On Tuesday, Liberty quarterback Malik Willis, running back Shedro Louis, and offensive lineman Tristan Schultz took questions from the media. There was a wide range questions and below is ASOR’s report from the player interviews…

FLAMES THRILLED WITH 5-0 BUT FOCUSED ON USM

Ask every Liberty football player and they will tell you the same story – they’re excited about the team’s hot early start but taking it one game at a time.

“It was cool,” Willis said about beating Syracuse, the program’s first ever win over an ACC opponent. “It was definitely a great experience to have. It taught us a lot about how we’ve grown as a football team. It just showed people your conference is not about how good your team is. Where you stand is where you stand. As a football team, that’s determined on the football field not by what you conference you lie.”

Liberty enjoyed the win Saturday in the locker room, but on Sunday it was put in the trash.

“After Sunday, we threw that one in the trash and moved on to Southern Miss,” Shedro Louis said. “That (win) was exciting, but we threw it in the trash. All that doesn’t mean anything now. Southern Miss, that’s what we’re looking forward to.”

Offensive lineman Tristan Schultz echoed those same thoughts.

“5-0 is awesome,” he said. “It’s an awesome feeling, but we take each and every week one game at a time.”

“We have to take every week seriously,” Willis added. “It’s the most important game because it’s the next one. It’s the only one you can worry about.”

LOUIS HAVING BREAKOUT SEASON

Shedro Louis has never played running back until moving to the position during spring practice several months ago. He spent his entire high school career as a wide receiver and played his freshman season of college last year as a wide out.

Saturday against Syracuse, Louis exploded onto the scene with 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

“At receiver, you mostly got to explode off the ball,” Louis said of the main difference between the positions. “Running back, you got to be patient, run behind a great O-Line, make sure they get their blocks.”

In addition to running backs coach Bruce Johnson, Louis credits the rest of the running backs on the team – Joshua Mack, Peytton Pickett, Troy Henderson, and Frank Boyd with helping his transition.

Louis, who has been clocked at a 4.44 40-yard dash, may be the fastest player on the team.

“In my heart, I feel like it’s true,” he said when asked if he was the fastest player on the team. “I know Kev (Shaa), Troy (Henderson), Demario (Douglas), DJ (Stubbs), I know a few of those players that can give me some competition.”

MALIK HONORED TO FOLLOW BUCKSHOT

Malik Willis has replaced four-year starter Buckshot Calvert as the Flames’ quarterback. Calvert finished his career having rewritten the Liberty record books for a quarterback, and he is widely considered as the best quarterback in school history. He certainly has the profile to back that statement up.

“It’s been an honor,” Willis said about following Buckshot at quarterback. “I feel like it’s a challenge too. He was a great player here. He taught me a lot of stuff. I learned from him, and I want to go out there and try to make a name for myself as well.”

WILLIS SAYS HIS ELBOW HAS HEALED

Willis is going on four weeks since he injured his left elbow against Florida International. It caused him to miss the following week’s game against North Alabama before he has been back on the field the past two weeks with a brace on his left arm.

“I feel real good,” he said when asked about his elbow. “I don’t even feel it, like for real, anymore. I just wear the brace for safety.”

FLAMES WANT TO WIN FOR THEIR COACH

Freeze is going up against his alma mater this week in Southern Miss, and it’s a topic that Shedro Louis says the team has talked about some so far this week.

“We talk about it in the locker room,” Louis said. “We talked about it as a team, about how much it means to him. We’re going to get that done. We have no choice.”