Is it just me or does it seem like there’s just been blow after blow since the end of the 2014 football season ended on such a high note? From players moving on from their football careers to others being dismissed from the team. Here are 5 areas of concern as we are just over 100 days from kickoff on September 5th.

1. Offensive linepractice1

We thought we would be returning 3 starters and all of their backups, but Ethan Callison and Grant Jones decided they wanted to hang up their cleats. Now, the loss of senior starters at center (Greg Ray) and right guard (Mitch Hanson) become amplified. The biggest question mark will be at center where Lucas Holder is currently penciled in as the starter.

2. Safetyjackson

Replacing Jacob Hagen was going to be difficult enough, now the Flames must replace his partner at safety in Gary Sampson. That’s 159 tackles lost from a season ago. Coach Gill now must turn to Alpha Jalloh and Cameron Jackson who have a combined total of 18 career tackles.

3. Linebackero'grady

Gone are 4 of the top 6 linebackers from a season ago. Those seniors combined for 74 career starts. To help offset those losses, A.J. James has been moved from safety to SAM linebacker.  Slated to start alongside James at LB are Jimmy O’Grady and Nick Newman. This new trio combines for 6 career starts.

4. Depth at QBmasha1

With Javan Shashaty forgoing his senior season and J.T. Bradwell no longer on the roster, there’s suddenly not much depth behind senior Josh Woodrum. Fortunately, Stephon Masha has some valuable game experience from the 2014 season.

5. A challenging schedulepetey

Throw all of these concerns in with a daunting schedule from the get go and it could be a bumpy start to the season. The Flames face 2 FBS teams (West Virginia, Georgia State) and 2 teams from power FCS conferences (Montana, Southern Illinois). Liberty will also go 4 straight weeks without a home game.

Following last season’s Big South Championship, playoff bid, and playoff win, expectations have never been higher. Hopefully Coach Gill can address each of these concerns by opening kickoff on September 5th.