Liberty has a new position coach at corner in Darius Eubanks who takes over Rickey Hunley who left with Scott Symons for SMU as we continue our look at the Liberty position groups during camp. Be sure to check out our previous previews:
Linebackers
Safeties
Defensive Line
Eubanks inherits a room with some talented and veteran pieces including Chris Megginson and Daijahn Anthony. Behind them, the Flames have several young and new pieces that are fighting for playing time during camp.
Frontrunners
CB 4 Chris Megginson JR 6’0″ 190
Megginson is the leading returner in the group for the Flames at corner. He was a valuable player early in his career at Liberty, but last year he took that to the next step as he became an every day starter. Megginson made 10 starts at corner last year and finished with 21 tackles, one tackle for loss, and six pass breakups.
CB Coach Darius Eubanks – “He played a lot of snaps last year, and he’s played a lot of snaps in his career at Liberty. As an older guy, I expect him to take the leadership role. Not just him but other guys that have played a lot of snaps as well. Being a leader, he doesn’t have to go out there and be the loudest one. I just like to see him continue to take that leadership, be the next step at practice, coach the young guys up.”
CB 8 Daijahn Anthony R-JR 6’0″ 205
The growth in Anthony’s game during his time at Liberty has been immense. From coming in as a walk-on to pushing his way into the starting lineup by the end of last season, he is now ready to take the next step and become one of the best players on the defense. In his first season at Liberty, Anthony played in 12 games, making three starts, while he finished with 15 tackles, one interception, one tackle for loss, and two pass breakups last season.
CB Coach Darius Eubanks – “He shows up every day anxious to compete. He’s taking coaching as well. I asked the guys while we’re stretching, ‘What’s something you’re working on today.’ Something he said was attitude. It’s good that he wants to take that focus, having a great attitude on the field, don’t let the outside noise get to you, focus and just play football, have fun.”
Competition
CB 20 Kobe Singleton R-SO 6’0″ 180
Singleton has transferred in from Southern Utah. He joined the Flames for the spring but was limited with an injury. He is now healthy and is pushing his way into the rotation at corner. Last year as a freshman, Singleton recorded 22 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 6 pass break ups. He also took one of those interceptions and returned it for a touchdown, doing so in his first collegiate game. He was also named third-team all-Big Sky Conference this season and to the HERO Sports FCS All-American All-Freshman team following his first year at the college level.
CB Coach Darius Eubanks – “(Kobe Singleton and Preston Hodge) mesh quite well. You would have thought they had been here to be honest. Great personality, everyone meshed well with them. Very coachable. That’s what I ask of all my guys, to be coachable. We want you guys to take that next step. We have a pretty good unit. I think we can be pretty good in that unit, no complacency in there. Preston Hodge and Kobe have come in and pushed the room.”
CB 26 Amarian Williams SO 5’10” 170
Williams got some playing time as a true freshman last season, playing in four games while recording three tackles and 0.5 tackle for loss. He is hoping to take that next step this year and become a part of the weekly rotation.
CB Coach Darius Eubanks – “Mo has done a great job, taking strides. You talk about a competitor, he’s one of those guys. He takes coaching very well. I just want him to continue to build. We’ve got a long camp ahead. I tell the guys, take it one day at a time. Mo has made strides from last year to this year. He wants to be better. He wants to be great. It’s my job to push him.”
CB 28 Preston Hodge R-FR 6’0″ 185
Hodge spent one season at Navarro College before transferring to Liberty. He played in 10 games this past year there, recording 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, and three pass break ups. He had reported offers from North Texas, Texas State, Central Michigan, and others and took official visits to Colorado State, UTEP, and North Texas.
CB Coach Darius Eubanks – “(Kobe Singleton and Preston Hodge) mesh quite well. You would have thought they had been here to be honest. Great personality, everyone meshed well with them. Very coachable. That’s what I ask of all my guys, to be coachable. We want you guys to take that next step. We have a pretty good unit. I think we can be pretty good in that unit, no complacency in there. Preston Hodge and Kobe have come in and pushed the room.”
CB 18 Dexter Ricks, Jr. FR 6’0″ 175
Ricks is a true freshman who participated in spring practice for the Flames. He has turned heads at times during his play since joining Liberty.
CB Coach Darius Eubanks – “Dexter was here in the spring. He grew so much with practicing with us in the spring to the spring game. He has a bit of a head start from coming in in the spring. He wants to compete. He picked up where he left off from.”
Depth
CB 14 Deon Biggins R-SO 6’1″ 170
CB Coach Darius Eubanks – “He wants to get it. Very athletic, a very athletic player, probably the fastest player in the room to be honest. It’s one day at a time. He’s showed up every day, not complaining. He wants to get those reps, come in and watch tape, and have seen some good things on there.”
CB 25 Antwon Jackson FR 5’10” 155
CB Coach Darius Eubanks – “Antwon started trying to learn the defense first, get used to everything, how we practice. He’s going to come through. He’s going to be a good player for us.”
