The hype remains for the 2020 Liberty football season, but in order for the Flames to maximize their potential when autumn hits, spring practice and a great offseason were crucial to maintain and build on the momentum they created to close out the 2019 season.
But then the Coronavirus hit and Liberty’s spring practice was canceled after just 5 practices. The chance for young players to get more reps and for competition at certain positions to begin dissolved. For now, Liberty is doing daily optional workouts with the strength and conditioning staff. For a team needing to build depth and develop many young players at key positions, the cancellation of spring practice hit hard.
The are many places along Liberty’s depth chart where new and young players could have a chance to shine in 2020. That is what we were looking most forward to figuring out during spring practice. With that being said, here are the ten Liberty players that we most wanted to see this spring.
MALIK WILLIS, R-JUNIOR QUARTERBACK
Replacing a 4-year starter at quarterback will always be the top story of the offseason, and this year is no different for the Flames. The top candidate to replace Buckshot Calvert is Malik Willis. He transferred to Liberty from Auburn a year ago and was forced to sit out the 2019 season.
Having that year under his belt to learn the offense and adjust to a new team and new school, is invaluable. Still, after his waiver to be immediately eligible for last year was denied, he was moved to scout team QB, limiting the amount of reps in the Liberty offense he received. This spring was going to be critical for Willis and the quarterback position to prepare for the 2020 season.
CJ YARBROUGH, R-FRESHMAN WIDE RECEIVER
The other big name the Flames must replace in addition to Buckshot is Antonio Gandy-Golden who is expected to be Liberty’s first NFL Draft pick since 2014 later this month. The good thing about replacing a stud wideout is Liberty could use multiple receivers (even tight ends) to help soften the blow of the departure.
One of the main pieces to step into AGG’s shoes, will be redshirt-freshman CJ Yarbrough. He played in 4 games in 2019 but the coaching staff decided to hold him out of the Cure Bowl to retain his season of eligibility. He finished with 6 receptions for 124 yards in his limited action, and towards the end of the season Freeze often referred to the star potential the 6’3″, 195 pound Alabama native has.
The spring would have been the first time Yarbrough would have been able to step into a role with increased reps. Liberty has long become the home of standout wide receivers from Chris Summers to Darrin Peterson, BJ Farrow, and AGG. Yarbrough could be the next in that long line of success.
CHRIS FERGUSON, SENIOR QUARTERBACK
The grad transfer from Maine was one of the biggest surprises when his name popped up in mid-December on Liberty’s radar screen. He ended up choosing to come to Lynchburg, joining the program for the spring semester. He will push both Malik Willis and Johnathan Bennett for the starting QB job, and could provide a change of pace to the dual-threat nature of both Willis and Bennett.
While he’s still recovering from a foot injury and was limited during the early part of spring practice, that time to bond with his new teammates and impress the coaching staff would have been valuable. 2020 is his final year in college, so his time to impress is limited.
TIM KIDD-GLASS, R-SENIOR SAFETY
Tim Kidd-Glass was a last minute addition to the roster just days prior to the start of the 2019 season as he joined the program from NC State where he played in 33 games over 3 seasons. Originally from Danville, Virginia, Kidd-Glass made 9 starts in 2017 with the Wolfpack. In his three year career in Raleigh, Kidd-Glass totaled 68 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles.
The former 3-star recruit has just one season remaining, and the spring would have been our first real look at him as he spent most of the 2019 season with the scout team. He’s a former starter at safety in the ACC, it would make sense that he could make an impact for the Flames.
JUAWAN TREADWELL, JUNIOR SAFETY
The younger brother of NFL star Laquon Treadwell, Juawan joined Liberty’s program for the spring semester straight out of JUCO. Based on his pedigree and athletic ability, Treadwell should be expected to make an impact immediately.
Safety was one of the primary positions Freeze mentioned as to needing the spring to incorporate the newcomers. Treadwell was one of the top incoming players to the group, and he needed the spring to learn the Liberty defense and so the coaching staff could get a good read on the impact he can make this season.
DURRELL JOHNSON, JUNIOR DEFENSIVE END
Johnson is another JUCO transfer that joined Liberty for the spring semester. He was targeted to help soften the loss of Jessie Lemonier who wreaked havoc on opposing backfields the past two seasons. We got to see Johnson briefly during the 5 practices Liberty got in, and he was starting to scratch the surface of what his potential could be.
Wearing the #11, thinking of a longer Jessie Lemonier. That’s what he looked like, and in the one practice we watched, he got into the backfield multiple times.
BRYCE MATHEWS, SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
The Ole Miss grad transfer is a 6’6″, 300 pound lineman who was originally a 4-star rated prospect out of high school. He was part of the rotation on the line for much of his time at Ole Miss, and Freeze thinks he could serve as a utility lineman in 2020 for the Flames.
Like any offensive lineman, reps and development are critical, making the absence of a spring practice a big step back for Mathews. Still, he will push for starters reps at right tackle and can step in at any OL position in a pinch.
ANTHONY BUTLER, SENIOR LINEBACKER
It’s no secret linebacker is a position of need for the Flames in the 2020 season. After losing seniors Solomon Ajayi and Brandon Tillmon, Liberty has very little proven commodities at the position.
Anthony Butler was added as a grad transfer from Charlotte. He left the 49ers program early in the 2019 season and has been out of football since then. The spring was going to be an important time for Butler to get into game shape as he fights for a starting position. He started 15 games at linebacker at Charlotte before transferring.
TREVOR HOBBS, SENIOR TIGHT END
The 6’4″, 245 pound Hobbs was ranked as the top tight end in JUCO football by Rivals’ JC Gridiron. Playing for Golden West College, Hobbs had 25 receptions for 456 yards and 4 touchdowns in 10 games during the 2019 season.
Hobbs joined the team for the spring semester and has the potential to break into the rotation at one of the deepest position units on the team. In Freeze’s offensive system, he likes to use the tight end as a pass catcher, and Hobbs is someone who could help ease the pressure on the Flames’ new starting quarterback.
JOSHUA MACK, R-SENIOR RUNNING BACK
Mack transferred to Liberty from Maine a couple seasons ago amid much fanfare. He came in after leading all of FCS in rushing in 2017. This past season, Mack shared the reps at running back with Frankie Hickson. Mack was second on the team with 136 carries for 792 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. He also proved capable as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 13 passes for 177 yards, the most for a Liberty back in 2019.
This spring was going to be the first time Mack was at the top of the depth chart. How will he look with the extended reps? How will he handle being the top back? Those are questions we now must wait until training camp to answer.
