We start our position previews today and that can only mean one thing – football is just around the corner!
We begin with a look at the defensive line, a position we have talked about frequently through the early part of camp as there are several true freshmen who have been making instant impressions. This is a unit that has been a heavy focus in recruiting the past two seasons since Coach Hugh Freeze and his staff has taken over, and it is getting close to being the strength of the defense. By the end of the season, we may look back and say the defensive line was the strength of the defense.
“They’ve looked great,” defensive line coach Josh Aldridge said of his group. “I’m really pleased with how they handled the off-season. We had a bunch of guys, who were kind of role players last year, who really just needed one more off-season to change their body to become fixtures of our defensive line. I’m really excited about our depth. I think we’ve got an opportunity to be pretty good.”
Frontrunners
DE 11 Durrell Johnson JR 6’4″ 225
When Liberty finally hits the field for its first football game of the season, many will see #11 getting into the opposing backfield off the edge and causing havoc and think nothing has changed. Well, that will be Durrell Johnson wearing the #11 and not Jessie Lemonier. Johnson was brought in as a JUCO transfer and if he has an impact anywhere close to the level of Lemonier, the Flames have gotten a huge steal. Johnson has more length than Jessie, and he’s currently fighting to hold on to his first team reps with Jayod Sanders nipping at his heels. Coach Aldridge says he’s put on significant weight this summer and is up over 240 pounds now.
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – “A lot of pass rush ability is just things you’re born with. He can roll out of bed and go pass rush for us right now. The things we’re trying to teach him – there’s a lot more to football than just that. Him and Jayod (Sanders) are very similar players. Durrell has a little more length than Jayod, but they’re both similar style.”
DE 10 TreShaun Clark SO 6’1″ 230
Clark was a standout as a true freshman, having one of the better true freshman campaigns a defensive linemen has ever had at Liberty. Now, teams will begin focusing in on him in gameplans, and Clark will have to learn how to adjust. A lot will be expected out of him this season.
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – “The big thing for Tre that I’ve told him is he’s got to be the secret sauce. He’s got to be the guy that can play multiple positions because if Tre can play multiple positions, then these new guys can kind of form in line and we can move Tre accordingly to fit how these new guys are progressing. Obviously, they’re going to be keying in on him, or most people will be, but hopefully we’ve got enough D-Linemen out there that they can’t key on anybody.”
DT 55 Elijah James SR 6’5″ 295
James will slide up into the starting lineup, taking Vincent Elefante’s spot. Much will be expected out of James, as well, this season, his final go with the Flames. James had 19 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in 2019 but he will have a lot more opportunities this season.
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – ” You look at Elijah James, who came in a little underweight to start, it took him a whole year to get his weight back. He’s up to 300 now and I mean he’s the prettiest dude on the yard.”
NG 99 Ralfs Rusins R-SR 6’6″ 325
Rusins is Liberty’s top returning tackler from last season, finishing with 60 tackles while also adding 2 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He anchors the defensive line from the nose guard spot, after he exploded onto the scene last year in the season opener against Syracuse with 10 tackles.
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – “If you watch the tape, when he’s making these tackles, he plays with a really high motor for such a big guy. I think that’s what stands out for him at the next level, if he gets that opportunity, which I think he will. He can anticipate blocks, he’s extremely intelligent. He’s one of the smartest guys in the room and that was without playing a ton of football. Football is still a new game to him. As he’s progressed, I’ve been really pleased with not only how he leads the room, but how he anticipates and makes plays just from his intelligence and his motor.”
Competition
DE 44 Austin Lewis JR 6’6″ 260
Lewis had a standout true freshman season in 2018, but he had to fight through several injuries a year ago, limiting his reps and impact on the field. He suffered a dislocated kneecap just prior to the start of the season and then had a concussion at Rutgers. He’s pushing 270 pounds now.
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – “He was one that we missed a lot. I think him being healthy is going to help a lot. I really love his attitude. I think he will be much more powerful and will have a real big role for us.”
DE 15 Jayod Sanders SR 6’3″ 225
Sanders enters his senior season looking to make a big impact at defensive end. He’s expected to rotate with Johnson at one defensive end position.
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – “Jayod historically was a guy who struggled putting on weight and he’s up to 245 pounds now, which is great for a guy who was so quick already.”
DE 33 Stephen Sings V FR 6’4″ 225
DE 24 Aakil Washington FR 6’2″ 230
Coach Aldridge, Scott Symons, and Hugh Freeze have all spoken very highly of the true freshmen defensive linemen the Flames have brought in this season, and the first two names that come out of their mouths are Sings and Washington. Both were highly recruited defensive ends, who are expected to have a role for the team this year.
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – “Aakil and Steve have a lot of pass rush ability. Those guys, kind of like I said about Durrell, they can roll out of bed and go rush the passer. Just snap the ball and they’re going to get back there. Their first step is impressive. I don’t want to crown them or anything just yet, they’ve got a lot of work to do, but from a running standpoint, Steve and Aakil are pretty freaking quick.”
NG 50 Henry Chibueze R-SO 6’3″ 355
Chibueze was one of Liberty’s highest rated recruits in the first recruiting class after Liberty announced its move to the FBS. He came in on the offensive line and spent the first year and a half in the program there, before being moved to the defensive line mid-season last year. He’s worked his way into the 2nd-string behind Rusins, and he could be counted on to start beginning next year.
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – “He’s going to play with Ralf, him and Ralf are playing that nose guard position. Ralf has done a good job teaching him some things. I’ve been pleased with him. We’ve just got to play himself into shape a little bit. It’s a little bit more of a turn and run game when you play D-Line versus O-Line, that’s what he’s getting used to. It’s more of the conditioning part of playing defense, but he’s naturally strong. He might be one of the strongest guys on the team, and he’s really explosive to be as heavy as he is.”
DT 97 Elisha Mitchell SR 6’3″ 315
After starting the final 5 games of his true freshman season, Mitchell has had to fight through injuries for much of his career. He will be counted on to add depth behind Elijah James and the interior of the line.
NG 93 William Green R-JR 6’5″ 315
Coming in from Georgia Military College, the coaching staff was very high on Green last year. Having played just 3 years of football now, Green is very raw and, at his size, could be molded into a big force for the Flames up front.
Depth
DT 91 Kendy Charles FR 6’1″ 245
DL Coach Josh Aldridge – “Kendy was kind of a steal for us. He wasn’t highly recruited just because he weighed about 245 as a junior, but the reason he weighed 245 because he was a state power lifter and he was trying to stay underweight. You see the kid, you know he can gain a lot of weight. He has big hips. He transitioned to a heavyweight going into his senior year, so he continued to gain his weight. So, we got kind of a steal out of him. He’s about 290 now, in a good way. He’s playing 3-technique with Elijah James, Elisha Mitchell, Mason Wolk. Even at 18 years old, he’s already on eof the strongest guys on the team. He’s kind of like Ralf, football is still really raw to him. He’s scratching the surface, just a phenomenal kid. Very independent with how he works. You don’t have to motivate him.”
DT 42 Micaiah Overton R-FR 6’4″ 275
DE 90 Karsen Perkins FR 6’4″ 260
DE 48 Rashad Whitehead FR 6’2″ 245
DT 92 Mason Wolk R-JR 6’2″ 265
*photo courtesy Liberty Athletics
