Liberty football enjoyed a successful inaugural FBS season with a 6-6 2018 campaign. Under first year head coach Hugh Freeze, the Flames have concluded spring ball and now all the attention is clearly on the 2019 season. Liberty returns many of its skill position weapons on offense as well as many key contributors on defense which will be added to when all of the new signees arrive on campus this summer.
Let’s take a look at what the depth chart could like like when Liberty kicks off the 2019 season by hosting its first ever P5 opponent Syracuse.
QUARTERBACK
Starter: Buckshot Calvert
Backup: Johnathan Bennett
Buckshot is entering his 4th season as Liberty’s signal caller, and despite having a brand new coaching staff and new offense that will not change for his senior season. With Mason Cunningham transferring, true freshman Johnathan Bennett is poised to be the backup and could even see some playing time in spot duty this fall. Landon Brown is currently 3rd string, but he will be pushed by Henry Van Dellen.
RUNNING BACK
Starter: Frankie Hickson
Backup: Peytton Pickett
Backup: Joshua Mack
This is one of those positions where the starter almost doesn’t matter. Hickson, who missed all of spring practice with an injury, rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2018 and is expected to be 100% healthy by fall camp. Pickett provides a chance of pace back that will get most of the work on short yardage and goal line situations. The rest of the running back position is deep and talented as Maine transfer Joshua Mack, Frank Boyd and Troy Henderson will all be fighting for carries. Mack was the leading FCS rusher in 2017 before transferring to Liberty and expectations for him have been through the roof. He showed flashes during spring ball, but we will see if he will be able to crack the weekly rotation with a healthy Hickson and Pickett in the fall.
WIDE RECEIVER
Outside Starter 1: Antonio Gandy-Golden
Backup: Noah Frith
Backup: JT Wood
Outside Starter 2: Khaleb Coleman
Backup: Kevin Shaa
Slot Starter: Damian King
Backup: DJ Stubbs
Backup: Shedro Louis
The receiving core was banged up all spring practice making it very difficult for the new coaching staff to get a really good gauge on what the talent base is at the position. If the group stays healthy, they could be very product in Coach Freeze’s offense. Replace B.J. Farrow and essentially everyone else is back.
Obviously, AGG is the leader and go-to receiver as he looks to continue to build onto his NFL draft profile. Coleman showed flashes as a redshirt-freshman in 2018 and he should be poised for a breakout this season. Shaa, Frith, and Wood have all proven capable as we saw last season when the Flames faced several injuries at the position.
In the slot, Damian King returns and we all know how deceptive he can be in space. Stubbs has also proven his ability, as he got a lot of reps in 2018 when King missed time with injuries. True freshman Shedro Louis impressed during the spring game and the coaching staff is very high on him. He will also have a chance to make an impact in the return game.
TIGHT END
Starter: Chris Barrett
Backup: Johnny Huntley
Backup: Jerome Jackson
The big question mark at tight end is Zac Foutz after his arrest and suspension. He missed the end of spring ball but is still on the team. Will he miss any game time? Coming in as a JUCO transfer last year with high expectations, Chris Barrett underwhelmed. He got a lot of reps with the first team during spring ball and will be in the mix. Huntley, who sat out last year after transferring from Colorado, moved from wide receiver to tight end after the coaching change. Expect to hear his name in the passing game frequently in 2019.
OFFENSIVE LINE
LT Starter: Tristan Schultz
Backup: Brendan Schlittler
LG Starter: Ethan Crawford
Backup: Damian Bounds
C Starter: Thomas Sargeant
Backup: Jonathan Graham
RG Starter: Dontae Duff
Backup: Cooper McCaw
RT Starter: Sam Isaacson
Backup: John Kourtis
The entire starting right side of the offensive line from 2018 returns, but Tristan Schultz could move from right tackle to left tackle. Crawford, Sargeant, Duff, and Isaacson also provide considerable returning experience to the unit behind new offensive line coach Sam Gregg. 3-star JUCO transfer Maisen Knight is expected to come in and immediately challenge for a starting position, most likely at left tackle. Jacob Bodden, Henry Chibueze, Jonathan Graham, John Kourtis, and Brendan Schlittler are all one year removed from coming in together as freshmen. The previous coaching staff considered this unit to be crucial to the future of Liberty’s offensive lines. It may be another year before some of these names begin making significant contributions.
