Previously, we have looked at Liberty’s defensive line, linebackers, and cornerbacks as the Flames continue to move toward a scheduled season opening of Sept. 26 at Western Kentucky.
Now, we look at the safeties.
The Flames have lost several key pieces at safety from the 2019 Cure Bowl Championship team, including Elijah Benton who started 27 games at safety in his Liberty career, Ceneca Espinoza who played in 34 games and started 10, Tayvion Land, and Rion Davis.
This season, Liberty returns a couple of key pieces while also adding several transfers to spearhead the safety unit under new safeties coach Corey Batoon.
Frontrunners
SS 1 Javon Scruggs JR 5’11” 175
The local Appomattox star, Scruggs now becomes the team leader at safety and on defense. As a junior, he’s played a lot of snaps and been involved in key situations over his career already. He’s fought through some bumps and bruises this summer and missed the early part of camp, but Scruggs has been back on the field going through practice recently.
Safeties Coach Corey Batoon – “He’s kind of the alpha in the room. He’s still a young kid, you would think he would be a 4th or 5th year senior, but he has that mentality that you want others to emulate. He does a great job of leading by example, but he’s also not afraid to be a kid that’s verbal also. I’ve been really happy with his leadership thus far on the field. He’s a kid I noticed last year when we were watching Liberty on tape preparing for New Mexico and BYU, we played both those teams. He was a guy that stuck. He was different than some of the other guys. The expectations are pretty high for him moving forward.”
FS 17 Benjamin Alexander R-SR 6’1″ 185
After being a special teams member and reserve at safety, Alexander is ready to step into a starting role for his senior season. Defensive Coordinator Scott Symons, who coached the safeties last season, said he should have played Alexander more in 2019. He’s continued to improve and the former walk-on looks to have a breakout season and hopefully get NFL looks like Elijah Benton.
Safeties Coach Corey Batoon – “He’s such a vocal guy. he has a very good understanding of the system. He has had a really good off-season. He moves well. He’s a longer guy. He plays with good physicality. In that bowl game, I think he did a nice job of showing up in the run game and made some plays in the pass game. I’m excited to see his continued development.”
ROVER 0 Tim Kidd-Glass R-SR 6’1″ 210
Kidd-Glass transferred into Liberty from NC State last fall just prior to the start of the season. After sitting out the 2019 season, he has emerged as one of the better players at safety. He’s currently slotted to be the team’s starter at ROVER, and he has plenty of playing experience from his time with the Wolfpack where he played in 33 games and started 9. During his career, he has 68 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles.
Safeties Coach Corey Batoon – “He’s been good in the off-season. He did a pretty good job of learning the system. He was here last fall on the scout team, not being eligible. He’s got a good understanding, as a 5th-year player, this is his last shot. I think he’s done a really nice job of seizing the opportunity.”
Competition
SS 3 Juawan Treadwell JR 6’0″ 185
Treadwell is a JUCO transfer who is the younger brother of NFL wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. He’s a guy that the coaching staff has raved about during camp after joining the team for the spring. He’s currently pushing Scruggs for playing time at strong safety and could provide depth at the other spots in the room.
Safeties Coach Corey Batoon – “Treadwell has a background that is more of a cover guy. He’s assimilated into our system very well at the strong safety position. He’s a multi-positional guy where he’s played strong. We played him in the free safety position in the spring.”
FS 27 Marcus Haskins JR 6’1″ 180
Like Treadwell, Haskins is also a JUCO transfer joining the program this season. He’s been named an All-American at each of his previous stops, both at the Division II level and in the JUCO ranks. He’s spent most of his time as a corner, but he was quickly moved to the safety room when he arrived at Liberty. He’s currently pushing Alexander for starting time at free safety.
Safeties Coach Corey Batoon – “Marcus, his background has played corner, so anytime you’ve been out there on the island and now you’re coming in closer to the ball, from a skill standpoint, change of direction he’s excellent. I have high expectations for what he can do for us. Plays the ball very well, I think he’s got an uncanny ability to get the ball, locate the ball, track the ball. I think that’s one of the better things that he does, and athletically has that corner background where he moves like a guy that can play out on the perimeter.”
ROVER 21 Micah Glaize SO 6’1″ 190
As a true freshman, Glaize was able to make an impact immediately for the Flames. The local Brookville High School product has settled in at ROVER after being shuffled among various positions last season. He’s fighting with Tim Kidd-Glass for that starting spot and will be a key depth piece for the Flames at safety this season.
S 20 Jerome Jolly, Jr. FR 6’0″ 200
Jolly joined the Flames for the spring semester and immediately jumped out to the coaching staff as a freshman who could make an immediate impact. With the transfers joining the roster for the fall, Batoon has been trying to find a spot where Jolly can make an impact the biggest this season. Coach Freeze has also mentioned the possibility of Jolly sliding down to linebacker this year to provide additional depth.
Safeties Coach Corey Batoon – “Jerome Jolly is a kid that has played in the spring. He was playing over to the field, he knows that position. Trying to teach him the boundary or the ROVER positions. Those positions are basically sisters, the rule structure of how we set it up is the same. If you know one position, you know the other. Trying to find a home for Jerome to where he feels like he can get out and play. I’ve been happy with what we’ve seen out of him.”
FS 13 Isaac Steele R-SR 6’0″ 180
Steele is a former JUCO transfer who enters his senior campaign with the Flames. He’s seen a lot of playing time on the field in his first two seasons with Liberty, but he had to fight through nagging injuries last season, limiting his time on the field.
Safeties Coach Corey Batoon – “Isaac is your typical 5th year senior. He’s played a lot of snaps, he has a very good understanding of all three positions. Isaac has played a lot of meaningful snaps. We’re giving him an opportunity to try and compete at the free safety position, which he deserves an opportunity to compete for that spot.”
