We continue our position previews with a look at Liberty’s special teams.
Previous:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Defensive Line
A familiar theme for the Flames the past several seasons, Liberty has an ongoing battle at kicker during training camp. That is the highlight of the special teams position group, as Max Morgan returns at punter. Also, can NC State transfer Juju Gray provide a game-changer for the Flames in the kick return game?
Frontrunners
P/KOS/H 37 Max Morgan JR 6’2″ 220
Morgan was able to solidify his spot as the Flames’ punter last season. He averaged 41.2 yards per punt with a long of 65 yards, recording 6 punts of 50 or more yards. He also placed 9 of his 35 punts inside the opponent’s 20 yard line. Morgan also handled Liberty’s kickoff duties last year. That’s not his only duty for the Flames as he also serves as the team’s holder.
Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell – “Max Morgan has started off camp really well, as far as punting. He’s obviously, as you know, somebody that did it last year, and he’s our holder and our punter. He kicked off for us as well. So, I like what we’ve seen in him there.”
LS 45 Ryan Wilkins JR 6’0″ 200
Wilkins, originally from Pennsylvania, played in 35 games across four seasons for Elon. Following the 2023 campaign, he entered the portal and landed at UCLA. After spending the spring with the Bruins, he re-entered the portal and ended up at Liberty.
Competition
K 42 Nick Brown JR 6’4″ 170
Nick Brown has been the primary kicker for the team the last couple of years. In 2023, he made 5 of his 10 field goal attempts with a long of 41 while connecting on 65 of his 66 extra points.
K/P 98 Colin Karhu SR 5’10” 200
Colin Karhu is another name to watch. He transferred to Liberty from North Greenville during the offseason. In 3 years there, Karhu made 32 of 41 field goals including 14 of 18 in 2023 with a long of 54. He also made all 25 of his extra points last season.
K 85 Brayden Beck SR 5’10” 200
Brayden Beck has also had his opportunities. In 2021, he made 4 of 5 field goals with a long of 43, but he has been primarily relegated to a bench role the past couple of seasons.
Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell – “We’ve got a battle there, three or four guys and somebody needs to take a hold of it and just have consistent days. Hopefully, over the next 20 practices, we’ll have somebody we can say this is our guy, that we can count on, and go out there, not gonna make them all, but we just know that when he goes out there, you know, there’s a good chance that he’s gonna be consistent in what we need him to do.”
LS 47 Ryan Manis R-FR 6’1″ 205
Depth
K/P 86 Caleb Willis FR 5’10” 180
K/P 49 Sam Crossan FR 6’3″ 230
Returners
PR 15 Brylan Green JR 5’9” 170
KR/PR 1 Julian Gray JR 5’11” 190
KR 14 Kylen Austin JR 6’0” 165
KR 2 Victor Venn SO 5’7” 170
PR/KR 11 Darius Copeland R-FR 6’0” 190
KR 24 Vaughn Blue R-FR 5’11” 190
Brylan Green returns as the Flames’ punt returner from a year ago. The coaching staff feels comfortable with him back there fielding the punts as the most important thing is to make sure the ball ends up in your team’s hands following a punt.
At kick returner Juju Gray has All-American type of ability. The NC State transfer ranked third in the ACC and 11th nationally in kickoff returns with a 26.0 yard per return average last season. He is most likely to take over those duties primarily for the Flames entering 2024. Gray gives Liberty the potential for someone to make game changing plays in the return game.
Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell – “I think with Juju’s speed, his ability there, we have a chance to hopefully make some big plays (on kick return).”
