College Football Preview 2024: Liberty Flames win projections, strengths and weaknesses, quarterback spotlight and more

Head coach: Jamey Chadwell (second season)
2023 record: 13-1 (lost Fiesta Bowl)
PFF power ranking: 49th
Chance to win Conference USA: 23%
Strength of Schedule: 129th
Projected Win Total: 8.8
FanDuel Win Total: 10.5
2024 Recruiting Rank (On3): No. 90 nationally, No. 1 in Conference USA

Jamey Chadwell’s first season as Liberty’s head coach couldn’t have gone much better. The Flames finished the year with a 13-1 record, winning the Conference USA championship and making a New Year’s Six bowl game in only their sixth season as an FBS program.

With the playoff expanding to 12 teams, Liberty has its sights set on repeating as the Group of Five representative. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about its chances, mainly the dynamic rushing duo of Quinton Cooley and Kaidon Salter.

The Flames do need to get stronger in the trenches on both sides of the ball, though. They also likely need to go undefeated to make the College Football Playoff, considering they play one of the easiest schedules in college football.

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Biggest Strength: Rushing attack is deadly

Liberty was the only school in the country last year with multiple 1,000-yard rushers: running back Quinton Cooley and quarterback Kaidon Salter. Both players have returned for another season, forming a read-option game that’s nearly impossible to defend.

Biggest Weakness: Pass protection

The Flames finished just 94th among FBS schools in pass-blocking grade last year and lost three starters from that offensive line.

2023 Team Overview

Offense
EPA per play	Yards per play	Successful play rate	Explosive run play rate	Explosive pass play rate
0.211	7.1	42.8%	21.4%	19.8%
4th	6th	4th	5th	9th
Defense
EPA allowed per play	Yards allowed per play	Successful play rate allowed	Explosive run rate allowed	Explosive pass rate allowed
-0.031	5.8	35.7%	17.0%	15.8%
59th	T-81st	T-82nd	T-99th	108th

Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions

OG John Paul Flores (Louisville): 70.6 PFF Grade
WR Julian Gray (NC State): 55.5 PFF Grade
CB Dominick Hill (Temple): 67.3 PFF Grade

Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses

WR CJ Daniels (LSU): 87.1 PFF Grade
CB Preston Hodge (Colorado): 90.0 PFF Grade
DI Kendy Charles (Duke): 72.7 PFF Grade

Quarterback Spotlight: Kaidon Salter

2023 Grade: 88.0
Key Stat: 24 touchdowns and 19 big-time throws on play-action passes (both led the FBS)