Liberty Picked 2nd in CUSA Preseason Poll; 5 Named to Watch List
7/21/2023 2:04:00 PM | Football
With the 2023 CUSA Football Kickoff event slated for next Tuesday, Conference USA has released its preseason football polls and preseason player watch list.
Entering its first season in CUSA, Liberty is predicted to finish in second place in the conference's preseason poll, which was selected by a media panel.
Five student-athletes from each of the conference's nine member institutions are recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2023 season.
Additionally, each of the nine institutions has highlighted one academic performer ahead of the 2023 season, which is also listed below.
The five Liberty players named to the CUSA preseason player watch list include wide receiver Noah Frith, offensive lineman X'Zauvea Gadlin, defensive tackle Kendy Charles, defensive back Quinton Reese and kicker Nick Brown.
Liberty's selection to the CUSA preseason academic list is quarterback Trey Lowe, a transfer from Southern Miss who is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in educational leadership.
The Conference USA slate opens on Saturday, Aug. 26, with five teams in action, highlighted by a pair of league contests. The league's 19th Conference USA Football Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1.
2023 Football Season Ticket Sale Information
After a historic year in 2022 with over 8,800 season tickets sold to Flames Nation, 2023 football season tickets are still available.
Starting at just $120, a 51% savings over single-game tickets, reserve your seat for all seven home games in Williams Stadium. Discounts are available for Liberty faculty and staff, 2020-23 recent graduates and Letterwinner Association members.
To renew or purchase season tickets, visit www.LUFootball.com or call/text (434) 592-5015.
2023 CUSA Preseason Football Poll
2023 CUSA Preseason Player Watch List
OFFENSE
QB Gavin Hardison, RS Sr., UTEP
QB Grayson James, Jr., FIU
QB Diego Pavia, Sr., New Mexico State
QB Austin Reed, RS Sr., WKU
RB Anwar Lewis, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
RB Frank Peasant, Jr., Middle Tennessee
WR Ife Adeyi, Sr., Sam Houston
WR Malachi Corley, Jr., WKU
WR Noah Frith, Sr., Liberty
WR Smoke Harris, RS Sr., Louisiana Tech
TE Sean Brown, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
OL Carson Bruno, RS So., Louisiana Tech
OL X'Zauvea Gadlin, Sr., Liberty
OL Ethan Hagler, Sr., Sam Houston
OL Elijah Klein, RS Sr., UTEP
OL Quantavious Lee, Jr., WKU
OL Jacob Peace, Sr., FIU
OL Shiyazh Pete, RS So., New Mexico State
OL Keylan Rutledge, So., Middle Tennessee
DEFENSE
DE Praise Amaewhule, RS Sr., UTEP
DE J-Rock Swain, Jr., Jacksonville State
DL Kendy Charles, Sr., Liberty
DL Marley Cook, RS Jr., Middle Tennessee
DL Jordan Guerad, RS So., FIU
DL Deshon Hall, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DL Chris Hardie, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
DL Markel Perry, Gr., Sam Houston
DL Dion Wilson Jr., Jr., New Mexico State
LB JaQues Evans, Jr., WKU
LB Kavian Gaither, Jr., Sam Houston
LB Tyrice Knight, RS Sr., UTEP
LB Donovan Manuel, Sr., FIU
DB Quinton Reese, Sr., Liberty
DB Willie Roberts, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DB Teldrick Ross, RS Sr., Middle Tennessee
DB Andre Seldon, RS So., New Mexico State
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Nick Brown, So., Liberty
K Alen Karajic, Jr., Jacksonville State
K Zeke Rankin, Jr., Middle Tennessee
K/P Jadon Cardell, RS So., Sam Houston
P Tom Ellard, RS So., WKU
P Daton Montiel, RS Jr., FIU
P Joshua Sloan, Jr., UTEP
PR/KR Smoke Harris, RS Sr., Louisiana Tech
KR Jonathan Brady, So., New Mexico State
ACADEMIC PERFORMER
OL Jacob Peace, Sr., FIU
DL Jackson Luttrell, Sr., Jacksonville State
QB Trey Lowe, Sr., Liberty
OL Abraham Delfin, Gr., Louisiana Tech
LB Devyn Curtis, RS So., Middle Tennessee
OL Canaan Yarro, RS Jr., New Mexico State
LB Trevor Williams, Gr., Sam Houston
OL Andrew Meyer, RS Sr., UTEP
OL Vincent Murphy, RS Jr., WKU
Entering its first season in CUSA, Liberty is predicted to finish in second place in the conference's preseason poll, which was selected by a media panel.
