Our position previews now turn to the defense line under first-year DL Coach Jeremy Garrett. Be sure to check out any of the previous previews you have missed:
Linebackers
Safeties
The Flames have done a good job of developing depth across the defensive line over the past few seasons. With Durrell Johnson and TreShaun Clark leading the way on the outside, those positions are solidified, but questions remain on the inside after the losses of Ralfs Rusins, Elijah James, and Henry Chibueze. Liberty has attempted to address those questions with a couple of transfers to help build depth.
“Play fast, play physical, and play together, those are three things I tell them all the time,” said Coach Garrett. “Their tape is their resume. We see better than we hear. Don’t tell me, show me. So, when I turn on the tape, I want to see D-Linemen that are fast, physical, and play hard together.”
Frontrunners
BANDIT 11 Durrell Johnson SR 6’3″ 240
Johnson was injured during much of the 2021 season, and his production suffered compared to 2020. He ended up playing in nine games while recording 25 tackles and six tackles for a loss. He did not record a sack. He has NFL potential, and if he remains healthy this season he should be able to get back to where he was in 2020.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Those guys (Durrell Johnson, TreShaun Clark) have been exactly what I want them to be. Durrell is more vocal. TreShaun is more vocal. They are leading by example. Here is an exmample of those guys leadership – during the special teams block, those guys are watching film as a D-Line, the entire D-Line. We have guys like Kendy, Dennis, Durell, and TreShaun leading that meeting among the guys. I think that’s a really good sign of the leadership they are showing.”
DE 10 TreShaun Clark JR 6’1″ 250
Clark has quickly become one of the leaders on the team and now he is one of the veterans. He played in all 13 games last season, finishing with 44 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. Clark is a difference maker and has NFL potential.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Those guys (Durrell Johnson, TreShaun Clark) have been exactly what I want them to be. Durrell is more vocal. TreShaun is more vocal. They are leading by example. Here is an exmample of those guys leadership – during the special teams block, those guys are watching film as a D-Line, the entire D-Line. We have guys like Kendy, Dennis, Durell, and TreShaun leading that meeting among the guys. I think that’s a really good sign of the leadership they are showing.”
NG 90 Dennis Osagiede R-SR 5’11” 290
A Stephen F Austin transfer, Osagiede is pushing for a starting spot on the interior of the line. He spent the past two seasons at Stephen F. Austin. In 2020, he played in 10 games while recording 31 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 6 quarterback hurries. Last year, in 11 games played, Osagiede finished the year with 34 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries, and a fumble recovery.
He began his college career at UMass where he signed out of high school as a three-star rated prospect. As a true freshman in 2018 with the Minutemen, Osagiede played in 10 games and finished with 15 tackles on the season as a reserve defensive tackle. In 2019, before transferring to SFA, Osagiede played in 10 games at UMass while starting nine. He recorded 30 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Dennis has been a really good pick up for us.”
DT 91 Kendy Charles R-SO 6’0″ 275
When the Flames had injuries on the interior of the defensive line last year, Charles was able to fill in admirably. He finished the year with 21 tackles, 7 TFLs, and 5 sacks in 11 games played while making two starts. Now, he will be counted on to be more consistent and provide that level of production week in and week out.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Kendy is a competitor. He wants to do it. He takes the coaching. He wants to fix everything he needs to fix. He’s done a good job of taking the things that he needed to work on, working on them over the summer, and then bringing them into this fall camp. I think he’s had a great first three days, just being a technician, just doing his job. I think he’s embracing that.”
Competition
BANDIT 3 Stephen Sings V R-SO 6’3″ 255
Sings is playing behind Durrell Johnson right now, and is a very talented and now veteran second string guy. He played in 12 games last year, with one start, while recording 25 tackles, 3 TFLs, and one sack.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “He has been great. Steve is becoming more of a technician. I tell the guys, ‘Own the scheme, understand what’s being asked of me every single play and detail it. I think Steve is asking really good questions. I check those guys notebooks to see what type of notes they are taking. He’s taking detailed notes. He’s asking the right questions, and he’s been out there executing those things.”
