It will be a new look tight end room for Liberty football in 2022, as the Flames move forward without the services of several contributors including Johnny Huntley and Trevor Hobbs.

Head coach Hugh Freeze urged tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua to bring in tight ends that are longer than what the team has had in the recent past. The Flames did just that in bringing in two major college transfers as well as a high school recruit.

As the Flames prepare to kick off another spring camp on March 4, here is a look at the tight end position:

TIGHT END

Returners

Jerome Jackson (R-Sr), Michael Bollinger (R-Sr), Brayden Monday (R-So), Stetson Moore (R-Jr)

The Buzz: There may be several new faces in the tight end room this year, but that doesn’t mean the returning cupboard is completely bare. The Flames return Jerome Jackson, who has been one of the primary tight ends used under Freeze over the past few seasons. Jackson does most of his work as a blocking tight end, but he has also proven to be an asset in the receiving game.

Bollinger has carved out a nice role at tight end since moving over from fullback when Coach Freeze took over. Monday was a highly rated recruit out of high school that began his Liberty career at defensive end before moving to tight end. He has spent the past couple of years adjusting to his new position behind the veterans in front of him. Moore flirted with the transfer portal after seeing limited playing time during his first season with the Flames in 2021 before opting to return.

Newcomers

Bentley Hanshaw (R-So), Austin Henderson (R-Fr), Teigan Martin (Fr)

Hanshaw is a 6’5″ older tight end that still has three seasons of eligibility remaining. The BYU transfer played in one game during his BYU career. His father, Tim Hanshaw, played on the offensive line for the Cougars in the 1990s before playing in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers.

Henderson comes to Liberty by way of Minnesota where he played in one game over the past two seasons with the Golden Golphers. Martin is a high school product from Minnesota. At 6’7″ he provides the type of length Freeze has been looking for at the position.

Gone

Johnny Huntley (13 catches for 148 yards, 2 TDs)

Trevor Hobbs (4 catches for 87 yards)

Trey Hatcher (no stats recorded

BJ Wheat (no stats recorded)