On the heels of the program’s record breaking 2023 season, Liberty produced a league-high seven selections on the Conference USA first-team all conference teams, as announced by the conference on Tuesday. Liberty also had the most combined first and second team members with 11 followed by New Mexico State and UTEP with eight apiece.
QB Kaidon Salter, RB Quinton Cooley, and OL X’Zauvea Gadlin were named to the first-team all-CUSA offense while LB Tyren Dupree, DB Kobe Singleton, and DB Brylan Green were named first-team all-CUSA defense. KR Aaron Bedgood was also named first team all conference for his role on special teams.
Liberty’s honorees on the second-team all-conference list included WR CJ Daniels, OL Jonathan Graham, OL Jordan White, and DT Jay Hardy.
Liberty’s honorable mention all-CUSA performers included RB Billy Lucas, OL Xavior Gray, and DE CJ Bazile, Jr.
True freshman DE TJ Bush was named to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
The Flames finished the 2023 campaign a perfect 13-0 and 8-0 in conference play. The first year in the league and first year under head coach Jamey Chadwell, Liberty finished the year ranked No. 23 in the final CFP Top 25 poll and will play in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1st against No. 8 Oregon (11-2).
First Team
Offense
QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB Malik Jackson, Jax State
WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
WR Kelly Akharaiyi, UTEP
WR Malachi Corley, WKU
TE Holden Willis, MTSU
OL X’Zauvea Gadlin, Liberty
OL Andrew Meyer, UTEP
OL Keylan Rutledge, MTSU
OL Shiyazh Pete, NM State
OL Elijah Klein, UTEP
Defense
DE Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
DT Jordan Guerad, FIU
DT Sterling Webb, NM State
DE Chris Hardie, Jax State
LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
LB Tyren Dupree, Liberty
LB Trevor Williams, Sam Houston
DB Willie Roberts, LA Tech
DB Kobe Singleton, Liberty
DB Brylan Green, Liberty
DB Da’Marcus Crosby, Sam Houston
Special Teams
K Ethan Albertson, NM State
P Blake Ochsendorf, LA Tech
KR Aaron Bedgood, Liberty
PR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
LS Brody Butler, MTSU
Second Team
Offense
QB Diego Pavia, NM State
RB Deion Hankins, UTEP
RB Star Thomas, NM State
WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
WR CJ Daniels, Liberty
WR Elijah Metcalf, MTSU
TE Sean Brown, Jax State
OL Jonathan Graham, Liberty
OL Jordan White, Liberty
OL Treylen Brown, Jax State
OL Clay Webb, Jax State
OL Canaan Yarro, NM State
Defense
DE Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
DT Hosea Wheeler, WKU
DT Jay Hardy, Liberty
DE Quindarius Dunnigan, MTSU
LB Donovan Manuel, FIU
LB Sam Brumfield, MTSU
LB Keyshaun Elliott, NM State
DB Kendrick Simpkins, WKU
DB Teldrick Ross, MTSU
DB Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
DB Derek Carter, Jax State
Special Teams
K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
P Joshua Sloan, UTEP
KR Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, LA Tech
PR Dean Patterson, FIU
LS Charlie Eberle, NM State
Honorable Mention
Offense
QB Austin Reed, WKU
RB Torrance Burgess, Jr., UTEP
RB Billy Lucas, Liberty
WR Perry Carter, Jax State
WR Cyrus Allen, LA Tech
WR Noah Smith, Sam Houston
TE Eli Stowers, NM State
OL Carson Bruno, LA Tech
OL Xavior Gray, Liberty
OL Justin Mayers, UTEP
OL Will O’Steen, Jax State
OL Vincent Murphy, WKU
Defense
DE J-Rock Swain, Jax State
DT Jeff Marks, Jax State
DT Izaiah Reed, NM State
DE CJ Bazile, Jr., Liberty
LB Quae Drake, Jax State
LB Jeslord Boatang, LA Tech
LB James Neal, UTEP
DB Anthony Johnson, Jr., WKU
DB Tra Fluellen, MTSU
DB Kobe Hylton, UTEP
DB Jordan Vincent, NM State
Special Teams
K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
P Jack Dawson, Jax State
KR Easton Messer, WKU
PR Torrance Burgess, Jr., UTEP
LS Trey Naughton, WKU
