With Liberty’s spring game scheduled for this Saturday, we spoke with Coach Gill to get his thoughts of the team’s practice session thus far. Here are some of the main takeaways from that interview.

  1. The team had another scrimmage this past Saturday where they got in 25,26 plays, according to Gill. He said both sides of the ball “had some productivity.” The offense scored 1 touchdown and had no turnovers or penalties. The defense had 2 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
  2. Gill said that linebacker Jaylyn McKenney and defensive backs Rion Davis and Brandon Tillmon have been the most consistent performers on the defensive side of the ball from the first practice of the spring through today.
  3. On offense, Gill highlighted Buckshot Calvert who continues to make improvement. He also pointed out wide receivers Antonio Gandy-Golden and B.J. Farrow. Farrow scored the lone touchdown in the scrimmage Saturday.
  4. Coach Gill said the offense has improved since the team’s first scrimmage of the spring when they “couldn’t do anything but improve” when discussing how poor the offense played in that first scrimmage.
  5. On redshirting players in 2017, Gill said he will wait until after the spring practice session is concluded to determine who, if any, players are redshirted in advance of the teams’ FBS move.
  6. Gill did say that the team is planning on increasing the number of scholarships from the FCS maximum of 63 to somewhere in the neighborhood of 68-70 for the 2017 season. He says the coaching staff is looking at some JUCO and FBS transfers to increase the number of scholarships offered.
  7. The tight end spot has been a little short handed in terms of the number of guys receiving reps. Gill says that Zac Foutz will be the #1 guy on top of the depth chart at tight end, but the coaching staff has been monitoring his reps during the spring to keep him healthy. Former offensive lineman Dan Zapata has been getting some reps as a blocking tight end as well as Thomas Kennedy and Mitchell Lewis. Lewis did receive a few snaps at running back this past week after Todd Macon’s injury.
  8. After 33 years at Liberty as part of the school’s strength and conditioning program, Dave Williams is set to retire. Williams will be recognized at the spring game this Saturday. Gill called Williams “a pioneer” in strength coaching.

Coach Gill Audio