Just a few months ago, Vaughn Blue was unsure of where he would play college football. Now, he has spent his first semester at Liberty and has turned the heads of the Flames’ coaching staff and his teammates.
Blue is a 5’10”, 180 pound running back from Oceanside Collegiate Academy in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. He was originally committed to Charlotte but decommitted from the 49ers following their coaching change. Just a few days ahead of the early signing period in December, Blue took a visit to Liberty and would commit and then sign with the Flames.
“Me and Coach Chadwell always stayed in touch,” Blue recalled as Chadwell had recruited Blue at Coastal Carolina. “He reached out and gave me an opportunity to come here with him. I’m blessed that I’m able to do that.”
Blue also had offers from Coastal Carolina, Western Kentucky, and several FCS schools prior and was rated as a three-star prospect. He elected to forgo his final semester of high school and enroll early at Liberty, joining the Flames for the spring.
“I know football is what I want to do with my life,” Blue said of his decision to enroll early. “I’m happy to come in early and start working on my dream a little earlier than others could and start getting acclimated to the college atmosphere, game speed, getting in the playbook as quickly as possible.”
His position coach, Newland Isaac, has already taken notice of his hard work.
“Vaughn is probably the hardest worker in the room, probably one of the hardest workers I’ve been around,” said Coach Isaac of the true freshman. “Every rep for him is like a game rep. He doesn’t take any plays off. He’s full go, non-stop, every single play. He’s wide open every day. He’s very sharp. He’s very bright. He’s on top of everything. He puts in the time.”
In addition to Blue, Liberty has a new look running back room with several newcomers. In Coach Chadwell’s offense, the Flames will feature their running backs much more and will frequently base out of sets with two running backs on the field at one time. This led to the coaching staff wanting to add some depth at the position. Enter Blue and two transfers in Wake Forest’s Quinton Cooley and Arkansas’ James Jointer.
“I love the system of football that they run,” said Blue of the Liberty offense. “I think it fits me perfectly.The way they use their two backs and the way they scheme up for their running backs fits my play style perfectly.”
Despite being the youngest at the position, Blue has not used his youth as a crutch to ease into his career. He has quickly caught everyone’s attention and is pushing for serious playing time this fall. Injuries to Liberty’s top returning back in Dae Dae Hunter that has held him out of most of the spring, as well as injuries that have caused Malik Caper and Cooley to miss time this spring, has given Blue more opportunities and he has taken advantage.
Blue can utilize his speed and shiftiness to fit into Liberty’s new position of A-Back. He could play at the B-Back spot as well.
“A receiving back and shifty back,” Blue said of his playing style. “I’m more of a one cut and go type of guy. I like to go out in the open field or go up in the middle, make one cut and see how many yards I can get. I think I have really good hands and I can catch the football very well in space and make a play.”
With his early enrollment and taking advantage of all the opportunities that were presented this spring, Blue will be able to make a big impact for the Flames on the field this fall. He presents another weapon for Coach Chadwell and his offense to utilize.
