Classes are out for the summer and the Liberty Flames football team has completely shifted its focus to the start of the 2022 season. The Flames are scheduled to open the season on September 3 at Southern Miss before their home opener on Sept. 10 against UAB. It is the most anticipated home schedule in program history, with the Flames also welcoming BYU and Virginia Tech to Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Here’s a look at our projected depth chart as we enter the summer with several changes due to incoming and outgoing transfers since the end of spring:
Quarterback: Charlie Brewer (RSr.) OR
Kaidon Salter (RFr.) OR
Johnathan Bennett (RSo.)
The quarterback battle is still wide open and won’t be officially decided until the week of Liberty’s first game. Coach Freeze has said that he has a gut feeling as to how it will play out, but he is not ready to make that information public. Brewer has the experience factor, having played four years at Baylor. Salter is young, uber-talented, and has similar skills to that of Malik Willis. Bennett has been in the system longer than anyone else and has the leadership skills needed at this position.
Running Back: TJ Green (RSr.)
Backup: Dae Dae Hunter (Jr.) OR
Shedro Louis (Jr.)
It might not matter who is listed at the top of the depth chart here as all three of these running backs will have plenty of opportunities in the fall. We know what Green and Louis provide and Hunter shined during the spring game. The Flames will need increased production out of the backs as Malik Willis has moved on.
Wide Receiver (X): CJ Yarbrough (RSo.)
Backup: Treon Sibley (RSo.)
Wide Receiver (Z): Caleb Snead (RSr.)
Backup: Noah Frith (RJr.)
Wide Receiver (H): Demario Douglas (RSo.)
Backup: Jaivian Lofton (RJr.)
There were so many injuries during the spring at receiver, that it is hard to get a really good read on the group. Yarbrough and Douglas are known commodities and should help lead the room. Snead has the pedigree from his time at Campbell and should be able to contribute immediately. Frith and Lofton have each had their opportunities the last couple of years but have been slowed by injuries. CJ Daniels will hopefully return early in the fall as he recovers from a torn ACL, and he would certainly factor in here as well.
Left Tackle: Naasir Watkins (RSr.)
Backup: Jonathan Graham (RJr.)
Left Guard: Jacob Bodden (RJr.)
Backup: Chase Mitchell (RSo.)
Center: Cam Reddy (RJr.)
Backup: John Kourtis (RJr.)
Right Guard: Brendan Schlittler (RJr.)
Backup: X’Zauvea Gadlin (RJr.)
Right Tackle: Cooper McCaw (RSr.)
Backup: Reggie Young (Jr.)
The offensive line will have a new look and feel to it this year with a new position coach and at least three new full-time starters. Reddy has solidified himself at center and Watkins and Young will factor into the rotation at tackle with McCaw and Graham. Bodden and Schlittler are pretty solid in their starting spots. With Andrew Adair opting to enter the transfer portal, the backup center spot comes open. We could see Kourtis moved there with Tulsa transfer Gadlin filling in at guard.
Tight End: Jerome Jackson (RSr.)
Back up: Austin Henderson (RFr.)
Jackson missed the spring due to scheduled offseason surgery, but he has plenty of experience with the Flames. The coaching staff is very high on Minnesota transfer Austin Henderson, and Michael Bollinger will also see plenty of playing time. The Flames also have a couple youngsters that could factor in here as well in BYU transfer Bentley Hanshaw and Brayden Monday.
Defensive End: Durrell Johnson (Sr.)
Backup: Stephen Sings V (So.)
Defensive Tackle: Kendy Charles (So.)
Backup: Dennis Osagiede (RSr.)
Nose Guard: Dre Butler (Sr.)
Backup: Chris Boti (So.)
Defensive End: TreShaun Clark (Jr.)
Backup: Khristian Zachary (So.)
Defensive line is the deepest and most talented position unit on the team. Johnson and Clark return as starters on the outside while Sings and Zachary are talented sophomores behind them. The Flames have to replace Ralfs Rusins and Elijah James on the interior of the line, and with Henry Chibueze opting to transfer, it dampers the depth on the interior of the line. Kendy Charles, Dre Butler, and Chris Boti were able to solidify their spots in the spring, and the addition of Osagiede from Stephen F Austin could help soften the losses. There are others as well, including true freshman Bryce Dixon that could see playing time at defensive tackle this fall.
Mike: Mike Smith, Jr (Jr.)
Backup: Ahmad Walker (So.)
Will: Aakil Washington (RSo.)
Backup: Tyren Dupree (RJr.)
With Washington moving to linebacker and the addition of JUCO transfer Mike Smith, Jr., the Flames have more depth than they have had at linebacker since Coach Freeze arrived in Lynchburg. Dupree and Walker have valuable playing experience while Jerome Jolly and Carl Poole could also factor into the rotation.
Cornerback: Chris Megginson (Jr.)
Backup: Amarian Williams (RFr.)
Cornerback: Daijahn Anthony (RJr.)
Backup: Kobe Singleton (So.)
Megginson and Anthony are proven commodities at corner while the depth is a bit of a question mark at this point. Williams got some playing time as a true freshman last year, and Southern Utah transfer Kobe Singleton was limited throughout much of the spring with an injury. True freshman Dexter Ricks, Jr. could also factor in here.
Rover: Quinton Reese (So.)
Backup: Juawan Treadwell (Sr.)
Safety: Rocket Rahimi (RSo.)
Backup: Maurice Freeman (RFr.)
Free Safety: Javon Scruggs (Sr.)
Backup: Jaylon Jimmerson (Jr.)
Reese and Treadwell are close to interchangeable at this point. Treadwell has the experience factor while Reese is a youngster that is pushing towards being one of the top players in the secondary. Scruggs is the leader of the team and Jimmerson got some playing time last year after Reese went down to injury. Rahimi played behind Scruggs last year, but he has pushed himself into a likely starter this fall. Freeman, an Indiana transfer, could make an immediate impact as a redshirt-freshman.
Kicker: Brayden Beck (So.)
Backup: Teagen Lenderink (RFr.)
Punter: Aidan Alves (RSr.)
Backup: Max Morgan (So)
Long Snapper: Austin Mock (RSr.)
Holder: Aidan Alves (RSr.)
Kick Returner: Shedro Louis (Jr.)
Punt Returner: Demario Douglas (So.)
Liberty returns all of it’s primary specialists from last year, but the Flames will be looking for more consistency in all phases of special teams this fall. UNC transfer Lenderink could push Beck for the starting job at kicker.
