The prevailing theme of Liberty football’s offseason has been about all the returners from the 2020 season where the Flames had the best season in school history, finishing 10-1 with an overtime win against Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl.
That didn’t stop head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff from seeking out opportunities to upgrade the team’s talent. Liberty has added several transfers that will make an immediate impact, several of which have been highlighted during camp, as well as a talented group of incoming freshmen. Earlier this week, Coach Freeze named a few true freshmen he thinks has a chance to play this season.
Ahmad Walker, Khristian Zachary, Amarian Williams, Chris Boti, Marquise Brunson, and Harrison Hayes are the most likely to see playing time this fall. Kaci Seegars is another name to watch, but the coaching staff is hoping to redshirt him and preserve his season of eligibility.
We spotlighted Zachary and his opportunities to play this season earlier this week after Freeze said “he’s not like a normal freshman.” Walker will see playing time at linebacker and he is fighting for a starting position.
“From day one, when he walked in these doors, he’s made sure everybody knew his name by how he’s worked, how he’s prepared,” defensive coordinator Scott Symons said of the linebacker Ahmad Walker. “He expects to start and expects to be the guy for us. Excited to see what he’s going to do when the lights come on. I love his leadership. He doesn’t act like a freshman on the field. He understands he’s playing an Alpha position and he’s an Alpha male. Our guys in the program don’t see him as a freshman, I can tell you that right now. They see him as a seasoned vet that knows what he’s doing because they see the plays he’s made when he’s out there.”
Williams has impressed the coaching staff during camp at corner. The high school teammate of quarterback Kaidon Salter, has benefited from the absence of a couple talented corners for most of camp in Daijahn Anthony and Deon Biggins. After the top three corners of Duron Lowe, Chris Megginson, and Marcus Haskins, Williams could be the fourth guy in at corner to begin the season.
“I love how he competes,” Symons said of Williams. “He is as competitive of a guy that we have in this program. For a freshman to come in with that maturity and mental focus is huge. I think he’s going to add value and be able to play for us.”
Boti and Brunson are fighting for playing time on the defensive line at one of the tackle spots where Ralfs Rusins, Elijah James, and Henry Chibueze will see the majority of the playing time, provided they are healthy. Kendy Charles and William Green are other defensive tackles that could stand in the true freshmen’s way of playing time.
The coaching staff was not expecting Hayes, or any other offensive lineman, to compete for playing time as a true freshman, but Hayes has grabbed their attention over the last couple of weeks. He worked his way onto the third team at tackle, and when backup center John Kourtis went down to injury last week, Hayes slid up to the second team. He is currently splitting reps with Bryce Mathews as the backup center and as the backup at right tackle. Expect to see Hayes on the field in the season opener against Campbell.
Seegars was a highly rated prospect out of high school who originally committed to Texas A&M before signing with the Flames. He played at linebacker in the spring before he was moved to defensive end ahead of training camp. He has the ability to play, but the Flames would like to preserve his season of eligibility and redshirt him, especially with all of the depth Liberty has at defensive end.
