Aaron Bedgood joins football team after time spent selling insurance

As Liberty graduate wide receiver Aaron Bedgood sat in the press room, a member of the media asked, “Weren’t you selling … insurance?” 

The question brought a chuckle to the media floor as Bedgood smiled. He had been selling insurance just a few months prior to joining the Liberty Flames — and his journey from insurance salesman to football star is as exhilarating as the offense he plays in.

Bedgood was born in Richmond Hills, Georgia, and through his high school years, he has been conquering the football field. By the time he graduated high school, he was a four-year letter winner and had obtained two separate two-star recruitments. Bedgood began to play college ball for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers as a running back. 

His career, however, has come with undoubtable challenges for the young athlete. In his freshman year, a knee injury ended his season. The next year, he spent the majority of the season still working to recover. But injuries couldn’t stop Bedgood, and he was back on the field his junior year. By the time his senior season rolled around, he was a captain of the Chanticleers and had played both the running back and wide receiver positions. After all was said and done in Conway, he had played three seasons before graduating in 2022. 

After graduating, Bedgood joined the workforce selling insurance with State Farm, seemingly hanging up his football helmet for good. 

“I had stepped away from the game for a season,”  Bedgood recalled. “I had dealt with a lot of injuries, and I wasn’t in a good mental space.” 

After a while, though, he began to miss the football field. He said he was contemplating going back into the game when Liberty football Head Coach Jamey Chadwell gave him a call asking him to join the new regime in Lynchburg. 

“I started toying with the idea of getting back in the game, and now I’m here,” Bedgood said. “It was kinda like God’s plan, I guess … One day I was in my office answering a call, and a week later I’m strapping on my helmet again. It’s been a blessing and a joy.”

Since finding a new home with the Liberty Flames, Bedgood claims he has also found comfort. Despite reverting back to the wide receiver position, the shift has come naturally to the former running back.

“Just getting into fall camp has been huge for me, for getting more comfortable, and I’m comfortable right now,” Bedgood said.  

But while he’s back making plays on the gridiron, will he keep up insurance as a side job?

Bedgood laughed, saying, “No, all that’s on hold for right now. While I’m here, I want to focus on football.” 

Richards is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion