The start of the 2024 football season is quickly approaching and the start of training camp is right around the corner. The Flames are scheduled to open the season on August 31 against Campbell. Second year head coach Jamey Chadwell will look to guide the program to a second straight Conference USA title while also looking to make a 6th straight bowl game.

Here’s a look at our projected depth chart prior to the start of training camp:

Quarterback: Kaidon Salter
Backup: Ryan Burger

Salter has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the entire country this coming fall. This team’s ceiling rides on his back, as the Flames could be a contender for the CFP this season if he performs like he did in 2023 or even better. Burger is a nice addition to the room, coming to Liberty from Appalachian State where he was the team’s starter entering the 2023 season before suffering an injury in the opener. He is a nice insurance piece and can serve as a backup to Salter and potentially compete for the starting spot once Salter moves on. Nate Hampton is another veteran in the room that can provide depth. The Flames also have Jayden Bradford in the room, and he should be able to redshirt this season as he continues to develop.

Running Back:  (A-Back) Billy Lucas; (B-Back) Quinton Cooley
Backup: Vaughn Blue; Jaimes Jointer, Jr OR Caden Williams.

Everybody returns from the nation’s leading rushing offense in 2023. Talk about depth. Add to these four Uber talented and one of the fastest players on the team, Victor Venn. Sheesh. We’ve heard good things about Williams too, someone who could even push for playing time as a true freshman.

Wide Receiver (X): Donte Lee OR Elijah Canion
Backup: Markel Fortenberry

Wide Receiver (Z): Treon Sibley
Backup: Kylen Austin OR Tyson Mobley

Wide Receiver (H): Reese Smith OR Julian Gray
Backup: Darius Copeland

The wide receiver position is one that was targeted aggressively in the spring transfer portal period. The Flames have brought in a couple of pieces that should factor into the mix in Purdue transfer Elijah Canion and NC State transfer Julian Gray. Gray would add to a very deep slot position and has the potential to have a similar impact to that of Aaron Bedgood from last year. Add former West Virginia transfer Reese Smith, who is back from an injury, redshirt-freshman Darius Copeland, and even a couple other players that could slide over into the slot, and that spot looks to be in great shape.

The biggest question marks are on the outside. Can Canion have a big impact this fall? Is Donte Lee ready or does he need a year to continue to develop? What about Markel Fortenberry? Could Treon Sibley or Tyson Mobley get the job done despite not being a prototypical go to receiver. Another name to keep an eye on is former Nebraska transfer Victor Jones who missed last season after suffering an injury in the summer.

There are plenty of options here and we will certainly keep a close eye on this position during camp.

Left Tackle: Jack Tucker OR Jordan Hall
Backup: Hunter Porterfield

Left Guard: John Paul Flores
Backup: DJ Geth

Center: Jordan White
Backup: Aaron Fenimore

Right Guard: Harrison Hayes
Backup: Cal Grubbs

Right Tackle: Xavior Gray
Backup: Austin Anderson

Like receiver, offensive line was another position of emphasis during the spring, especially once Chase Mitchell entered the portal. Liberty has brought in Monmouth transfer Jordan Hall and UNC transfer DJ Geth this spring. Hall will factor into a the starting lineup mix at left tackle, fighting with Jack Tucker for the spot. Regardless, both will likely see some snaps this fall.

Jordan White (center), Harrison Hayes (right guard), and Xavior Gray (right tackle) are all pretty much locked into their spots. That leaves one guard spot left to figure out this summer. Can Geth solidify that spot? He was highly recruited out of high school but just has one year that he redshirted under his belt at North Carolina. Louisville transfer JP Flores is probably the favorite right now to earn that starting spot. Don’t forget that Aaron Fenimore could certainly move into the starting lineup to either rest White or let him slide over to one of the guard spots.

Tight End: Bentley Hanshaw OR Austin Henderson
Back up: Jacob Jenkins OR Bo Burklow

The Flames welcome Coastal Carolina transfer Jacob Jenkins who had his waiver denied and had to sit out the 2023 season after his second transfer. The depth is very evident here with him as well as the returners Hanshaw and Henderson.

Defensive End: TJ Bush
Backup: Grey Carroll OR Larry Jones, III

Defensive Tackle: Jay Hardy
Backup: Chris Boti

Nose Guard: Bryce Dixon
Backup: Eli Hall OR Mike Jarvis

Joker: CJ Bazile
Backup: Bryson Jennings OR Brenton Williams

The two outside positions are pretty stable from the 2023 season. The interior of the line is much more a work in progress. Chris Boti, Bryce Dixon, and Jay Hardy all return and will help anchor that group. Wake Forest transfer Eli Hall could also factor in here, as could redshirt-freshman Eliyt Nairne. The Flames also brought in two transfers to the defensive line this spring in Brenton Williams and Mike Jarvis. Williams is a young talent from Auburn that could fight for playing time behind Bazile and also has very high upside. Mike Jarvis comes in from Wisconsin with two years of eligibility remaining and should fight for playing time on the interior of the line.

Mike: Teylor Jackson
Backup: Joseph Carter

Will: Jahmar Brown
Backup: Jerome Jolly, Jr.

This is a room that has been a huge focus of the recruiting staff throughout the Class of 2024, including through the portal. The addition of Jackson will provide tremendous depth and experience while Jolly and Carter return to provide some continuity. Aidan Vaughan is another name to watch out for here as he is a piece that can be used for development with his best years likely ahead of him, but he is also someone who can fight for playing time immediately. Vanderbilt transfer Ethan Crisp also joins this position after transferring in this spring. This group has the potential to have more depth than we have seen in a while at linebacker for the Flames.

Cornerback: Dexter Ricks, Jr. OR Dominick Hill
Backup: Joshua Wiggins OR Elijah Hopkins

Cornerback: Amarian Williams
Backup: Christian Bodnar OR Charles Yates

The Flames lost some strong production at corner from the 2023 team and return Amarian Williams who leads this group. Dominick Hill is a Temple transfer that will factor in here, as well, while Liberty also looks for some of the other returners to step into more prominent roles. The Flames also brought in Charles Yates from Old Dominion/Arizona this spring, and he will likely be in the mix also.

Star: Quinton Reese
Backup: A’Khori Jones

Safety: Brylan Green
Backup: Marquise Bell

Safety: Eldric Griffin
Backup: Jayden Sweeney

There has been a decent amount of turnover at the safety position, one of the few units on the team that has seen significant change to this point. Quinton Reese returns for one more season and provides plenty of leadership and experience while Brylan Green is now an upperclassman and leader. A’Khori Jones has been a good depth piece his first two years on the team, and he has the potential to have a much larger impact and potentially even a starter. Eldric Griffin is a JUCO transfer who could be an immediate impact performer.

Kicker: Nick Brown OR Colin Karhu
Backup: Brayden Beck

Karhu is a PWO transfer from North Greenville that will at least add some additional competition. He made 14 of 18 field goals with a long of 54 and was a perfect 25 of 25 on PATs last season. Will he be able to push Nick Brown for the team’s starting kicker spot? Through the spring, it looked like this was a pretty even competition. We will see how the develops through the summer and into training camp.

Punter: Max Morgan

Long Snapper: Ryan Wilkins

Holder: Max Morgan

Kick Returner: Donte Lee OR Julian Gray

Punt Returner: Brylan Green