Flames Garner Top CUSA Postseason Awards
12/6/2023 2:30:00 PM | Football
Following a perfect first season in Conference USA and winning the CUSA Football Championship, Liberty took home several of the conference's top postseason honors.
First-year head coach Jamey Chadwell was named CUSA Co-Coach of the Year, while quarterback Kaidon Salter was named the CUSA Most Valuable Player.
In addition, linebacker Tyren Dupree was named the Defensive Player of the Year and transfer running back Quinton Cooley was selected Newcomer of the Year.
The 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 CUSA Football Superlative AwardCo-Coach of the Year – Jamey Chadwell, Liberty
Co-Coach of the Year – Jerry Kill, New Mexico State
Most Valuable Player – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
Offensive Player of the Year – QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
Defensive Player of the Year – LB Tyren Dupree, Liberty
Special Teams Player of the Year – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
Freshman of the Year – DB Michael Richard, Louisiana Tech
Newcomer of the Year – RB Quinton Cooley
Kaidon Salter
- Maxwell Award semifinalist (National Player of the Year Award)
- Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2023 member
- Manning Award watch list selection
- Two-time Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week
- Four-time CUSA Offensive Player of the Week in 2023
- 15-2 career record as a starting quarterback, including 12-0 in 2023
- Led the Flames to Liberty's first-ever perfect regular season record in school history
- Liberty is the first FBS team in the Commonwealth of Virginia to post a perfect 12-0 regular season record
- Seven games passing for 225 or more yards
- 11 games passing for two more touchdowns
- Four 100-yard rushing games
- Four games rushing for multiple touchdowns
- Leads all quarterbacks in CUSA with 31 passing touchdowns
- Ranks second in CUSA with 12 rushing touchdowns
- Ranks No. 1 in CUSA in passing efficiency
- Updated National Rankings:
- No. 1 in passing yards per completion (16.98)
- No. 2 in rushing TDs by a quarterback (12)
- No. 3 in passing efficiency (182.2)
- No. 3 in points responsible for (258)
- No. 5 in points responsible for per game (19.8)
- No. 5 in passing TDs (31)
- No. 7 in rushing yards per carry (6.95)
- No. 24 in rushing TDs (11)
- No. 30 in rushing yards (1,064)
- Leads all CUSA running backs in rushing yards (1,322) and rushing touchdowns (16)
- Only CUSA player averaging more than 100 yards per game (101.7)
- Seven 100-yard rushing performances in 2023
- Six 100-yard games in CUSA games
- Ranks No. 1 in CUSA in scoring (96 points/7.4 points per game)
- Five games rushing for two or more touchdowns (all against CUSA opponents)
- No. 1 in CUSA in all-purpose yards (105.2 per game)
- Named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week after the Louisiana Tech game
- National Rankings:
- No. 6 in rushing TDs (16)
- No. 9 in rushing yards (1,322)
- No. 14 in rushing yards per game (101.7)
- Liberty's leading defender and one of only five defenders in CUSA with 100 or more tackles
- Helped the Flames have the No. 1 ranked defense in the country in interceptions
- Has two of Liberty's 21 interceptions in 2023
- Six games with 10 or more tackles
- Ranks third in CUSA in assisted tackles (54)
- Played 701-of-819 defensive snaps (85.6 percent)
- 10 stops against Bowling Green, including nine assisted tackles
- 11 tackles against New Mexico State and a fumble recovery
- Had a pair of interceptions at Buffalo
- Nine tackles at FIU, including eight solo stops and 2.0 tackles for a loss
- 12 tackles at Jax State, including 10 solo tackles
- Career-high 14 tackles against UMass
- National Rankings:
- No. 26 in total tackles (8.9 per game)
