Liberty’s pass defense will be tested in 2020 by experienced quarterbacks, and it’s not a coincidence that most of the best teams the Flames will play have great players at the most important position in football.
Jack Abraham (Southern Miss)
Arguably the best team that will visit Williams Stadium is led by arguably the best quarterback the Flames will face in 2020 when Southern Miss and Jack Abraham visit Lynchburg on October 24.
He is possibly the most accurate passer in the country, leading the nation in completion percentage in 2018 as a redshirt-sophomore. He completed 73.1% of his 305 pass attempts and was fourth in completions per game that year.
Abraham has thrown for nearly 6,000 yards over the past two seasons. In 2019, he started all 13 games for the Golden Eagles, completing 68% of his 405 passes while throwing for 3,496 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
Hendon Hooker (Virginia Tech)
The Virginia Tech signal caller took over as the starter in Blacksburg in the team’s game against Miami. He went on to win each of his first 6 starts, making 8 total. Hooker set a program record with 124 consecutive pass attempts without an interception to begin his career.
He finished the 2019 season completing 99-of-162 passes for 1,555 yards, 13 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. The dual threat QB also rushed 123 times for 356 yards and 5 touchdowns. His strong end to the season, has placed him as a long shot to win the Heisman Trophy, garnering 100 to 1 odds at the distinguished award.
Tommy DeVito (Syracuse)
The Flames got a first hand look at DeVito in the 2019 season opener as he completed 17-of-35 passes for 176 yards and 2 interceptions. He went on to finish 2019 throwing for 2,360 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.
He struggled in certain games for the Orange, but he is the unquestioned starter heading into 2020 as he looks to help Syracuse get back to a bowl game.
Steven Duncan (Western Kentucky)
Duncan started 5 games in 2018 and just 3 in 2019 as he was supplanted by Arkansas transfer Ty Storey. Storey is now out of the picture as he exhausted his eligibility last year.
Duncan has 8 career starts under his belt and he has completed 178-of-306 passes for 1861 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
If he is able to perform up to that level as the every day starter, the Hilltoppers could challenge for a Conference USA championship. The Flames head to Bowling Green, Kentucky on September 19th for an early season challenge.
Kaylan Wiggins (FIU)
Wiggins has not been a weekly starter for FIU yet as he’s learned the ropes of the offense and adjusted to the collegiate game. Now, the redshirt-junior is poised to take the reigns of the offense.
In 2019, the dual-threat quarterback completed 15-of-27 passes for 172 yards while finishing 3rd on the team with 323 rushing yards. He started one game, helping the Panthers defeat New Hampshire, 30-17. In the process, he set a school single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback, running 14 times for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also completed 12-of-18 passes for 127 yards in that contest.
The 6’2″, 200 pound Wiggins could help push Butch Davis and his squad back to a bowl game in 2020.
