Our early-season preview of Liberty football continues into week six, when the Flames will play host to the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.
2019 was a season of heartbreaks for ULM. ULM lost nail biters to Florida State, Arkansas State, and Louisiana: a team that trounced Liberty in week two. The Warhawks finished 2019 with a record of 5-7.
Gone is star quarterback Caleb Evans, who accounted for roughly 11,000 total yards of offense in three seasons as a starter. Before spring practice was cut short by the coronavirus, a three-way QB competition was underway. While it’s still unclear who will start for ULM against the Flames, sophomore Colby Suits took the first-team snaps through spring.
ULM was also in the midst of attempting to find four new starters on the offensive line. Junior guard T.J. Fiailoa returns in 2020 after losing most of last season with an injury, as does senior tackle Sam Williams: who started eight games in 2019.
All-conference tight end Josh Peterson will return for his senior season, as will 1,000-yard back Josh Johnson. Johnson, who had 201 carries for 1,315 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019, was the only running back with more than 200 yards rushing in 2019. Expect Peterson to receive plenty of carries against the Flames.
Peterson led the team with nine receiving touchdowns last season. Returning wideouts Brandius Bastite, Jonathan Hodoh, Perry Carter Jr., and Malik Jackson all logged significant playing time in 2019, and collectively provide ULM’s new QB plenty of options to work with. Overall, the 2020 Warhawk offense figures to be pretty good.
On defense, ULM can only improve from a dismal 2019 that saw the unit allow nearly 40 points per contest. Most of the Warhawk secondary will return, highlighted by 2nd-team All-American corner Corey Straughter. The linebacker and defensive line corps will feature plenty of new faces, but then again: the unit can’t be much worse than it was last season.
I think Liberty wins this game by 2-3 touchdowns. ULM’s defense won’t be able to stop the Flames offense, which will carry Liberty to at least a two-touchdown win.
Projected Liberty Record: 4-2
