Kam Davis doesn’t need to be the biggest running back on the field to be one of the hardest to bring down.
At 5-foot-10 and around 220 pounds, Davis is built more like a bowling ball than a traditional workhorse running back. And according to Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell, that’s exactly what the Flames have in their new transfer.
“Kam Davis is a bowling ball,” Chadwell said.
The description fits the role Chadwell envisions for Davis, particularly in short-yardage situations. But after watching Davis throughout preseason camp, Liberty offensive coordinator and running backs coach Newland Isaac believes there may be considerably more to his game than simply being a power back.
“He’s faster,” Isaac said when comparing Davis to former Liberty running back Quinton Cooley, who was a similar size during his time with the Flames. “He runs just as hard.”
That combination of power and speed could make Davis one of the most intriguing players in Liberty’s crowded backfield in 2026.
And Davis enters the season believing he is ready for the opportunity.
“This year I’m the most confident version of myself,” Davis said recently. “I’m just ready to go and put my all on the field for this university, myself, and my family.”
More than a short-yardage back
The easy assumption with Davis is that his compact frame makes him a player Liberty will turn to when it needs a couple of tough yards. Chadwell’s “bowling ball” description certainly reinforces that idea. But Isaac has already seen Davis show a different dimension during camp. Davis broke into the open field during a recent practice, and the result caught the coaching staff off guard.
“He got out in the open yesterday,” Isaac said. “Everybody was shocked. We didn’t think he can pull away from people the way he did.”
For Liberty, that’s an important development. The Flames don’t necessarily need Davis to become a 20-carry-per-game running back. With Kanye Udoh, Peyton Jones and several other talented backs competing for playing time, Liberty has the luxury of keeping its running backs fresh and putting each player in situations that fit his strengths. Isaac said the current running back room is the deepest he has had during his coaching career. That depth could actually help Davis. Rather than having to handle every down, he can potentially become a specialized weapon who brings physicality, explosiveness and short-yardage ability to an offense that has historically found success using multiple backs.
Davis isn’t chasing numbers
Davis isn’t putting a statistical goal on the season. That’s not how he approaches football.
“I don’t really set goals for myself,” Davis said. “I just want to go out and play ball, be myself.”
His mindset is much simpler:
Go play. Compete. Win.
“This year I’m the most confident version of myself,” Davis said. “So, I’m just ready to go and put my all on the field for this university, myself, and my family.”
And that confidence isn’t something he says has developed only since arriving in Lynchburg.
“All year I’ve just been in the mindset of like it’s a year where I’m ready and it’s it’s time to rock and roll,” Davis said.
After spending two seasons at Florida State with limited opportunities, Davis finally has a chance to become a significant part of an offense.
Why Liberty?
For Davis, Liberty made sense because of what Chadwell and Isaac have historically done with running backs. The Flames have shown they aren’t afraid to use multiple backs throughout a season.
“They’ve had guys that have rushed over a thousand,” Davis said. “Also they played with two and three backs that’s been able to rotate.”
That’s exactly the type of environment Davis wanted. The running back room also wasn’t the only thing that attracted him. Davis said Liberty’s players reached out to him during the transfer process, and the culture inside the locker room played a major role in his decision.
“A lot of the players here hit me up too,” Davis said. “I felt like that’s something that I take into account in a team, just how the brotherhood and how you, uh, the locker room is.”
Now, he’s one of the players expected to help build that same culture for the next group.
A backfield with plenty of options
Liberty’s biggest strength offensively could ultimately be its depth at running back. Davis, Udoh and Jones all bring different skill sets to the table, and Liberty has additional backs capable of contributing. Isaac said the competition has been legitimate throughout camp.
The Flames have intentionally distributed reps evenly, allowing the coaching staff to evaluate each player before determining which four or five backs will travel during the season. Once that group is established, Isaac said, the competition won’t simply remain open indefinitely. The goal is to identify the players Liberty can trust and then lean on them.
Davis has put himself in that conversation. Isaac’s assessment of him goes beyond his physical ability.
“He’s talented, man. He’s tough. He’s physical. He plays the game the right way,” Isaac said. “He takes it serious.”
And despite entering only his third college season, Isaac believes Davis carries himself like a veteran.
“He feels like a senior,” Isaac said. “Like, he feels like an older guy. He has a voice. Like, he’s very, very, very mature.”
That maturity, combined with the physical traits, is what could ultimately separate Davis.
Chadwell sees the bowling ball. Isaac sees the speed. Davis sees an opportunity.
And with Liberty’s season opener approaching, the Flames may have found a running back capable of delivering both the tough yards Chadwell wants and the explosive plays Isaac has already seen. For a player who says he’s entering the season with more confidence than ever, Davis doesn’t sound like someone waiting for his opportunity. He sounds like someone ready to take it.
“It’s a year where I’m ready and it’s time to rock and roll.”
