Over the course of the next several days and weeks, we will take a look ahead at what the 2013 football season has in store. Here is Part 1, a look at the 2013 Defense & Special Teams:

Defensive Line

DE Cory Freeman

The Defensive Line will be anchored by two returning starters, Cory Freeman and Francis Bah. Freeman started all 11 games in 2012 finishing with 31 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Bah battled injury during the first part of the 2012 season and saw playing time in 8 total games. He finished with 16 tackles, and 5 tackles for a loss.

Liberty will have to replace starters Bryant Lewellyn and Demetrius Ward and reserve Greg Schuster. Lewellyn led the team this past season with 5 sacks. Ward had 23 tackles and 4.5 tackles for a loss during the 2012 season. Schuster finished the 2012 season with 36 tackles.

Looking to fill the void by the departed seniors will be Jibrille Fewell and Chima Uzowihe. Fewell saw playing time in all 11 games in his first year at Liberty while recording 21 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. Uzowihe showed great promise as a true freshman and one of Coach Gill’s first recruits he brought to Liberty. Chima finished with 13 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks before succumbing to injury against Charleston Southern.

Others to be in rotation mix – Toby Onyechi, Gerald Holt, and Dominique Davis.

Linebackers

LB Nick Sigmon

Both Nick Sigmon and Scott Hyland return and should make the linebacker corp one of Liberty’s most talented groups in 2013. Sigmon continued to prove why he was Danny Rocco’s #1 recruiting target a couple years back. Nick finished 3rd on the team in 2012 with 52 tackles and led the team with 11 tackles for a loss. He also had 1 sack and 1 interception. The former LCA standout, Scott Hyland was 2nd on the team in 2012 with 55 tackles and also added 5 tackles for a loss.

Randy Spann, Bobby Partilla, Dallas Griffiths, and Dylan Lewellyn will vie for the 3rd starter at linebacker. All 4 gained considerable playing time during the season. Griffiths was one of the highest regarded recruits coming out of high school, and that showed during his first 3 games in uniform. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to an injury.

Cornerbacks

CB Kevin Fogg

A lot here hinges on whether or not Kevin Fogg is granted a medical redshirt and comes back to play next season. If he is, Liberty will again be loaded at cornerback with Fogg, Walt Aikens, Kenny Scott, Ryan Ayers, and Sorie Bayoh.

Walt Aikens finished the 2012 season 4th on the team in tackles with 51. He also had 1 interception and a team-leading 3 forced fumbles.

While Kevin Fogg was known for his return abilities, he began to establish himself as a shut down corner. In just 4 games played, Fogg record 18 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss.

After Fogg suffered his injury, Kenny Scott and Sorie Bayoh both got valuable playing experience. Scott finished this apst season with 48 tackles and 4 tackles for a loss. Bayoh finished the 2012 season with 13 tackles and 1 interception.

Safeties

DB Jacob Hagen

Brent Vinson is gone and his team leading 68 tackles from 2012 will have to be replaced. Looking to do so will be Jacob Hagen, Chris Mayo, Aaron Dial, and Miles Hunter. Hagen started 10 games in 2012 and finished with 46 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery which went for a touchdown. Hagen, as a junior, will assume the leadership duties of this group. Mayo is another veteran with plenty of experience. He finished the 2012 season with 29 tackles.

Kickers

Special Teams Coordinator Mike Minter has accepted the Campbell head coaching job, and Josh Bookbinder has been promoted from Devensive Quality Control to Special Teams Coordinator for the 2013 season.

The kicking game should go into spring camp as a strength this year. A year ago, the opposite was true. Both John Lunsford and Grant Bowden return in 2013, and will both be looking to improve upon their stellar 2012 Liberty debuts.

Lunsford finished his freshman campaign 8/12 on field goals with a long of 50 and 22/25 on PATs. 25 of Lunsford’s 40 kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Bowden averaged 39.4 yards per punt on his 60 punts in 2012. He recorded a long of 57 and had 18 downed inside the 20 yard line.

Returners

Liberty used several returners during the 2012 season including Kevin Fogg, Ryan Ayers, and D.J. Abnar. All 3 could potentially return (pending Fogg’s medical redshirt status), and should provide valuable experience to Liberty’s return game.

After Fogg’s injury, Ayers took over as primary punt returner and record 4.9 yards per return with a long of 30. Abnar returned 11 kicks for 303 yards with a long of 27.5.

In Part 2, we will take a look at the 2013 Offense.