There are a number of position battles that will take place throughout camp, but these are the top ones we will be keeping close tabs on this month.
Quarterback
Malik Willis or Chris Ferguson? Or will redshirt-freshman Johnathan Bennett make a push? The Auburn transfer Willis seems to be the early favorite. He is an SEC talent and had a chance to start for the Tigers, but if he fails to make improvement in his throwing accuracy we could see Ferguson getting the bulk of the reps.
It also wouldn’t be shocking to see Willis get the starting nod and Ferguson have a package of plays where he can be utilized each game to give defenses a different look.
Corner
A couple months ago this looked to be one of the strongest positions on the team with Jimmy Faulks and Kei’Trel Clark returning as starters and experienced depth behind them. Now, Clark has transferred to Louisville and the depth will be tested.
Faulks should seize control of one starting spot, but the rest of the playing time at corner is up in the air. Sophomore Chris Megginson will likely settle in at corner after going back and from between safety and corner last season. Emanuel Dabney and Isiah Avery will both also have a say in the rotation. Incoming JUCO transfer Marcus Haskins could play either corner or safety, and he may emerge here as well.
Kicker
Kicker is never the sexiest position, but an interesting battle is brewing here for the Flames.
After Alex Probert transferred to Iowa State, it looked like Liberty would lean on redshirt-freshman Jason Stricker. But shortly after Probert’s announcement, the Flames added former Penn State kicker Alex Barbir. Stricker and Barbir both battled through the early part of spring practice before it was cut short due to COVID-19.
Then, this summer, Liberty added grad transfer Brenton King from Georgia Tech with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Right Tackle
The majority of Liberty’s starting offensive line positions are solidified, but one spot could be tested strongly during camp. At right tackle, Cooper McCaw is the returning favorite. He got a lot of praise from the coaching staff during the 2019 season, and they pushed him to gain weight so he could emerge as a starter. The redshirt-junior from Texas is now prepared to replace Sam Isaacson as the Flames’ starting right tackle.
Freeze used his connections at Ole Miss to bring in grad transfer Bryce Mathews. Mathews, originally from Franklin, Tennessee, comes to Liberty as a former 4-star recruit. He will push McCaw for starter’s reps during camp, but he could ultimately end up as the team’s utility man off the bench and used as the 6th man filling in anywhere on the line.
Backup RB
Joshua Mack is the unquestioned starter at running back, taking over for outgoing senior Frankie Hickson. Behind him, Peytton Pickett is the favorite to earn the backup role, but Shedro Louis and Troy Henderson will compete here as well.
Louis excelled in the return game as a true freshman last year and now moves from wide receiver to the backfield. Henderson has shown flashes of his ability as a reserve and will be looking for more playing time in 2020.
