We have concluded our position previews of Liberty’s defense, having already discussed the defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties, as well as a look at the special teams under special teams coordinator Tanner Burns. Be sure to go back and read those if you have not.
We also began our preview of the offensive position groups on Monday with a look at the running backs, and today we turn our attention to the offensive line.
Despite losing 4-year starter and right guard Dontae Duff, the Flames return an experienced offensive line led by three returning starters from left tackle to center. On the right side of the line, Liberty offensive line coach Sam Gregg will turn to a couple veterans who will look to step up following the loss of Duff and Sam Isaacson.
Frontrunners
LT 68 Tristan Schultz SR 6’4″ 305
Schultz has quickly become a senior and he anchors the line at left tackle as he returns from a 2019 season where he started there all 13 games. He has the potential, with a strong senior campaign, to get on the eyes of NFL scouts.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “I think the thing that’s helped him the most, he’s probably put on 10 pounds. He’s over 300 pounds now. He just moves different than most of our guys. He’s really athletic, can transition, pretty good pass protector, comes off the ball, good run blocker. I see him being one of our better guys and a leader moving forward..”
LG 59 Damian Bounds R-SR 6’1″ 290
Bounds was a reserve linemen his first couple seasons of action, seeing very limited playing time. He suffered, what appeared to be, a very serious injury at Auburn when the cart was brought out onto the field for him. He was able to fully recover and emerged as the team’s starting left guard for all 13 games last season.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “I thought he played really good (last year). I was real worried about him (coming off the injury) to start the year, but I thought he had zero issues. He did a great job moving people last fall, even when we played some of those bigger schools. He was a little undersized, but a lot of times you wouldn’t know it. He’s a good athlete. He can move well. He’s a guy that’s trying to be a good leader, do things the right way all the time. I’m really pleased. It’s great to have him.”
C 65 Thomas Sargeant R-SR 6’1″ 295
Sargeant takes over the mantle as Liberty’s most experienced offensive lineman with 36 starts in his career, all at center. The former walk-on seized control of the starting job as a freshman and never relinquished it, and now he looks to finish his career with a stellar senior campaign.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “I’m telling you, I love that kid. He comes to work every day. He’s not going to have everything that some of our other guys have, but I tell you what, I try to beat him out two years ago and it ain’t going to happen. He’s really had a good summer. His body has changed. He lost a lot of fat. He looks a lot different than he looked just in spring ball. He’s just solid. He can do everything we ask him to do. He runs the show, without a doubt, when I’m not around.”
RG 55 Brendan Schlittler R-SO 6’5″ 315
The first expected new starter on the line, Schlittler played in all 13 games as a reserve last season, and now he looks to take over as a starter, in Dontae Duff’s former spot.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “He’s a good player. We should have played Brendan more (last year) that was just stupid by me. That was probably just young coaching and being stupid. I think he’s a smasher. He’s a leader. He’s got to learn there’s some reps he’s going to have to take and he will mess up from time to time. The one thing we talked to him about, our main issue, is they are so hard on themselves. We try to coach them as hard as we can out there. We’re hard on them, but they’re harder on themselves. We’ve got to talk to them about, ‘Hey man, let’s move on. We messed up, let’s go to the next play. We can’t let it tank us for the rest of the day.’ He’s one of those guys where you gotta let it go because it really matters to him. Brendan, it matters to him, it’s always easy to coach guys like that.”
RT 77 Cooper McCaw R-JR 6’5″ 305
Another guy Coach Gregg said he wished he played more last year, McCaw is the front-runner to take over at right tackle. The coaching staff was very high on him last season, and he’s fighting to keep Ole Miss transfer Bryce Mathews off him.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “He is a good football player. He was a good football player last year, but now he has put on about 25 pounds. I expect super things from him. He came in and helped at a few spots last year, which I probably should have played him more, but I can see him just taking off. He’s got this weight and he can still move really well. I expect nothing but big things from him.”
