Chadwell and Salter Grab HERO Sports Group of Five Top Honors

The top Group of Five team in the country took home some of the top Group of Five honors from HERO Sports, who announced their All-America teams today.

Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter was named the HERO Sports Group of Five Player of the Year, while Flames Head Coach Jamey Chadwell was selected the HERO Sports Group of Five Co-Coach of the Year.

Additionally, Liberty had five players garner All-America honors, including Salter (first team QB), Brylan Green (first team DB), X'Zauvea Gadlin (second team OL), Tyren Dupree (second team LB) and Quinton Cooley (third team RB).

This group helped guide the Flames to an unblemished 8-0 regular season record in Conference USA and a 49-35 win over New Mexico State in the CUSA Football Championship game, Liberty's first-ever FBS conference title.

Liberty enters bowl season with a perfect 13-0 record and is one of four undefeated teams in the country, joining Florida State, Michigan and Washington.

The Flames' success positioned the team to receive their first-ever invitation to play in a New Year's Six bowl game. Liberty will square off against No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 1 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Liberty enters the matchup against the Ducks ranked No. 18 in the latest Associated Press poll and No. 20 in the Coaches Poll. The Flames were ranked in the final three College Football Playoff rankings, a first in program history, and finished No. 23 in the last CFP rankings.

Chadwell's spread option offense has allowed Liberty to have the nation's No. 1 rushing attack. The Flames enter bowl season averaging 302.9 yards per game, having rushed for a school-record 3,938 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Additionally, Liberty ranks No. 1 in tackles for a loss allowed (2.54 per game), No. 2 in sacks allowed (0.69 per game), No. 2 in first down offense (333), No. 2 in time of possession (33:43), No. 3 in total offense (514.9 yards per game), No. 3 in team passing efficiency (174.48), No. 2 in passing yards per completion (16.91), No. 4 in third-down conversion percentage (50.3), No. 5 in scoring offense (40.8 points per game) and No. 7 in fewest passes had intercepted (5).

Defensively, Liberty leads the nation with 21 interceptions while ranking No. 2 in the country in turnovers gained (25).

2023 HERO Sports Group of Five Postseason Honors/All-America Teams
G5 Player of the Year: QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
G5 Offensive Player of the Year: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
G5 Defensive Player of the Year: DL Jalen Green, JMU
G5 Special Teams Player of the Year: K Graham Nicholson, Miami (Ohio)
G5 Co-Coaches of the Year: Curt Cignetti (JMU) and Jamey Chadwell (Liberty)

First Team All-America Offense
QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
RB Kimani Vidal, Troy
WR Ricky White III, UNLV
WR Caullin Lacy, South Alabama
WR Tory Horton, Colorado State
TE Dallin Holker, Colorado State
TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
OL Justin Osborne, SMU
OL Elijah Klein, UTEP
OL Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State
OL Logan Parr, SMU
OL Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
AP LaJohntay Wester, FAU

First Team All-America Defense
DL Jalen Green, JMU
DL Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
DL Javon Solomon, Troy
DL Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
DL Jamree Kromah, JMU
LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB Trey Moore, UTSA
LB Bryce Houston, Ohio
LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
LB Trevor Williams, Sam Houston
DB Trey Taylor, Air Force
DB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
DB Brylan Green, Liberty
DB Jaden Voisin, South Alabama
DB Jalen Huskey, Bowling Green

First Team All-America Special Teams
K Graham Nicholson, Miami (Ohio)
P James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
RS Jayden Harrison, Marshall

Second Team All-America Offense
QB Jordan McCloud, JMU
RB Kairee Robinson, San Jose State
RB Peny Boone, Toledo
WR Joshua Cephus, UTSA
WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
WR Elijah Sarratt, JMU
TE Anthony Torres, Toledo
TE Mark Redman, San Diego State
OL Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane
OL Adam Karas, Air Force
OL X'Zauvea Gadlin, Liberty
OL Branson Hickman, SMU
OL Nolan Potter, Northern Illinois
AP Ismail Mahdi, Texas State

Second Team All-America Defense
DL Elijah Roberts, SMU
DL Adin Huntington, ULM
DL Jordan Guerad, FIU
DL Richard Jibunor, Troy
DL Ben Kopenski, Tulsa
LB Dallas Gant, Toledo
LB Matt Salopek, Miami (Ohio)
LB Tyren Dupree, Liberty
LB Eli Neal, Marshall
LB Jordan Magee, Temple
DB Tyrek Funderburk, App State
DB Devin Grant, Buffalo
DB Ike Larsen, Utah State
DB Jack Howell, Colorado State
DB Jarius Monroe, Tulane

Second Team All-America Special Teams
K Jose Pizano, UNLV
P Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan
RS Jacob De Jesus, UNLV

Third Team All-America Offense
QB Michael Pratt, Tulane
RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB Makhi Hughes, Tulane
WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
WR Luke McCaffrey, Rice
WR Kelly Akharaiyi, UTEP
TE Treyton Welch, Wyoming
TE Zach Horton, JMU
OL Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
OL Addison West, Western Michigan
OL Nick Rosi, Toledo
OL J.C. Davis, New Mexico
OL Bucky Williams, App State
AP Marcus Carroll, Georgia State

Third Team All-America Defense
DL Mikail Kamara, JMU
DL James Carpenter, JMU
DL Ben Bell, Texas State
DL T.J. Jackson, Troy
DL Caiden Woullard, Miami (Ohio)
LB Wayne Matthews III, Old Dominion
LB Joe Sparacio, Eastern Michigan
LB MJ Tafisi Jr., Utah State
LB Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern
LB Easton Gibbs, Wyoming
DB Kam Pedescleaux, Tulane
DB D'Angelo Ponds, JMU
DB Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green
DB Emany Johnson, Nevada
DB Irshaad Davis, Troy

Third Team All-America Special Teams
K Mason Shipley, Texas State
P Alec Bevelhimer, Miami (Ohio)
RS Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech

Schedule

Chadwell and Salter Grab HERO Sports Group of Five Top Honors

Players Mentioned

Quinton Cooley

Tyren Dupree

X’Zauvea Gadlin

Brylan Green

Kaidon Salter