Flames in the Pros: a preview into the professional beginnings of Darius McGhee, Malik Willis, Mikey Tepper, and Demario Douglas
Demario Douglas
Wide receiver Demario “Pop” Douglas has quickly made a name for himself during the preseason for the New England Patriots. The 5-foot-8 rookie from Liberty was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Known for his lightning-like speed and mobility, Douglas has been able to compensate for his below-average height with his skill throughout his career.
With his 19 career touchdowns and a total of 2,302 yards for the Flames, Douglas is one of the best wide receivers that Liberty has developed. He was a fan favorite, bringing an electrifying energy to Williams Stadium by making highlight-reel plays in the most timely moments.
He has surprised many during his preseason with the Patriots, earning a spot on the team’s 53-man roster. Douglas has proved that he is ready to be an offensive asset for New England this season. Headed by legendary Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones, the Jacksonville native will be one of the most intriguing assets in the Patriots’ wide receiver room. Cracking Peter Schrager’s “Top 10 Breakout Players of the Year” list at No. 5, the door is wide open for him to construct a successful rookie season.
Douglas’ journey to the NFL was not easy, but his emphasis on work ethic is what has paved the way for his success up to this point. Justin Barney of News4 in Jacksonville, Florida quoted Douglas as saying, “I always had my head down and just kept working … I always wanted to outwork everybody. I always want to be on top.”
Making Flames fans proud already, Douglas looks to keep putting in the work to become a top receiver in the NFL.
You can catch Douglas and the Patriots taking on the Philadelphia Eagles on home turf Sept. 10 on CBS.
Malik Willis
Drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans, Malik Willis is one of the most talented and beloved athletes in the history of Liberty athletics. The 6-foot, 1-inch, 220-pound quarterback transferred to the Mountain from Auburn in 2019. In 23 games for the Flames, Willis scored 47 touchdowns, dominating opponents for a record of 17-6 over two seasons.
In his rookie season, Willis played in a total of eight games for the Titans, starting three of those. Willis’ first professional touchdown was a signature rushing touchdown, showing off his impeccable mobility and athleticism that Liberty fans experienced weekly. With the Titans’ heavy emphasis on the running game, Willis was not able to show off his arm much, with only 31 completions for 276 yards.
With the 2023-24 season rolling around, the Titans’ starting quarterback is the seasoned veteran Ryan Tannehill. Despite the battle between Malik Willis and rookie Will Levis, Willis seems to have secured the backup spot.
Willis had the opportunity to take on the New England Patriots in Music City during a recent preseason game. Despite a rough start, completing one out of five passes and throwing two interceptions, he managed to rebound. Ending the game with two touchdowns for a total of 211 yards, the Willis-led Titans tore apart a talented New England defense for a 23-7 victory.
Since his departure from Liberty Mountain, Willis has represented his alma mater and more importantly, his faith, well. Cody Benjamin of CBS wrote that Willis “reads Scripture each day in an effort to grow spiritually, which in turn aids his teachability — and confidence — as a quarterback.”
Bessire is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion.
Darius McGhee
In the history of the Liberty Flames, there are not many players, if any, that had as legendary of a Flames career as Darius McGhee. McGhee accomplished an incredible career at Liberty, being awarded the ASUN Player of the year award for three consecutive seasons, currently holding the second-place position for college career three-pointers made (528), and helped the Flames win the ASUN tournament in 2019, 2020 and 2021. After graduation, McGhee signed a summer league contract with the Indiana Pacers.
McGhee performed well in the NBA Summer League, averaging 6.5 points per game, and improving to 5.6 assists per 36 minutes. Once summer league ended, McGhee signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Pacers on Aug. 15. An Exhibit-10 contract allows McGhee to participate in the Pacers training camp, and after camp the contract can then go one of two ways. At the Pacers’ discretion, McGhee can become a part of the team if he performs well. The other option is to be a part of the Pacers G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. If McGee is waived from the Pacers prior to the start of the season, he has the option to play for the Mad Ants for 60 days, where he will receive a bonus of $75,000.
Mikey Tepper
Mikey Tepper transferred to Liberty for the 2023 baseball season, coming off a two-year stint at Mississippi State. At Mississippi State, Tepper pitched 36.2 innings and notched 43 strikeouts over two seasons. As a Flame, he recorded 78 strikeouts over 65.1 innings pitched, with an earned run average (ERA) of 5.23. After graduation, Tepper was drafted by the Washington Nationals in round 15 of the MLB Draft.
After the draft, he was assigned to the Nationals to the team’s single A affiliate, the Fredericksburg Nationals on Aug. 19. Tepper has appeared in three games, starting in two of them. In those three appearances, Tepper pitched a total of 6.1 innings and faced a total of 33 batters. In those 6.1 innings he allowed 10 earned runs, giving him an ERA of 14.21, which is below average for his position. At just 21 years old, Tepper still has his entire career ahead of him, so this rough start in the Minors is not as detrimental as it could be.
Wilson is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion.