While the Flames are set at many positions, the depth chart is yet to be cemented at certain key ones. With training camp in full force, which spots are up for grabs – and who will take them?
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| Will #90 Dominique Davis be starting alongside #99 Cory Freeman? |
Right Defensive End
Who will replace Demetrius Ward? Dominique Davis and Chima Uzowihe are battling for the #1 spot on the depth chart. Davis came out of Spring ball on top of the depth chart, but don’t think sophomore Uzowihe is going to roll over.
Davis is a 6’5″ 250 pound junior who has not seen much time in his career. Last season he played in 9 games in a reserve role and recorded 7 tackles. He was awarded the Samkon Gado award during the Spring which is awarded to the most improved defensive player.
Chima was part of coach Gill’s first recruiting class at Liberty, and he did not disappoint last year. As a true freshman, he saw playing time in 8 games and recorded 13 tackles, including 4 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks. The 6’2″ 240 pound native of Houston, Texas showed tremendous upside during his limited opportunies in 2012. He has a bright future as a Flame.
Prediction: Davis maintains his hold onto the #1 spot, but, in the end, it doesn’t matter too much who wins as both will see plenty of playing time this season.
SAM LB
While 2 of Liberty’s linebacker spots are firmly cemented with all-conference performers Nick Sigmon and Scott Hyland, the 3rd spot is up for grabs. It’s a 3 man race between Andrew Jauch, Bobby Partilla, and Chris Mayo.
Jauch emerged atop the depth chart at the end of Spring ball after converting to the position from safety following the 2012 season. He virtually came out of nowhere to grab hold of that spot as most of his playing time has come via special teams.
Partilla began the 2012 season as the starter at the SAM, but was replaced after 4 games by Randy Spann. He then suffered a season ending injury against Coastal on October 27th. During his 7 games of playing time, he recorded 9 tackles. As a redshirt-freshman in 2011, he played in 10 games as a reserve and registered 16 tackles.
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| #4 Bobby Partilla hopes to reclaim the starting spot at SAM LB |
Mayo is an experienced senior who also converted to linebacker from safety. He has played in 32 games in his Liberty career including 10 starts. Mayo also started the final two games of the 2012 season at the SAM. He finished the season with 29 tackles, but in his first start at LB (against #6 Stony Brook) Mayo recorded a season-high seven tackles. Chris has always been strong against the run, but his weakness has been in defending the pass. So, his move to linebacker seems to make perfect sense.
Prediction: Mayo’s experience helps him win the job with Jauch and Partilla being platooned early in the season as his backup.
Safety
Perhaps the biggest hole (on paper) for the defense is the safety opposite Jacob Hagen. Coming out of Spring practice Aaron Dial was listed as the starter with Miles Hunter as his backup, neither of which have much experience.
Dial is a senior who has 6 tackles to his credit in his Liberty career. To say he is inexperienced would be an understatement, but obviously the coaching staff saw something in him this Spring. The vast majority of his playing time has come on special teams.
Miles Hunter is just a redshirt-sophomore out of Camden, Delaware. He was a high school teammate of Liberty wide receiver Dante Shells. Hunter saw significant time in the secondary as a reserve last season especially early on as he registered a tackle in each of the first four games of the season, finishing with 6 on the year.
This could be a spot where a true freshman breaks into the starting lineup, and Nick Newman could be that guy. Newman is listed at 6’4″ and 210 pounds, and played defensive line and linebacker in high school. He even earned first team all-district and all-region honors as a wide receiver following his senior season in addition to being named the District Defensive Player of the Year.
Prediction: I’m thinking Dial is the opening day starter on 8/29 against Kent State, but both Hunter and Newman will push him very hard. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Newman getting more and more playing time as the season goes on.
Check back tomorrow for the 2nd part of Top Position Battles when we take a look at the offensive side of the ball.
