We began our position previews on Monday by taking a look at the defensive line. Today, we move on to the linebackers, probably the biggest question mark on the team.
The Flames lost both starters from last season’s squad in Solomon Ajayi and Brandon Tillmon, and have seen further attrition with the losses of Remington Green, Aubrey Williams, and the serious injury to Amarii Jenkins (more on him below).
Defensive coordinator Scott Symons takes over the linebacker room after coaching the safeties a season ago, and he has high hopes for his group. This room is likely at least one more recruiting class away from getting to the numbers the coaching staff would like it to have, and even then it will still be very young. For 2020, we could see a safety or two slide down to provide depth, true freshman Jerome Jolly is one that has been mentioned early.
“It’s definitely a room that’s a work in progress and we’ve got to add some depth soon when we get back to recruiting,” head coach Hugh Freeze said. “You’ve got some other options like Jolly has gotten bigger and stronger, he’s a good physical player. We will look at all options to add depth to it.”
Frontrunners
LB 6 Anthony Butler SR 6’1″ 225
Butler is a grad transfer from Charlotte who came into the program for the spring semester. He’s played the most college football of anyone at the position and the Flames will be counting on him this fall.
LB Coach Scott Symons – “He’s probably got the highest IQ, just from game experience and those things. I’ve got really high expectations. I think he’s got a chance, he’s just got to continue to push himself and grow and push himself mentally. When he stops thinking and just plays, he’s got some very natural football instincts and a high IQ.”
LB 35 Tyren Dupree R-SO 6’2″ 205
Dupree will likely see his role increase the most out of all the linebackers. He played in 12 of 13 games last season, primarily on special teams, but did start the final two games of the year and finished with 29 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a QB hurry. This season, Dupree will be counted on to play a significant number of snaps on the field at linebacker.
LB Coach Scott Symons – “Consistency and physicality. He has great arm length. His arm length is NFL caliber for a linebacker. He’s got really good build and frame and levers. He could be a dynamic player for us. I want that light bulb to come on where it’s consistent, and that’s going to come with maturity. He’s a guy, that I think, can be as good as he wants to. A guy that I want to continue see grow and develop.”
Competition
LB 5 Malik Caper R-FR 6’1″ 215
Caper committed to Liberty under previous head coach Turner Gill’s staff, but he did stay true and signed with the Flames after the coaching change. The coaching staff has spoke very highly of Caper dating back to last season. He comes from a small Christian school in Texas and is still very raw, but he could be a very electric player for the Flames. Liberty just needs him ready now.
LB Coach Scott Symons – “Caper is a guy that I have been really impressed with (early in camp). He was a running back (in high school). He was very raw fundamentally. He really had never played inside linebacker when he got here, but extremely talented. I think the game is really starting to finally slow down. He’s really bought into the coaching, very coachable young man, highly, highly intelligent. I just think the football intelligence is now starting to click with the natural intelligence. The football IQ is growing. I think the sky is the limit for him. He’s got a ways to go and he knows that, but the way he works, I think he’s gotten a lot better. He’s probably the most improved guy, I would say, from the spring to right now in that room.”
LB 32 Aaron Pierre R-JR 6’0″ 215
Pierre began his Liberty career as a safety before moving to linebacker. He played in all 12 games in 2018 as a redshirt-freshman, but he was unable to crack the lineup last season. Both Symons and Freeze have spoken very highly of him during camp, and he will be a part of the Flames’ rotation at linebacker this season.
LB Coach Scott Symons – “I think first and foremost his growth off the field, without a doubt. When you talk about a young man coming into his own, I think he’s really growing up as a young man. I think that maturity, that approach to life, has changed his attitude and approach and that has affected him on the football field. I’ve seen a different level of urgency, a different level of joy and happiness in his life. I think it’s been a direct correlation to how he’s continuing to develop on the field. He is super athletic and talented. He can be a big time player, I’m fairly convinced. He has a long way to go and he knows that, but I believe in him and I think he can be a great player for us.”
LB 57 Carl Poole R-FR 5’11” 220
Poole was just bit on scholarship this past week in a touching video. He’s another young guy that both Symons and Freeze have talked very highly about during camp.
LB Coach Scott Symons – “I love him. He’s got a great smile. He’s got a great heart, he’s a great young man, he really is. I don’t know his parents very well, but just seeing how he and his brother carry himself, I think that’s a direct relation of his family and his upbringing and he takes that approach to our meeting room every day. He’s a great kid. He’s eager to please. He’s worked very, very hard to start to learn our defense and develop, and I think he can help us this season, for sure. He’s going to have to.”
LB 43 DJ Humes FR 6’1″ 215
Humes comes in as a recruited walk-on that has turned some heads early in camp. Coach Freeze highlighted him as a guy who has “shown some signs” during camp and could possibly add some depth.
Depth
LB 25 Gabe Fuster FR 6’1″ 220
LB 9 Amarii Jenkins R-JR 6’0″ 210
Jenkins was expected to be one of the main challengers to take over as a weekly starter at linebacker this season until he went down to a leg injury early in camp. He is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2020 season.
