is there,” said Chadwell. “He’s banged up from the season, so he’s been not getting a lot of reps, but he’s gonna play. Caden Williams is gonna get a lot of opportunities. Vaughn Blue is going to get a lot of opportunities. Those are the three that are getting quite a bit. Juju (Gray), I count him as a receiver, but Juju is obviously being a full time running back. Kyle Hanks is there. So, we’ll have four to five guys there.”
