We continue our preseason look at the Liberty football position groups, taking a glance today at the Flames’ tight ends.
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Liberty returns all of its primary contributors at the position from a season ago and expects to continue to have strong production from the group and may be the deepest unit on the team. This room accounted for 28 catches on the season with 9 of them being for touchdowns, as the tight ends were frequently targeted in the red zone. This doesn’t include the production the tight ends had in the run game, helping the Flames to lead the nation in rushing.
TE Coach Cody Ladutko – “We had Austin and Bentley both come back. Then, with the addition of Jacob Jenkins, we are very, very deep in that room with some older guys. Feel really good about it. We even have some younger guys who are adding some depth even to that. From a tight end standpoint, we are hopefully even better and deeper (than last year), as well.”
Frontrunners
TE 15 Bentley Hanshaw SR 6’4″ 245
Hanshaw is entering his third year in the program and second season in the head coach Jamey Chadwell system. This is the first time the veteran tight end, who began his career at BYU, has had the same position coach two years in a row. The consistency the coaching staff and this position group has provided, should see Hanshaw pick up from where he left off in 2023 when he had 18 catches for 219 yards and was second on the team with 6 touchdown receptions.
TE 83 Austin Henderson JR 6’5″ 250
If Hanshaw is tight end 1A, then Austin Henderson is every bit of tight end 1B. The Flames frequently use two tight end sets and Henderson was on the field nearly as much as Bentley last season. He finished the year with 10 receptions for 87 yards and 3 scores.
Competition
TE 84 Jacob Jenkins JR 6’3″ 220
After beginning his career at Jacksonville State before transferring to Coastal Carolina, Jenkins had his waiver denied to play during the 2023 season at Liberty due to being a two-time transfer. Of course, that rule is no longer in effect. The NCAA allowed Jenkins to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon, and he did see the field for several plays. He was a third-team all-Sun Belt performer the last time he was on the field, in 2022 for the Chanticleers. He had 149 receiving yards and was second on the team with five touchdown catches. Now, he provides depth and flexibility for the Flames at the position entering 2024.
TE 17 Bo Burklow R-FR 6’2″ 250
Burklow was a highly rated prospect out of Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville who joined the program last season. If the Flames didn’t have so much veteran depth at this position, he would be right in the heat of the battle for significant playing time. He still could be used at times this season, particularly if there are any injury issues.
TE Coach Cody Ladutko – “Bo Burklow came in from CPA, redshirted last year. He’s done phenomenal; you’ve seen improvements in him.”
Depth
TE 48 Caleb Ryan SO 6’2″ 240
TE 19 Eli Sisson FR 6’4” 230
TE 85 Connie Hewitt, II FR 6’3” 260
TE Coach Cody Ladutko – “Our two young freshmen, one more of a run game tight end, one more of a pass game tight end, but the future is very bright.”