DE Starter 1: Jessie Lemonier
Backup: Thaddius Watson
DE Starter 2: Austin Lewis
Backup: Jayod Sanders
DT Starter 1: Ralfs Rusins
Backup: Devin Pearson
DT Starter 2: Vincent Elefante
Backup: Elisha Mitchell
Coach Freeze repeatedly mentioned the defensive line as a position the Flames need to add significant depth, and there is help coming with 5 signees coming in at the position including 3 JUCOs. Lemonier and Lewis provide Liberty with very capable edge rushers as Lewis will quickly slide into the starting lineup to replace Juwan Wells. Depth here is very thin, with walk-on Thaddius Watson garnering plenty of reps during the spring. Look for true freshman Tre’Shaun Clark to find some playing time immediately.
The interior of the line also needs some additional depth. Rusins, Pearson, and Elefante all have some experience. Mitchell is coming off a missed 2018 season due to injury. Three JUCO defensive tackles will have their say in the depth chart when the arrive on campus this summer (Devonte Lloyd, William Green, Jr., and Elijah James).
LB Starter: Solomon Ajayi
Backup: Remington Green
LB Starter: Lucas Irons
Backup: Amarii Jenkins
Rover Starter: Marcellous Harris
Backup: Ceneca Espinoza
Backup: Brandon Tillmon
Solomon Ajayi should have a monster senior year. He ended 2018, off of a redshirt season in 2017, by making his presence known. His spring season was no different. The Flames will also welcome Irons back to the fold after missing last season with an injury. Green and Jenkins are very capable backups. The coaching staff is also very high on incoming true freshman Malik Caper. Aubrey Williams, another true freshman, was on campus this spring and could also factor into the rotation.
The Rover position is new in defensive coordinator’s Scott Symons system, but it is similar to the SPUR position we saw in recent years. Harris, Espinoza, and Tillmon will all battle for playing time here into the fall.
CB Starter 1: BeJour Wilson
Backup: Emanuel Dabney
CB Starter 2: Jimmy Faulks
Backup: Hunter Goetz
FS Starter: Elijah Benton
Backup: Isaac Steele
SS Starter: Javon Scruggs
Backup: Ben Alexander
Wilson returns and had a very solid spring, and, after redshirting in 2018, Faulks is expected to make an impact this season at corner. Dabney was a JUCO transfer that joined the team in the spring and he was one of Coach Symons’ most improved during the team’s 15 practices. Redshirt-freshman Goetz had a very good spring game with an interception. The true freshman (4-star Tayvion Land and Kei’Trel Clark) are both very talented, and it will be interesting how long it will take for them to make an impact on the field.
Liberty could definitely use some improvement at safety, and one of the first moves the new coaching staff made was shifting Scruggs from corner to safety, a position he played at nearby Appomattox High School. Benton has had a very solid career, especially as a former walk-on.
Kicker: Alex Probert
Punter: Aidan Alves
Long Snapper: Austin Mock
Holder: Landon Brown
Kick Returner: TBD
Punt Returner: Shedro Louis
Liberty returns its specialists in Probert and Alves, and, hopefully, Probert will remain healthy this season. Alves had a few unremarkable (to say the least) punts last season, so hopefully he will become much more consistent this year. The coaching staff did very little work on the kick return game, so we will have to wait until the fall to see who may be involved as a returner there. New special teams coordinator Tanner Burns calls kickoff returns his baby. Louis’ name continues to pop up and don’t be surprised for that to continue into the season.
