We continue our position previews with a look at Liberty’s corners.
Previous:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Defensive Line
Special Teams
Corner is one of the positions Coach Chadwell highlighted at the start of camp as one the Flames needed to find some depth. Liberty lost a couple of strong performers from this group a year ago, but also brought in several transfers, looking to bolster the group heading into 2024.
Entering the last half of training camp, the Flames are looking for someone to emerge and earn their playing time at corner.
Liberty CB Coach Dino Waites – “We’re kind of making different packages, so everybody’s going to have a role to play. That’s just kind of our goal. We’ve got a lot of good players we want to use. So that’s what we’re trying to do. We develop different packages, different spots for guys, so they can come in and play.”
Frontrunners
CB 26 Amarian Williams JR 5’10” 175
The former high school teammate of QB Kaidon Salter, Williams has established himself as a leader at corner for the Flames. After a redshirt season in 2021 where he played in 4 games, Amarian has been hard to take off the field each of the past two years.
In 2023, he played in 13 games, finishing the year with 37 tackles, 4 pass breakups and 2 TFLs. He was arguably the team’s best cover corner despite not having the flashy interceptions that characterized Liberty’s defensive backfield last season. Some of that had to do with opposing teams choosing to not throw his way and instead target other corners and matchups on the field.
Entering 2024, Williams has to not only continue to make strides in his play on the field, but he will also be counted on to help lift up his teammates around him by being a strong leader.
Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell – “You think he’s a guy there that’s played a lot of ball for us, and we think he can be really good. He’s been banged up a little bit, so it’s not like he’s been full go every day, but he’s the guy that, at least in experience here, is somebody that you feel like can do that for us.”
Competition
CB 22 Jayden Sweeney SO 5’11” 185
Sweeney was a highly rated prospect out of high school. He began his career at Liberty at safety, and he was a depth piece for the Flames there, making a contribution on the field. Last season, he played in 13 games. Now, he has made the switch to safety and is pushing not just for playing time but perhaps even a starting spot.
Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell – “I do like Sweeney. I think he’s done a really nice job in the first few practices, and we’ve been pleased with. He’s still got a little ways to go there, but I think he’s found a home which has been good. From an athletic standpoint, he might be our most athletic guy on the team, and just not been able to find a spot where he can stick at consistently. Through the first several practices, I think he’s made some good strides for us.”
CB 20 Dexter Ricks, Jr. SO 5’11” 175
Ricks emerged last year as a key member of the Flames’ team. He played in all 14 games, recording 11 tackles and one pass breakup. This season, Ricks is hoping to continue to see an increase in his playing time and perhaps push for a starting position.
CB 13 Dominick Hill SR 6’2” 200
Hill transferred to Liberty from Temple, joining the team for spring practice. With the Owls, Hill played in 23 games over the past two seasons. He had 47 tackles in 11 games played last season. He began his career at South Carolina in 2020 and 2021, playing in 17 games for the Gamecocks. He is in the mix for considerable playing time at corner.
Liberty CB Coach Dino Waites – “Dominick Hill played at Temple, played at South Carolina. Very talented DB that’s big, long, smart. Played a lot of football. At Temple, he played in the nickel area. In the spring when he came in, we were short at corner. He’s played a lot of corner for us and then we moved him around.”
CB 19 Alex Oliver SR 6’0” 180
Oliver transfers to Liberty after spending four years at VMI. He was named first-team All-SOCON in 2022. Over his four years with the Keydets, he played in 39 games with 201 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 6 interceptions, and 39 pass deflections. He played for current Liberty CB Coach Dino Waites at VMI before Waites joined the Flames’ coaching staff prior to the 2023 season.
Liberty CB Coach Dino Waites – “Definitely got a lot of respect for those guys that go to VMI and play football and go through that school. So, I knew what kind of character he was. He’s going to be a yes sir, no sir. He’s going to give you his heart. He loves football, very talented. Can cover. We played a lot of man last year. He’s a man to man corner that can play. Smart enough to move into the nickel and be physical. He’s played a lot of football. He’s almost played close to 3000 snaps of football at DB. So, he knows football, he just jumped into the system and kind of just got it, I think he will be a good part for us.”
CB 23 Charles Yates, Jr. SR 5’11” 200
Originally from Alabama, Yates began his collegiate career at the JUCO level. In 2023, he transferred to Arizona where he played five games for the Wildcats. In December 2023, he transferred to Old Dominion, but, after spring practice, entered the portal once again and has landed at Liberty.
Depth
CB 5 Elijah Hopkins SO 5’10” 185
Hopkins transferred to Liberty from Coastal Carolina prior to the start of the 2023 season. He played in 9 games, recording 2 tackles last year. He had off-season shoulder surgery and has been limited during camp.
CB 8 Joshua Wiggins SO 6’0″ 180
After transferring to Liberty from Colorado prior to the start of last season, Wiggins played in 8 games for the Flames last year. He has missed a good portion of training camp and has been seen with a boot on his right foot.
CB 10 Ronald Moore, Jr. FR 5’11” 190
Moore is a talented freshman who was turning a lot of heads back in the spring when he first enrolled at Liberty. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season.
CB 28 Jamal Miles R-FR 6’0″ 170
