Liberty’s defense returns seven starters from 2024. A number that high is almost unheard of in today’s college football world of the transfer portal, particularly for a team at the Group of Five level. With those returners, as well as a talented group of newcomers including several transfers, the Flames are hopeful and confident the defense can be one of the best in Conference USA.
“Defensively, I think we have a lot of depth,” head coach Jamey Chadwell said on the first day of training camp this past Wednesday. “I think we have a chance to be really, really good. I think we have the tools in place to be a dominant defense if we can approach practice with a mentality every single day to be that.”
Liberty defensive coordinator and secondary coach Kyle Krantz echoed those sentiments.
“We have a bunch of guys that have a ton of talent,” Krantz said. “Now, they have to work to make sure they are learning the scheme and what to do and how to do it and then doing it with elite effort consistently. They have to do it all the time. It’s not just a one time thing.”
In the first two years under Chadwell and his staff, it has primarily been the offense that has led the way and stolen the headlines as Liberty has gone 21-5 over these two seasons. The defense has been solid but a little inconsistent, finishing 2023 second in CUSA in total defense and third in that category in 2024. The Flames’ scoring defense has been steady at third in the league in each of the past two years.
One of the biggest differences in the two years when looking at the defense’s statistics is in the turnover category. In 2023, the Flames led the country with 21 interceptions, leading to a total of 25 turnovers gained. last season, that number dropped to 13 total with seven interceptions, nearly dropping in half. That has been a focus of the defensive staff and personnel throughout the off-season.
“The first year we were here, we had a ton of turnovers,” Krantz said. “Last year, it went the other way. Some of that is luck, some of it you create. We have to make sure we get the ball back.”
Throughout the summer, Krantz and the defensive staff met with the defensive players one on one and the theme of leading CUSA in turnovers was a reoccurring goal of the players throughout that meeting. As training camp has begun, getting to the football and creating turnovers has been a big point of emphasis.
“That’s a big point of emphasis,” Krantz continued, “for us to get the ball back. The game is all about the ball.”
Liberty did lose a few key contributors on the defensive line in the spring transfer portal, highlighted by two-year starter TJ Bush. The Flames do return two starters there in CJ Bazile, last year’s CUSA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Bryce Dixon who has been a mainstay at nose guard the past couple of seasons. Added to them are transfers from Florida State, NC State, Purdue, and Appalachian State as the Flames have looked to bolster that group up front.
“I think it has a chance to be the deepest D-Line we’ve had,” Chadwell said. “We obviously lost some guys there, but we planned for that. I think the guys that we brought in are hungry, excited, thankful for the opportunity they have. I think we’re going to be ok there. We’ve got some young freshmen that have a chance to play this year that I could see get in the rotation. I think it has a chance to be a deep defensive line, the whole challenge is staying healthy. Can we stay healthy? If we can, I think we’ve got enough.”
At linebacker, Joe Carter is the veteran who has been part of the program for several years now. Aidan Vaughan is another name to watch there. He battled through an injury in the spring and should be in the mix to receive significant playing time. Micah Pollard and Deuce Spurlock transferred in during the spring and should at least add some depth at the position while Appalachian State transfer Derrell Farrar has impressed the coaching staff already with his work ethic.
In the secondary, Brylan Green and A’Khori Jones are veterans that should provide leadership and impact at safety. Christian Bodnar has returned from an illness that had him miss most of the second half of last season. Prior to the at, Bodnar was quickly becoming an impact player. He can play both safety and corner. Amarian Williams and Dexter Ricks return at corner while additional transfers have bolstered the depth.
“From a depth standpoint, probably the deepest we’ve been on that side of the ball,” Chadwell said. “I’m excited about the opportunity the defense has.”
