Fiesta Bowl: Jamey Chadwell on Kaidon Salter's Transformation Into QB1

The 13-0 Liberty Flames have breezed through their schedule this season on the way to a Conference USA title and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon. The

© GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK

The 13-0 Liberty Flames have breezed through their schedule this season on the way to a Conference USA title and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon. 

The Flames have the top rushing offense in FBS with 302.9 rushing yards per game and 6.13 yards per carry. Starting quarterback Kaidon Salter has also come alive as a passer this season with 31 touchdowns through the air and 2750 passing yards.

For his efforts, Salter was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. However, when Jamey Chadwell first came to Liberty at the beginning of last offseason, it wasn't immediately clear that the former Tennessee Volunteer would be his team's main signal caller.

"We got here in January and went through spring ball and had, really, three or four quarterbacks competing for the opportunity. You knew that Kaidon had talent, obviously. He transferred here from Tennessee, so he had high level talent from a physical gifts standpoint. Our job was we had to get him to learn and get him to fall in love with playing quarterback," Chadwell told G5 Football Daily. 

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As Chadwell noted, it wasn't a matter of whether or not Salter could physically do the job, but whether or not he wanted to live and breathe the position. At the end of 2023 spring practice, Chadwell still wasn't completely convinced. However, when fall camp rolled around, Salter proved he was ready for the task.

"From May through August when he won the job, he made a 180 as far as his preparation and his mindset to really want to be the quarterback and be a leader of men," Chadwell said. "He always had belief in himself, but a lot of that belief was in those tools and not necessarily in that preparation. Now, his tools and his preparation have matched. That's why you've seen him have just an unbelievable season."

Salter and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels are the only FBS quarterbacks to rush for over 1000 yards this season. Salter is also third in FBS in yards per completion with 10.3. With stats like that, it's important to keep in mind that Salter didn't play the fourth quarter of several of Liberty's contests throughout the season.

That likely won't be the case when Salter and the Flames face the #8 Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day. Oregon are 17.5-point favorites as of December 20. The Flames will be the first CUSA team to represent the conference in the New Year's Six.