We continue to countdown towards the 2023 football season where Liberty will make its debut in Conference USA and under new head coach Jamey Chadwell all while looking to make it back to a 5th straight bowl game.
This year’s team brings many questions with it as is expected with a new coaching staff, but also with approximately 50% roster turnover through graduation, the transfer portal, and other departures. Setting out to rank the top 30 players on the team is an arduous task any time, but even more so entering the 2023 campaign for the Flames.
We are certain to miss on some of these players’ rankings with so many changes from the 2022 season to this year.
We begin today with our ranking of players #30-21.
30. TJ Bush
One of the first signees the new coaching staff was able to get to Liberty, Bush enrolled for the spring semester, and he showed immediate flashes at defensive end. Now, he could emerge as a starter during his first year in college.
29. Marquis Bell
A JUCO transfer, Bell was able to go through the spring with Liberty, and he will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact for the Flames at corner this fall.
28. Jerome Jolly
Jolly enters 2023 a bit underrated by many outside of the program. He has been one of the team’s top special teams players the past couple of years, and this spring he emerged as one who could be a starter at linebacker.
27. Grey Carroll
Carroll was unable to find consistent playing time at Georgia Tech, thus his reasons for entering the portal. The Flames will need someone to emerge on the outside of the defensive line, and Carroll will get one of the first cracks.
26. Jonathan Graham
Graham spent most of 2022 as Liberty’s starting left guard, a position he also manned this spring. Despite several new incoming transfers since the conclusion of spring practice, Graham still has his eyes set on a starting spot once again.
25. Elijah Smoot
Smoot was a very productive receiver at UT Martin, and he could emerge into being one of the team’s top targets at receiver in 2023.
24. Preston Hodge
The JUCO transfer found his way onto the field last year, his first season with Liberty. After shuffling back and forth from corner to safety, Hodge has settled in at safety and will vie for a starting spot and plenty of reps this year.
23. Victor Venn
Venn spent last season at Colorado where he redshirted. Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com, Venn had two dozen scholarship offers out of high school. He rushed for 3,010 yards and 36 touchdowns during his prep career. As a senior, Venn was named All-State after rushing for 957 yards and 10 touchdowns.
22. Noah Frith
Frith is a veteran receiver who has been slowed by injuries throughout much of his career. If he can remain healthy, Frith can provide some skill and size on the outside of the field.
21. Bentley Hanshaw
The tight end position hasn’t been utilized frequently over the past few seasons, but that will likely change this fall. As we saw in the spring game, the Flames went to the tight end on numerous occasions and we could see someone like Hanshaw take a huge leap in his production in 2023.
