The Flames entered training camp having their offensive line starters in place. The only thing they needed to work on was the development of their depth. Fast forward 11 practices and the offensive line looks to have more questions today than it did when camp opened.
The one constant has been Tanner Hartman. Hartman, who started the past 2 seasons at right tackle, is moving to left tackle this season. Hartman says there’s not much difference in moving from one side of the line to the other. “You have to switch up your stance a little bit, but it’s no big deal. (Coach) Wagner preaches on us all the time, ‘you got to be interchangable, be ready to play any position on the line at any time, know your playbook, know your position.’ So, I felt real comfortable about the move.
Coach Gill spoke very highly of Hartman as well. “(He’s a) leader in every aspect, productive as a football player, productive as a human being. Very quality person, does things in the right way. He’s not a real vocal guy per say, but he leads in a great way in that people are going to follow him, respect him and listen to what he has to say. We’re glad that he’s on our football team, and part of our football program. He’s only a junior, played a lot of great football for us. And I think he’s going to be a tremendous asset for our team, for our community.”
Michael Henderman entered camp as the starter at left guard. The redshirt-junior started 10 games a season ago, but he’s been banged up during camp. Offensive line coach Dennis Wagner says he’s currently day to day and that he’s hopeful to have him ready for the Virginia Tech game.
At center, there’s been a battle going all offseason between Lucas Holder and Dontae Duff. Holder is the top guy, but he may end up seeing most of his time at one of the guard spots as Duff anchors the center position. “I haven’t seen enough of both of them to compare them,” Wagner said. “Dontae has gotten the majority of reps at center in camp.”
The right side of the line is still very much a work in progress. Holder will see some time at right guard, he may even start there once Henderman is back in the fold. Aharown Campbell will also see time at both right guard and right tackle. Wagner says Campbell is a steadying force on the line. “Aharown Campbell just continues to keep playing football here at Liberty. You think you’re going to get somebody to beat him out and he’s there. He’s never listed as a true starter but he always seems to find his way into the lineup and he plays in every game. I’m happy with the fact that Aharown is here.”
Sam Isaacson
Sam Isaacson is currently slotted as the starter at right tackle. Isaacson came in as a preferred walk-on out of LCA a year ago and red-shirted the 2015 season. James Passmore is also fighting for playing time at right tackle. On Isaacson and Passmore, Wagner said, “they’re young guys, but they’re big, physical athletes.”
Another guy that figures to work his way into the rotation is Julio Lozano. Lozano is a redshirt-sophomore who transferred to Liberty after playing one season at Kilgore College in Texas. “Lozano is another guy that gets a lot of playing time (in practice),” Wagner stated. “He’s an athlete like Tanner who’s very athletic, can move and play. I see him playing a lot of football, but he’s always been a defensive lineman. This is his first time playing OL.”
Ben Fiordelise will be in the mix as a reserve at center. He was getting the 2nd team work at that spot, but is out 4-5 weeks with an ankle injury.
The Flames brought in several true freshmen offensive lineman this season including Damian Bounds, Aidan Burroughs, Ethan Crawford, and Daniel Zapata. Coach Wagner says it’s too early to tell if any of these guys will play in 2016, but they’ve all had opportunities during camp to work with the 2nd and 3rd group.
“We have not solidified our o-line group yet”, Gill said. “That’s going to go all the way up until game week, it might not happen until game time as far as the starters.”
