We continue our position previews with a look at Liberty’s special teams.
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Tight Ends
Quarterbacks
Wide Receivers
Running Backs
As we enter tine final two weeks prior to Liberty’s season opener against Bowling Green on Sept. 2, many questions remain for the special teams. As has been the case for the past couple of years, several names are fighting for the starting job at kicker. It does appear that Max Morgan has solidified his spot as the team’s punter. There are also several names fighting for return man duties.
“Overall, the overarching theme would be consistency,” said Liberty special teams coordinator Kyle Krantz. “We have guys that do really well one day and then don’t do as well the next day. That’s the challenging thing as to who is going to be consistent.”
Frontrunners
P 37 Max Morgan SO 6’2″ 220
Morgan has been in the program for a few years and he was put on scholarship in the spring. He’s been the team’s backup punter and holder. In 2021, when Aidan Alves suffered an injury that forced him to miss several weeks, Morgan stepped into the punter role and performed admirably, averaging 42.9 yards per punt over the course of the season on his 25 punts.
Special Teams Coordinator Kyle Krantz – “Consistency. Throughout the spring he had a really good spring. He worked really hard at his craft. He’s great academically. He’s great socially. He stands for what we want a Liberty Flame to be.”
LS 44 Austin Turner SO 6’2″ 280
Turner has served behind Austin Mock the past couple of seasons and looks to take over at long snapper for the Flames this season.
Competition
K 85 Brayden Beck JR 5’10” 200
Beck emerged as Liberty’s starting kicker in 2021. He made 4 of his 5 field goals and 34 of his 37 extra points. An injury during the preseason kept him off the field for the 2022 season. Now, he’s firmly entrenched in the battle for Liberty’s starting kicker for 2023.
K 42 Nick Brown SO 6’4″ 170
With Beck sidelined in 2022, Brown emerged as the team’s kicker. He made 11 of 19 field goals with a long of 49 and was 40 for 41 on his extra points during the year.
P/K 95 Teagen Lenderink SO 6’1″ 185
Lenderink transferred in from North Carolina prior to the 2022 season, but he did not crack the lineup last season. This year, he is firmly in the mix at kicker while also serving as the team’s backup punter.
Special Teams Coordinator Kyle Krantz – “All three of the kickers that are here, they’ve all had ups and downs. They’ve had good days, they’ve had bad days. None of them have stuck out enough to say he’s going to be the guy. This job is up for grabs and someone needs to go and take it.”
LS 47 Ryan Manis FR 6’1″ 205
Returners
At returner, several players are in the mix to emerge for the Flames this season. Brylan Green is one name to watch as a punt returner. Coach Krantz says he likes his ability to track a ball in flight, thanks to his skills as a baseball outfielder. Markel Fortenberry, Brandon Bishop, Jayden Sweeney, and Kylen Austin are also fighting for a spot in the return game.
