We have concluded our position previews of Liberty’s defense, having already discussed the defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties earlier this week. Be sure to go back and read those if you have not.

Before we move to the offense, which we will do beginning Monday, today we will preview Liberty’s special teams.

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns has the luxury of returning his punter, long snapper, and top return men, but there is a true battle for the kicking duties, as well as for the team’s holder.

“(Strength coach) Dom (Studzinski) and his staff have done a great job,” Burns said. “Our team looks differently, especially when we first got here. Obviously, bringing in a group of new guys who can run will really help us on special teams to build what we did last year.”

Frontrunners

K 90 Jason Stricker R-FR 6’2″ 180
K 95 Alex Barbir SR 5’10” 210

Stricker was recruited by the previous coaching staff to take over for Alex Probert when he graduated. During the 2018 season, just a few months after Stricker committed to Liberty, Probert fought through injuries to play in 4 games and was able to redshirt, taking advantage of the new 4-game redshirt rule. This made it look like Stricker would have two seasons to adapt to the college game, until Probert elected to transfer to Iowa State this past spring.

One thing Hugh Freeze and his staff loves is competition. After Probert’s decision to transfer, the Flames’ coaching staff immediately went looking for some competition to add to push Stricker. Enter Alex Barbir, who was already on Liberty’s campus as a student after hanging up his cleats, momentarily, when transferring from Penn State.

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns – “Stricker has made probably the most improvement of anybody in our specialist room from last fall camp to where he’s at now. We’ve just got to work on the consistency. If there’s a ball 40 yards in, our goal is we’ve got to make that kick 100% of the time. We’ve got competition. They’re trading who’s going with the 1s, who’s going with the 2s everyday. Hopefully (soon) we kind of focus in on one guy and get that confidence going within the group.”

“We were fortunate enough to have a guy on campus who had played Power Five football, hadn’t kicked in a while, but to have a guy like that on campus…He’s shown that he could do it which will definitely help. He doesn’t look like a kicker, he’s more of a body builder who kicks. He takes pride in that. He works hard. He’s been a great addition to our room. He fits with our room. We’re excited to have him.”

P 46 Aidan Alves R-JR 6’1″ 200

Alves struggled in the punting game in 2018 but he became much more consistent in 2019. Burns is hopeful that trend continues.

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns – “He didn’t finish the year how we wanted him to finish. I know there’s no question to any NFL scout that comes and watches him punt, he has the talent. We just got to find and fine tune that to do it every time. That’s what it’s about being a specialist, but that’s what separates you from being a good one to a great one, or a bad one to a good one. He’s a great kid. He’s the leader of the room. There’s no doubt in my mind he can do what he did last year and continue to improve.”

LS 41 Austin Mock R-JR 6’2″ 230

Mock is quickly becoming the next in a line of great Liberty long snappers. Having his position solidified, is one less spot for Burns to have to worry about during camp.

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns – “Mock, he’s awesome. We’re very tight in the specialists room. Mock and Aidan, they live together. Having consistency in a snapper is something as a special teams coordinator is a great thing to have because I don’t really have to worry about it. Everyone always says the best snapper is one you don’t know, and Austin Mock has been that throughout his career. There’s no question, having a snapper that those guys can trust and they don’t have to worry about where the ball is going to be is huge. They can just focus on the kick or their punt, makes our job a lot easier.”

KR/PR 1 Shedro Louis SO 5’8″ 175

After an explosive true freshman season that included a kick returned for a touchdown, Louis returns as one of the most dynamic return men in the country. Entering his second season in the program, the Flames will be looking for more opportunities to get Louis’ hands on the ball, including giving him an opportunity in the punt return game in addition to his kick return duties.

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns – “Shedro is, if not the most dynamic, he’s certainly in that list of most dynamic guys returning to that position in the country. We talked about him this time last year and I was excited about him. I just needed to see him do it on film. He’s transition to running back which has allowed him to gain some more mass, I think he’s weighing maybe 5 more pounds than he did last year but he still has that burst which is good. We’re excited about having him back for sure, he makes me a better coach.“

PR 5 DJ Stubbs SR 5’9″ 185

During his career at Liberty, we’ve all come to know Stubbs has the explosiveness to take the ball the distance any time he touches the ball. He’s done it repeatedly at wide receiver and has also done it at punt return at times. He’s also struggled sometimes in securing the ball on punts and the Flames are looking at more competition at punt return as Louis and Demario Douglas could both see time here.

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns – “We’re excited about the competition we have (at punt returner). Stubbs has had some big returns in his career. We got a guy like Demario Douglas who I think can help in that area. He’s a real shifty guy that I think’s going to have a breakout year, and, obviously, Shedro too. I made a joke with them maybe we will do the rock-paper-scissors like Alabama to see who gets to go back there this year.”

H 46 Aidan Alves R-JR 6’1″ 200
H 10 Will Bowers R-FR 6’1″ 195
H 80 Brody Brumm R-JR 6’0″ 195

In trying to replace holder Landon Brown, the Flames are focused on punter Aidan Alves, walk-on QB Will Bowers, and wide receiver Brody Brumm.

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns – “We’re kind of rotating guys. I’ve always preferred for it to be a specialist just because they spend the most time around one another. Right now, we got Aidan doing it, we got Will Bowers doing it, we got Brody Brumm doing it. Just early on in camp, trying to get a feel for all three of these guys, but I feel comfortable there that we will have somebody there by the time we kickoff that we will be comfortable with who that guy is.”

Competition

KR 20 Troy Henderson R-SO 5’10” 180

Henderson filled in for Louis at kick returner as needed last season. He looks to factor into the kick return game again this season, as could Douglas and Stubbs.

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns – “I’m excited about Troy. He got an opportunity against UMass, I believe it was, last year and did some good things. We got 4 or 5 guys that we feel comfortable with. Hope all those guys stay healthy throughout the year but we saw last year, Shedro got hurt and we for a couple weeks kind of struggled until we found the right guy to replace him. This year we feel like we have 4 or 5 guys at punt return and kick return that have the ability to take it back to the house for us.”

KR 21 Treon Sibley R-FR 6’0″ 190

Sibley has also gotten some reps as a kick returner early in camp.

PR 3 Demario Douglas R-FR 5’8″ 165

As mentioned, Douglas could be utilized at punt return this season as well as Stubbs and Louis.

Depth

LS 54 Andrew Johns R-FR 6’1″ 200

Special Teams Coordinator Tanner Burns – “Andrew Johns is another guy in that backup role. If something happened to Mock, especially in the world we live in today, we feel confident in Johns going in there and getting the job done too.”

P 91 Jake Brickell R-FR 6’2″ 180

*Note: Liberty has added grad transfer kicker from Georgia Tech Brenton King for this season, but at last check he was still working on completing his courses at Georgia Tech to be eligible this season.