After leaving Saturday’s 28-10 victory over UTEP during Liberty’s second offensive drive, running back Quinton Cooley has been labeled as “day-to-day” for this weekend’s game against East Carolina, according to head coach Jamey Chadwell during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
Chadwell expressed optimism that Cooley, who is the team’s leading rusher, might be able to play in the inaugural matchup between the Flames (3-0) and the Pirates (2-1) at Williams Stadium on Saturday.
“There’s a possibility he could play this week; we’ll see how he reacts,” Chadwell said. “We’re hopeful, but we’re not relying on it, if that makes sense.”
Cooley did not participate with the first team during the open portion of Liberty’s practice on Tuesday. Chadwell described the injury as a “nerve/back situation.”
He indicated that the injury is not expected to be long-term, but added, “It’s also something that requires time to heal, so we need to see how he feels.”
After a light workload in the first half against New Mexico State, the Flames were focused on getting Cooley involved early in Saturday’s game against UTEP. The powerful running back had six touches by the six-minute mark of the first quarter.
However, on his sixth touch, as he was pulled out of bounds after a 28-yard gain, Chadwell noted that it appeared “his leg got caught underneath him a bit when he was hit, and it almost resembled … a cheerleading split.”
“He got up, but it was clear that something was off,” he added.
Cooley isn’t the only player the Flames lost during the game against UTEP. Wide receiver Darius Copeland left after just one touch—a pitch from quarterback Kaidon Salter on the same drive where Cooley was injured.
Chadwell confirmed that Copeland will be out for the rest of the season due to a lower body injury.
The Pelham, Alabama, native redshirted last year while recovering from a high school knee injury. During fall camp, coaches praised his grasp of the offense and his physical skills.
In three games, he recorded five catches for 38 yards, along with a single rush on Saturday for 7 yards.
Injuries are piling up for the Flames at the skill positions, especially with JuJu Gray still sidelined. The speedy receiver and kick returner has not played since the season opener against Campbell.
Liberty has shuffled their starting receiver lineup in each of their first three games, with six receivers starting at least once this season.
“I think our guys have a lot of confidence knowing that if something happens and someone goes down, there’s someone ready to step in and take over,” Chadwell said. “It’s about being a cohesive unit on that side of the ball, and no one is more important than the team.”
With or without Cooley, Saturday promises to be a test of resolve. Last week, Billy Lucas provided an impressive fill-in performance, and Mike Houston’s Pirates have been effective at stopping the run so far this season.
“They’re coming to deliver a tough challenge,” Chadwell said about the Pirates’ defense. “Last week, they faced an opponent [Appalachian State, Liberty’s next opponent on Sept. 28] that typically excels at rushing the ball, and they shut them down. So, this will be a significant challenge for us.”
Mobley’s Performance and Confidence on the Rise
While Treon Sibley has made an impact as the Flames’ leading receiver this season thanks to his rapport with quarterback Kaidon Salter, Tyson Mobley is growing more comfortable in the Liberty offense and has distinguished himself as Salter’s second-favorite target.
However, separation wasn’t necessary for Mobley on Saturday when he caught an impressive 13-yard touchdown pass from Salter despite a UTEP defender covering him. This marked his first touchdown since transferring to Liberty from Coastal Carolina earlier this year.
“Every game has served as a stepping stone,” he said Tuesday. “We’ve been making progress with each game, improving our understanding of each other’s tendencies and preferences.”
Mobley caught only two passes from Salter for 15 yards against Campbell, but in the past two weeks, he has made eight receptions for 68 yards, including a touchdown on Saturday. His experience could prove crucial for a banged-up receiving corps in the upcoming games, especially since he has played against East Carolina in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl and has faced Appalachian State while at Coastal Carolina.
Catches like his touchdown on Saturday would be a great bonus.
“Making a catch like that definitely builds trust,” Mobley said. “So hopefully, as the season progresses, you’ll see more of what we practice translating into games.”
App State Game Time and TV Details Released
Liberty and Appalachian State will face off as FBS programs for the first time on Sept. 28, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+, as announced by the Sun Belt Conference this week.
The Mountaineers (2-1) are coming off a narrow win against East Carolina, where quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 424 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. They suffered a heavy loss to Clemson in Week Two, falling 66-20.
This matchup will be the 11th overall between the two schools, with the last encounter occurring in 2014 when Appalachian State was in the midst of its second transition season to FBS, while Liberty was still competing in the FCS’s Big South Conference. In that game, the teams combined for 1,138 yards, with Liberty emerging victorious in overtime, 55-48.
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