Competition
RT 74 Bryce Mathews SR 6’6″ 305
The former 4-star recruit and Ole Miss transfer, Mathews is fighting McCaw for that starting right tackle spot. If he doesn’t beat him out, he will likely serve as the team’s 6th man on the line, filling in when someone comes out as he can play anywhere on the line.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “He’s definitely going to be in this tackle rotation we have. He’s a good football player. He moves pretty good. He’s super smart. I see him as a guy moving forward that’s going to challenge for a starting spot, and if that doesn’t happen I would say he can play every position on the front with no problem.”
RG 52 Jonathan Graham R-SO 6’5″ 340
The coaching staff has been raving about Graham for some time now. He played in all 13 games last season as a reserve and it’s expected his role will increase this season. If he’s unable to push into the starting lineup this year, look for him to take over for one of the three departing seniors next year. He spent most of last year as a tackle, but now he slides to the interior at guard.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “He’s just so big and can move. He’s a hitter. He moves people. He’ll still get a few tackle reps here and there just in case we have something happen. He’s done a really good job for us, picked up on everything really good, and he’s pushing those guys in front of him.”
C 79 John Kourtis R-SO 6’4″ 315
Kourtis emerged last offseason as Sargeant’s backup at center, and he continues to hold that spot moving forward.
OL 75 Maisen Knight R-SR 6’4″ 300
Knight signed with Freeze and company as a JUCO transfer a year ago, and he was late arriving on campus which limited his opportunities in 2019. Now, he’s hopeful to help the team with some depth this season.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “Maisen Knight’s going to be able to help us this year. When he got here, he had some shoulder issues we had to work through. When it happens and he’s coming in like that, maybe he missed out on some reps and was a little slower coming on than a few others, but he’s ready to go. He’s rolling with the 2s right now. I’m ready to see what he can do when he’s had a whole year. He’s ready and he wants it. It means a lot to him. I want it for him. I want it to go good for him. I think he’s one of the guys that we will see that will bring something to the table for us this year, for sure.”
OL 64 Jacob Bodden R-SO 6’5″ 315
Bodden is another name to watch for this season as the Flames’ look to develop depth up front. He’s seen very limited work on the field so far during his career, but that is something that could change this season.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “He is coming off some foot issues but moving really, really well. I want to see a lot from him. He’s a guy that’s been here. He’s a big ol’ boy. He’s a smart football player, and he’s just got to push forward.”
LT 67 Ryan Eshleman R-SO 6’6″ 300
Eshleman is a walk-on and former tight end who has transitioned to tackle. While we didn’t expect him to be included as someone who could see the field this season, Coach Gregg things otherwise.
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg – “Ryan Eshleman is a guy that we’ve moved from tight end out to tackle who, I’m telling you, done such a great job changing his body. He’s getting strong. He’s a strong kid, he’s a big kid, and he’s trying to get to where he can help us. I’m telling you, if we played a game right now, he would probably be one of those guys to help us.”
Depth
OL 50 Chase Mitchell FR 6’4″ 320
OL 56 Will Buchanan FR 6’6″ 315
OL 60 Gage Bassham FR 6’3″ 305
OL 78 Brian Hannibal FR 6’2″ 290
Offensive line coach Sam Gregg on these four true freshmen- “I think it’s a really good class. I’m really excited about them. We moved Gage kind of into a center role to snap the ball, which I think he fits really well there with his mentality, his football sense. Chase Mitchell is just a smasher, and Brian’s a great athlete. He’s really smart football-wise. I think once he gets his weight right, got a little time with Dom, and done some changing with his body, I could see really, really big things from him. Will Buchanan is a solid kid. He gets better every day. It’s hard to find a kid his size that can play tackle at our level. I’m really excited about what we got. He will come off the rock, he will strike you. That’s one thing all them boys will do, which is important to me and how we want to coach them. I think we’ve done a pretty good job with those four.”
