In what is becoming a common occurrence this preseason, Liberty quarterback Malik Willis has been named to another award watch list. This time, it is the 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list. Willis is one of 35 players named to the watch list for the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.
Willis is one of 25 offensive players and 10 defensive players added to the watch list. In total, 29 schools and 11 conferences (including independents) are represented on the list. The Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in November. The winner will be announced live on ESPN on Thursday, December 9.
Over the past couple of weeks, Willis has also been named to the 2021 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and the 2021 Maxwell Award watch lists.
Willis finished 2020 as the No. 1 rushing quarterback in the country, leading all FBS quarterbacks with 944 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. He set a school record in both statistical categories for a quarterback with those totals. Willis led the Flames in total offense, passing yards, and passing touchdowns in 2020 while finishing the year No. 7 in the country in rushing touchdowns and No. 16 in rushing yards.
Willis helped lead Liberty to a 10-1 record in the shortened 2020 season, ending the year with a dramatic bowl victory over Coastal Carolina. He also helped lead Liberty to a pair of wins over ACC foes in Syracuse and in-state opponent Virginia Tech. The two wins made Liberty the first non-Power 5 team to post a pair of wins over ACC schools in the same season since Houston in 2015. Liberty finished the 2020 campaign ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll and No. 18 in the Amway Coaches Poll, the highest ever ranking for the Flames as an FBS program.
Liberty is scheduled to begin the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Flames have won 11 straight games inside the friendly confines of Williams Stadium on the Mountain.