Five student-athletes from each of the conference's nine member institutions are recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2023 season.
Additionally, each of the nine institutions has highlighted one academic performer ahead of the 2023 season, which is also listed below.
The five Liberty players named to the CUSA preseason player watch list include wide receiver Noah Frith, offensive lineman X'Zauvea Gadlin, defensive tackle Kendy Charles, defensive back Quinton Reese and kicker Nick Brown.
Liberty's selection to the CUSA preseason academic list is quarterback Trey Lowe, a transfer from Southern Miss who is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in educational leadership.
The Conference USA slate opens on Saturday, Aug. 26, with five teams in action, highlighted by a pair of league contests. The league's 19th Conference USA Football Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1.
2023 Football Season Ticket Sale Information
After a historic year in 2022 with over 8,800 season tickets sold to Flames Nation, 2023 football season tickets are still available.
Starting at just $120, a 51% savings over single-game tickets, reserve your seat for all seven home games in Williams Stadium. Discounts are available for Liberty faculty and staff, 2020-23 recent graduates and Letterwinner Association members.
To renew or purchase season tickets, visit www.LUFootball.com or call/text (434) 592-5015.
2023 CUSA Preseason Football Poll
- WKU (18)
- Liberty (4)
- MTSU
- Louisiana Tech
- New Mexico State
- UTEP
- Jacksonville State
- FIU and Sam Houston
2023 CUSA Preseason Player Watch List
OFFENSE
QB Gavin Hardison, RS Sr., UTEP
QB Grayson James, Jr., FIU
QB Diego Pavia, Sr., New Mexico State
QB Austin Reed, RS Sr., WKU
RB Anwar Lewis, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
RB Frank Peasant, Jr., Middle Tennessee
WR Ife Adeyi, Sr., Sam Houston
WR Malachi Corley, Jr., WKU
WR Noah Frith, Sr., Liberty
WR Smoke Harris, RS Sr., Louisiana Tech
TE Sean Brown, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
OL Carson Bruno, RS So., Louisiana Tech
OL X'Zauvea Gadlin, Sr., Liberty
OL Ethan Hagler, Sr., Sam Houston
OL Elijah Klein, RS Sr., UTEP
OL Quantavious Lee, Jr., WKU
OL Jacob Peace, Sr., FIU
OL Shiyazh Pete, RS So., New Mexico State
OL Keylan Rutledge, So., Middle Tennessee
DEFENSE
DE Praise Amaewhule, RS Sr., UTEP
DE J-Rock Swain, Jr., Jacksonville State
DL Kendy Charles, Sr., Liberty
DL Marley Cook, RS Jr., Middle Tennessee
DL Jordan Guerad, RS So., FIU
DL Deshon Hall, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DL Chris Hardie, RS Jr., Jacksonville State
DL Markel Perry, Gr., Sam Houston
DL Dion Wilson Jr., Jr., New Mexico State
LB JaQues Evans, Jr., WKU
LB Kavian Gaither, Jr., Sam Houston
LB Tyrice Knight, RS Sr., UTEP
LB Donovan Manuel, Sr., FIU
DB Quinton Reese, Sr., Liberty
DB Willie Roberts, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DB Teldrick Ross, RS Sr., Middle Tennessee
DB Andre Seldon, RS So., New Mexico State
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Nick Brown, So., Liberty
K Alen Karajic, Jr., Jacksonville State
K Zeke Rankin, Jr., Middle Tennessee
K/P Jadon Cardell, RS So., Sam Houston
P Tom Ellard, RS So., WKU
P Daton Montiel, RS Jr., FIU
P Joshua Sloan, Jr., UTEP
PR/KR Smoke Harris, RS Sr., Louisiana Tech
KR Jonathan Brady, So., New Mexico State
ACADEMIC PERFORMER
OL Jacob Peace, Sr., FIU
DL Jackson Luttrell, Sr., Jacksonville State
QB Trey Lowe, Sr., Liberty
OL Abraham Delfin, Gr., Louisiana Tech
LB Devyn Curtis, RS So., Middle Tennessee
OL Canaan Yarro, RS Jr., New Mexico State
LB Trevor Williams, Gr., Sam Houston
OL Andrew Meyer, RS Sr., UTEP
OL Vincent Murphy, RS Jr., WKU
Players Mentioned
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