DE 77 Khristian Zachary SO 6’2″ 270
The highest rated recruit in school history, Zachary has now been slotted in at defensive end behind TreShaun Clark. His potential flashed at times last year, and now he is in line for more consistent snaps this fall.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “I think even from the spring up until now, the kid has gotten better. My expectations for him, as well as all the other guys, we are going to push each other. In the game that we play, you’ve got to have 8-9 guys that can play. I want him to push for a starting spot, that’s what I tell them all – push each other to be a starter that way we all get better in the process. If everyone shows up knowing that they have to compete each and every day for a position, it makes the room better…He’s really improved his football IQ which is good for him.”
DT 5 Dre Butler SR 6’5″ 300
The former Auburn defensive lineman, Dre Butler is expected to compete for serious playing time this year. After spending the past two years at Auburn, he played in nine games with 14 tackles in 2020 before playing in just four games in 2021. He was rated as the No. 4 JUCO prospect in the country out of Independence Community College before signing with the Tigers. He is currently pushing Kendy Charles at the three-technique on the interior of the line.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Transfer Dre Butler is coming along with his technique and understands what we want from him.”
NG 94 Jay Hardy R-FR 6’3″ 320
Hardy transferred to Liberty prior to the 2021 season as he redshirted and was coming off an injury. Now, he will be looking to get onto the field and make an impact for the Flames and he is currently working behind Osagiede as the second string nose guard. Hardy is a former top 100 national prospect and four-star rated recruit out of high school, according to 247Sports. A leg injury slowed the start of his career in the SEC and limited him to only one game as a freshman, as he played in the Citrus Bowl, not recording any stats.
In addition to Auburn, he had offers from a number of schools out of high school including Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas A&M, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Jay Hardy has been coming along off the year off from the injury and all that. He is coming along well.”
DT/NG 92 Chris Boti SO 6’1″ 290
Boti was able to get onto the field for nine games last season, finishing with 17 tackles and a sack. Like several other inside guys, he has the opportunity to work himself into the weekly rotation. He is currently learning both interior line positions to help add depth for the Flames there.
DT/NG 99 Bryce Dixon FR 6’2″ 275
Dixon has turned heads since signing with the Flames last December. It would make sense that he redshirts this season, but he might be too good to keep off the field. He is currently learning both interior line positions to help add depth for the Flames there.
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Bryce, our freshman, he’s doing a really good job, asking the right questions, showing up, being detailed, taking great notes.”
Depth
BANDIT 98 CJ Bazile, Jr. FR 6’2″ 240
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “I tell you, he is a freshman that has picked up things fast. He only knows one speed – full speed. We have to slow him down. Sometimes he gets too close to the quarterback, Coach Freeze starts looking at me. I have to make sure he knows how to practice. I love his energy. I love his enthusiasm. He was a great signee for us.”
DE 17 Rashaud Pernell FR 6’4″ 250
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “I told him this yesterday, the biggest thing I’ve seen from him is just his confidence increase. It’s a freshman coming into a new environment. You were going to one school and then you’re coming to another. You show up in the summer and you are thrown into it. Sometimes you are not confident because you’re trying to find out where the dining room is, where the training room is. On the field and the workouts, we see him come in and grow and get better. He struggled early on. It’s starting to pick up. I see a more confident kid right now.”
DE 19 Miyon Conaway FR 6’2″ 220
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Miyon right now is dealing with a hamstring. He’s been in our meetings but he hasn’t practiced.”
DT 48 Rashad Whitehead R-SO 6’2″ 275
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “Rashad has made gains. The biggest thing for him is consistently keeping his weight because he’s playing inside. We’ve been working on him with that with the nutritionist.”
DE 97 Marquise Brunson R-FR 6’2″ 265
DL Coach Jeremy Garrett – “He transitioned from inside to outside. So, now he’s playing in the end position. Just the work in the summer that he’s done, he’s taking more notes, he’s asking more questions in the meeting rooms. He’s detailing that, that’s been good.”
