Over the course of training camp, the media will have the opportunity to speak with all the on-field, position coaches for the Liberty Flames. Those press conferences continued earlier this week when special teams coordinator Tanner Burns and tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua met with the media.

Here are a few of the main takeaways from those interview sessions:

  • Coach Burns said that the special teams units are all installed and that they are further ahead at this point in camp than they have been in recent seasons.
  • Continuing a trend from previous coaches this month, Coach Burns highlighted the overall depth of the team having a major impact on the special teams units. First and second string defensive and offensive players will be seen frequently on special teams.
  • The battle for the starting kicker spot sounds very similar to the quarterback battle. There are four guys battling it out in camp right now with very little separation among them – Jason Stricker, Teagen Lenderink, Nick Brown, and Brayden Beck. Burns says all four of them are making about 85% of their kicks, which is good, but nobody has separated themselves. He highlighted Brayden Beck for making all six of his kicks during the scrimmage on Sunday, but saying that he missed both of his kicks during Tuesday’s practice. Burns is looking for someone to stand out and be consistent.
  • Unlike the past few years, Burns is having all four kickers rotate their reps with the the various snappers and holders during camp. This will hopefully alleviate any setbacks during the season if the players rotate in and out due to injury or performance.
  • At punter, both AIdan Alves and Max Morgan are competing and pushing each other.
  • Austin Mock is having a really good camp and is a “weapon” Burns said. The college average time for a punt snap is .74 second and Mock is getting his snaps to the punter in .62 second.
  • Demario Douglas and Shedro Louis will be back as the primary punt and kick returner, respectively. Burns said he is working on some schemes that will have both of the dynamic return men back deep at the same time in both punt and kick return.
  • Teagen Lenderink was heavily recruited by Liberty in high school as far back as his sophomore year of high school. Burns felt like the Flames would land him before he flipped to North Carolina late. After one season with the Tar Heels, he transferred to Liberty. Burns says the biggest thing Lenderink has brought to the team this summer is increasing the level of competition.
  • Jason Stricker is pretty much locked in as Liberty’s kickoff specialist.
  • Coach Aigamaua is happy to have both Jerome Jackson and Michael Bollinger back at tight end. The sixth year seniors provide incredible leadership and veteran experience among the three newcomers. Aigamaua highlighted that Jackson has greatly improved his receiving ability and called Bollinger his security blanket.
  • It sounds like there will be five guys that play at tight end this season as the room is as deep as it has ever been. In addition to Jackson and Bollinger, the incoming transfers Bentley Hanshaw and Austin Henderson and Brayden Monday should all work into the rotation.
  • In just one year, Monday has gone from 226 pounds to 250 as he continues to bulk up and grow into his frame at tight end.
  • Teigan Martin, the true freshman tight end from Minnesota, is likely to redshirt.

Look for much more on the special teams and tight ends in the coming days as part of our position previews. Also, keep an eye out for additional details from the other assistant coaches throughout camp.