We continue our position preview today by turning our attention to the offensive line.
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Corners
Safeties
Linebackers
Defensive line
The Flames return three starters from the 2019 offensive line, but must replace Dontae Duff and Sam Isaacson. Duff started 47 consecutive games for the Flames, most recently at right guard, while Isaacson started 24 games during his Liberty career.
Returning
Tristan Schultz enters his senior season with the Flames. He started all 13 games in 2019 at left tackle and has seen playing time in 34 games including 17 consecutive starts. Schultz is penciled in as the team’s starter at left tackle once again, a position he was at during the spring.
Damian Bounds enters his 5th year in the program after starting all 13 games last season at left guard. He’s played in 32 career games for the Flames and will look to bolster the left guard spot once again.
The third of three returning starters, Thomas Sargeant has started all 36 games of his career for Liberty at center. He’s now one of the leaders of the team and the offensive line.
After spending two seasons in the program, Brendan Schlittler is poised to take over as starter at right guard. He redshirted in 2018 and played in all 13 games last season as a reserve.
Cooper McCaw is now a redshirt-junior and has played in 24 games during his career at Liberty, including 4 starts. He began spring practice as the starter at right tackle, a spot he will fight to hold onto in the fall. The coaching staff have implored him to gain some weight to his 275 pound frame during the offseason.
John Kourtis is a redshirt-sophomore and has supplanted himself as Sargeant’s backup at center. He got playing time in 9 games in 2019.
A redshirt-sophomore, Jonathan Graham played in all 13 games last season as a reserve tackle. He will likely fit in as Schultz’s backup at left tackle.
Maisen Knight joined the program last season as a JUCO transfer. He struggled to work his way into the rotation, but to start the spring he was working with the second string at left tackle.
Redshirt-sophomore Jacob Bodden from Hoover, Alabama has played in 4 games during his career with the Flames.
Carter Bradley, Ryan Eshleman, and Nate Pena also return for the Flames.
Newcomers
Bryce Mathews is a grad transfer from Ole Miss who was originally recruited by Hugh Freeze out of high school. He was a part-time starter for the Rebels and joined Liberty for the spring semester. He was working with the second string at right tackle during the practice time that was open to the media. He could push for the starting spot at right tackle, or he may be used as a utility second string lineman who can play each position.
Gage Bassham, Will Buchanan, Brian Hannibal, and Chase Mitchell join the program as true freshmen. All four are very talented and will likely play a role on the offensive line in the future. Fortunately, Liberty has a decent amount of depth on the line, and all of these can redshirt in 2020 if needed.
Outlook
Liberty returns three senior starters on the offensive line, including two 5th year guys. Schultz, Bounds, and Sargeant will anchor the unit while several others have considerable experience. This unit is the most experienced on offense despite losing two key veterans, and the group is on target to being very talented and deep for the foreseeable future.
