Salter and Bazile Named CUSA Preseason Players of the Year

After leading the Flames to the CUSA Football Championship in 2023, standout returning players Kaidon Salter and CJ Bazile, Jr. have been named the league's preseason players of the year.

Salter has been selected as the CUSA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Bazile has been named the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The pair of players led the Flames to an undefeated CUSA 8-0 conference record. The duo also guided the Flames to its first conference title at the FBS level with a 49-35 win over New Mexico State in the CUSA Football Championship game.

Liberty garnered two of the league's top three preseason honors. WKU's Lucas Carneiro was named the CUSA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.

Salter was the 2023 HERO Sports Group of Five National Player of the Year after throwing for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,089 yards and 12 additional scores.

The native of Cedar Hill, Texas, received numerous honors from Conference USA during the Flames' inaugural season in the league. He was named the CUSA Most Valuable Player and was selected to the CUSA first-team all-conference listing. He was also a four-time CUSA Offensive Player of the Week.

Salter received several other national honors during his redshirt sophomore season. He was named to the Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2023, was a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award.

Statistically, Salter was one of the top quarterbacks in the country. He ranked No. 3 in the country in passing efficiency (176.6) and passing yards per completion (16.25), No. 5 in passing touchdowns (32), No. 5 in points responsible for per game (18.9), No. 8 in rushing yards per carry (6.68) and No. 22 in total offense (283.2 yards per game).

Bazile earned Conference USA All-Conference honorable mention accolades in 2023 after starting all 14 games at Liberty's Joker position (defensive end/outside linebacker).

The native of Miami, Fla., finished the year with 49 tackles (20 solo, 29 assisted) and led the Flames with 10.5 tackles for a loss (29 yards). He also added 3.0 sacks (12 yards) and recorded a team-high 11 quarterback hurries.

In addition to his CUSA honors, the rising junior was named to the Phil Steele Postseason Conference USA third team and the VaSID All-State second team.

2024 Liberty Football Season Tickets Information
Season tickets for the 2024 Liberty Football season are on sale now! Starting at just $120, members of Flames Nation can secure their spot at Williams Stadium this fall to watch the Flames defend their CUSA conference title and earn their way into the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

Liberty's exciting 2024 slate includes home games against AAC foe East Carolina (Sept. 21) and CUSA home games against UTEP (Sept. 14), FIU (Oct. 8), Jax State (Oct. 30) and WKU (Nov. 23).

You can purchase your 2024 Liberty Football season tickets now at www.LUFootball.com or call/text (434) 592-5015.

Schedule

Salter and Bazile Named CUSA Preseason Players of the Year

Players Mentioned

CJ Bazile, Jr.

Kaidon Salter