We continue our position previews with a look at Liberty’s linebackers.
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Tight Ends
Quarterbacks
Wide Receivers
Running Backs
Special Teams
Liberty lost Ahmad Walker and Mike Smith to the transfer portal after the 2022 season, but the position is probably deeper than it was in 2022. Walker and Smith combined for 148 tackles last season, so that is a lot of production to overcome, but with the return of Tyren Dupree and Jerome Jolly, as well as the addition of Chike Nwankwo and Nick Days, the Flames should be good enough at the position.
“I think Tyren and Jolly have done a nice job for us,” said Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell. “I like the group that we have. We have to get more consistency from most of that group when they are in there. The guys that have made it haven’t played as much but they need to take that next step.”
Frontrunners
LB 35 Tyren Dupree SR 6’2″ 215
Dupree has quietly been a very solid player for the Flames over the years at linebacker. He’s not flashy but he’s reliable and a veteran. Dupree has played in 51 games including all 13 a season ago when he finished with 47 tackles. Now, he’s the face of the position as the team leader and could end up being one of the team’s top tacklers this season.
Head Coach Jamey Chadwell – “Tyren is our key over there. He’s had a fantastic attitude. He leads the defense. He doesn’t ever lose his cool. He stays as cool as a cucumber no matter the situation. He’s been tremendous for us.”
LB 0 Jerome Jolly, Jr. SO 5’11” 215
Jolly has been one of the team’s top special teams players during his career, and now he has emerged as one of the team’s top linebackers. He has the speed to affect the game all over the field and can begin to step into a leadership role this season.
Competition
LB 10 Aakil Washington SR 6’2″ 235
Washington showed great promise early in his career as a pass rushing defensive end. He then switched to linebacker prior to last season. After taking some time to adjust to the position, he became a solid contributor for the Flames. He should take another step this year with another season at the position under his belt.
LB 18 Chike Nwankwo R-JR 6’0″ 235
Nwankwo was one of Liberty’s top additions through the portal during the offseason. Coming in from Abilene Christian, he has the potential to emerge as a starter here and could also become one of the team leaders in tackles.
LB 46 Nick Days SR 6’2″ 235
Days has bounced around some during his collegiate career. He began at Independence Community College in Kansas for the 2019 season before playing 21 games at Western Kentucky in 2020 and 2021. Last year, Days played in one game at Toledo. Now, he comes to Liberty to finish his career and will be a part of the rotation at linebacker.
LB 25 Joseph Carter SO 6’0″ 235
The former walk-on, Carter was awarded with a scholarship during camp, and he has a chance to break into the rotation at linebacker this fall.
Head Coach Jamey Chadwell – “Joe Carter has had a tremendous fall camp. He earned the scholarship, not yesterday, but that’s when he was presented with it. He’s earned it since the time that we’ve got here. Joe’s a guy, can we find somebody better, find somebody better, he just keeps showing up and doing his job. If you look up a Flame in the dictionary it’s his picture. Then I would look up Rick James, they look just a like. We call him the super freak because of that.”
