Flames Place 6 on VaSID All-State Football Team; Fenimore Named Rookie of the Year

A half dozen Liberty football players stood out amongst the best in the state in 2024, with one taking home top freshman of the year honors.

Liberty placed six players on the 2024 VaSID University Division Football All-State team, while offensive lineman Aaron Fenimore was named the VaSID Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The six players helped the Flames post an 8-4 record in 2024 and saw Liberty qualify for its sixth-consecutive bowl game where they faced Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl.

Three of the players took home first team honors, including running back Quinton Cooley, offensive lineman Jordan White and linebacker Joseph Carter.

The three remaining players who were named to the second-team listing were Fenimore, defensive lineman TJ Bush and safety Brylan Green.

Cooley capped his time with the Flames by posting his second-straight 1,000-yard rushing season. He finished 2024 leading the Flames and ranked No. 20 in the country by rushing for 1,254 yards. He also ranked No. 28 nationally with 13 rushing touchdowns.

White ranked first on Liberty's roster in total snap count in 2024, having played 97.3 percent of the Flames' offensive snaps during the regular season (781-of-802). He also ranked No. 4 in the country in offensive grade (82.2) among offensive guards as ranked by PFF.com.

Carter led the Flames in 2024 with a career-high 83 tackles, including a team-high 41 solo stops. He also added 5.0 tackles for a loss (18 yards), 1.5 sacks (8 yards) and two pass breakups.

This is the second statewide honor for Carter in 2024, as he was also named Linebacker of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Richmond.

Fenimore earned CUSA All-Conference first team honors and was named to The Athletic Freshman All-America team. He graded out as the No. 6 ranked offensive lineman in Conference USA in 2024 by PFF.com (73.2 overall offensive grade).

Fenimore is the third player in program history to earn VaSID Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, joining quarterbacks Zach Terrell (2005) and Josh Woodrum (2012).

Bush earned Conference USA second-team honors in 2024 and has started all 26 games at defensive end for the Flames the last two seasons. He finished his sophomore season with a career-high 58 tackles and led the Flames with 9.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. He was tied for eighth in Conference USA with .79 tackles for a loss per game.

Green earned Conference USA All-Conference honors for the second year in a row, as he was a second-team honoree in 2024. He finished the season with 32 tackles, with 65.6 percent of his tackles being solo stops (21-of-32).

2024 VaSID University Division Football Team

Major Awards
Coach of the Year: Bob Chesney (James Madison)
Offensive Player of the Year: Alonza Barnett III (James Madison)
Defensive Player of the Year: Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Virginia Tech)
Special Teams Player of the Year: John Love (Virginia Tech)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Aaron Fenimore (Liberty)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Matthew Traynor (Richmond)

First Team Offense
QB: Alonza Barnett III (James Madison)
RB: Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech)
RBL Quinton Cooley (Liberty)
WR: Malachi Fields (Virginia)
WR: Isiah Page (Old Dominion)
TE: Pat Conroy (Old Dominion)
OL: Pat McMurtie (James Madison)
OL: Charles Grant (William & Mary)
OL: Tom Elia (Richmond)
OL: Jordan White (Liberty)
OL: Cole Potts (James Madison)

First Team Defense
DL: Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Virginia Tech)
DL: Jeremiah Grant (Richmond)
DL: Eric O'Neill (James Madison)
DL: Khairi Manns (James Madison)
LB: AJ Richardson (Norfolk State)
LB: Joseph Carter (Liberty)
LB: Jacob Dobbs (James Madison)
CB: Jalen Jones (William & Mary)
CB: Terrence Spence (James Madison)
S: Jonas Sanker (Virginia)
S: Jabril Hayes (Richmond)

Second Team Offense
QB: Camden Coleman (Richmond)
RB: Zach Palmer-Smith (Richmond)
RB: Bronson Yoder (William & Mary)
WR: Omarion Dollison (James Madison)
WR: Nick DeGennaro (Richmond)
TE: Taylor Thompson (James Madison)
OL: Aaron Fenimore (Liberty)
OL: Ryan McKenna (William & Mary)
OL: Zach Barlev (Old Dominion)
OL: Brian Stevens (Virginia)
OL: Cade Salyers (Richmond)

Second Team Defense
DL: TJ Bush (Liberty)
DL: Camden Byrd (Richmond)
DL: Kris Trinidad (Old Dominion)
DL: Kam Butler (Virginia)
LB: Kam Robinson (Virginia)
LB: Koa Naotala (Old Dominion)
LB: Eric Rankin (Virginia Military Institute)
CB: Terron Mallory (Norfolk State)
CB: Dayan Long (Norfolk State)
S: Jacob Thomas (James Madison)
S: Brylan Green (Liberty)

First Team Special Teams
Place Kicker: John Love (Virginia Tech)
Punter: Aaron Trusler (Richmond)
Return Specialist: Carson Jenkins (Williams & Mary)

Second Team Special Teams
Place Kicker: Will Bettirdge (Virginia)
Punter: Daniel Sparks (Virginia)
Return Specialist: Cam Ross (James Madison)

2025 Football Season Ticket Information
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Schedule

Flames Place 6 on VaSID All-State Football Team; Fenimore Named Rookie of the Year

Players Mentioned

Joseph Carter

Quinton Cooley

Aaron Fenimore

Brylan Green

Jordan White