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5 Flames Named to VaSID All-State Football Team
1/19/2022 12:05:48 PM | Football
After helping the Flames win a third-straight bowl game, five Flames have been named to the 2021 VaSID All-State football teams.
The 2021 all-state football teams have been released by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID), featuring Liberty linebacker Storey Jackson (first team), wide receivers CJ Daniels and Demario Douglas (second team), offensive lineman Thomas Sargeant (second team) and safety Javon Scruggs (second team).
The group helped the Flames cap off an 8-5 season in 2021 with a convincing 56-20 win over Eastern Michigan in the LendingTree Bowl on a nationally televised game on ESPN in Mobile, Ala., on Dec. 18.
Liberty is just one of five FBS teams in the country who have won a bowl game each of the last three seasons, joining Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana.
Liberty, in its third year of full FBS eligibility, earned its third straight bowl victory. The Flames, who also won the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl in 2019 and 2020, join Appalachian State (2015-20) as the only teams to win bowl games in each of their first three years after transitioning to FBS from FCS.
Liberty has now won eight or more games for the 13th season in program history, including all three seasons under Flames Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze.
Jackson led the Flames in tackles during his lone year at Liberty (former FCS All-American from Prairie View A&M). The 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent first-team selection finished 2021 with 102 tackles, 13.0 tackles for a loss and 7.0 sacks.
Scruggs, a 2020 VaSID All-State first team honoree, is Liberty’s active career leader in tackles (195), interceptions (5) and forced fumbles (5). Scruggs ranked third on the team in tackles in 2021, finishing the season with 61 stops (39 solo, 22 assisted) and six pass breakups.
Liberty’s defense finished the season ranked No. 7 in passing yards allowed (180.3 per game), No. 11 in total defense (320.2 yards allowed per game), No. 24 in scoring defense (21.5 points allowed per game) and No. 28 in sacks (2.85 per game).
Daniels led the Flames in touchdown receptions, finishing 2021 with seven touchdowns. He also ranked second on the team in receiving yards (629) and receptions (37).
Douglas, a 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent second-team honoree (wide receiver and punt return specialist), led Liberty in receptions (52) and receiving yards (701). He is one of three active players on Liberty’s roster with 1,000 career receiving yards (1,200).
Sargeant finished his career with 60-consecutive starts at center. The senior was a semifinalist for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy (former walk-on) and a 2020 Rimington Trophy watch list member.
The trio of offensive players helped Liberty finish 2021 ranked No. 25 in the country in scoring offense (33.6 points per game).
2021 VaSID University Division All-State Football Teams
First Team Offense
QB – Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
RB – J.J. Davis, Norfolk State
RB – Blake Watson, Old Dominion
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison
WR – Antwane Wells Jr. – James Madison
WR – Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
TE – Jelani Woods, Virginia
OL – Liam Fornadel, James Madison
OL – Chris Glaser, Virginia
OL – Nick Kidwell, James Madison
OL – Olusegun Oluwatimi, Virginia
OL – Justin Redd, Norfolk State
First Team Defense
DL – Bryce Carter, James Madison
DL – Mike Greene, James Madison
DL – Nate Lynn, William & Mary
DL – Darius Reynolds, Richmond
LB – Nick Jackson, Virginia
LB – Storey Jackson, Liberty
LB – Stone Snyder, VMI
CB – Anthony Jackson, Virginia
CB – Greg Ross, James Madison
S – Joey Blount, Virginia
S – Gage Herman, William & Mary
First Team Special Teams
PK – Ethan Ratke, James Madison
P – Jacob Finn, Virginia
RS – LaMareon James, Old Dominion
Second Team Offense
QB – Cole Johnson, James Madison
RB – Latrele Palmer, James Madison
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary
WR – CJ Daniels, Liberty
WR – Demario Douglas, Liberty
WR – Ali Jennings, Old Dominion
WR – Billy Kemp, Virginia
WR – Keytaon Thompson, Virginia
TE – Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
OL – Nick Hartnett, VMI
OL – Bobby Haskins, Virginia
OL – Clayton McConnell, Richmond
OL – Thomas Sargeant, Liberty
OL – Andrew Trainer, William & Mary
Second Team Defense
DL – De’Shaan Dixon, Norfolk State
DL – Will Kiely, William & Mary
DL – Kobie Turner, Richmond
DL – Isaac Ukwu, James Madison
LB – Kelvin Azanama, James Madison
LB – Tyler Dressley, Richmond
LB – Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, James Madison
LB – Tristan Wheeler, Richmond
CB – Nick Grant, Virginia
CB – Ryan Poole, William & Mary
CB – Brandon Savage, Norfolk State
S – Chris Chukwuneke, James Madison
S – Javon Scruggs, Liberty
Second Team Special Teams
PK – Jack Culbreath, VMI
P – Jerry Rice, VMI
RS – Aaron Dykes, Richmond
VaSID Offensive Player of the Year – Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
VaSID Defensive Player of the Year – Nate Lynn, William & Mary
VaSID Special Teams Player of the Year – Ethan Ratke, James Madison
VaSID Coach of the Year – Curt Cignetti, James Madison
VaSID Offensive Rookie of the Year – Antwane Wells Jr., James Madison