Aaron Bedgood played four seasons of college football at Coastal Carolina and decided it was time to hang up the cleats despite having another year of eligibility.
He graduated with a degree in business management in December 2022 and took a job selling insurance for State Farm, but something kept itching at him about returning to the gridiron.
A call from his former head coach at Coastal and current Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell this summer had him ditching the red and khaki and lacing up the cleats once again.
“It’s kinda like God’s plan, I guess,” Bedgood said of him landing at Liberty. “One day I was at my office answer the call (from Coach Chadwell) and a week later I’m strapping up my helmet again. It’s been a blessing.”
A blessing for Bedgood and a blessing for Chadwell and the Flames.
Liberty and Chadwell were already thin at wide receiver, and then this summer two transfers who were going to factor into the mix at the position, Reese Smith and Victor Jones, suffered season ending knee injuries, leaving the Flames desperate for additional help. That led Chadwell to call Bedgood and try to convince him to come to Lynchburg and help him in his first season leading the Flames.
“It’s been huge,” Chadwell said of Bedgood’s addition. “We picked him up after the two injuries we had there in the summer. To be able to get somebody that exactly knows your offense and knows what to do and we know what he’s capable of. It’s not something that’s new for him, he’s been in the games.”
Bedgood had his career at Coastal hampered by injuries, limiting the impact he had on the field. In 2019 as a true freshman, the 5’8″, 180 pound Bedgood played in five games before suffering a season ending knee injury. In those games, he had 8 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed four times for 60 yards, averaging a team-high 15.0 yards per rush.
He would then miss the 2020 season due to an injury.
2021 was the only season he was able to stay on the field throughout the year, playing in 13 games. He finished that season with 5 catches for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 40-yard touchdown catch in the 2021 Cure Bowl against Northern Illinois.
Entering the 2022 campaign, Bedgood was voted a team captain. He would only play in 5 games, missing much of the season due to a lower body injury.
“Whenever I got the call from Coach Chadwell,” Bedgood explained, “I mean, they’ve been there for me through all the injuries and stuff. I had a great relationship with the staff.”
It just felt right for Aaron. He explained his feelings to his boss at State Farm who was very understanding and even encouraging in him returning to the football field.
“We have a pretty good relationship,” he said of his boss. “It was just something I was thinking about. The second I knew (I wanted to play football again), I ran it across his plate. He was pretty understanding that I’m still a young man and that insurance isn’t going anywhere. If I have the opportunity to play football again and that’s something I want to do in my younger years of life, and he kind of left the door open for me.”
Bedgood has spent four years in the Chadwell offensive system and knows it inside and out. Having someone with that knowledge and experience able to step in on a moment’s notice, was invaluable for the Flames as the new offensive system was being installed.
At Coastal, he spent his first three years at wide receiver and then spent last year playing running back. So, he knows the offense from multiple positions. He’s been an extra coach on the field for the Flames, helping the other players on the team learn as they spend more time in the system.
“I’ve played in the offense for four years at two different positions,” Bedgood said. “I know it like the back of my hand. Guys ask me questions all the time. I’ll give them pointers about how to block or stuff like that. I think that’s a huge reason why Coach Chadwell brought me up here, just to be kind of a coach on the field and help the guys out in different areas.”
While he’s been able to help coach up some of the other players, Bedgood has also provided something for the Flames on the field. He’s become the team’s kick returner, averaging 24.4 yards per return. He’s also been a factor on offense, catching three passes for 34 yards and taking one carry 49 yards for a touchdown this past Saturday at Buffalo.
“The thing that makes it work is he’s very humble,” said Chadwell. “He’s very unassuming, but he is a really good player. You’re seeing that in special teams, he is doing a great job from a return standpoint. Then, obviously he is making some plays in the pass game. He’s played well. He’s capable of that. He’s played well for us at previous places. We’re thankful we have him here. He’s been a great addition because he doesn’t bring an attitude. He just brought a humble work ethic, which was a good mix for what we needed.”
A change in scenery has helped the Richmond Hill, Georgia native as well.
“A change in setting has sparked some things,” he said. “It was more a mental state that I was in. Being in a new place, seeing new faces, a new environment has given me something to get used to. It’s something that I enjoy. I’m just happy that I can be healthy this year. I feel a lot more comfortable than I have in the past.”
As Liberty prepares to take on FIU in a Conference USA clash this Saturday in Miami, Florida, Bedgood will certainly have his opportunities to make an impact on the field for the Flames. While he may return to wearing the red and khaki for State Farm, he’s focused now on wearing the red Liberty jersey on the football field and looking to end his career on a high note.
“The bigger reason I came back to play again is I didn’t like the way my career ended,” Bedgood said. “I want to focus on it and make sure I do it right this time and see where it goes from there.”
