When Liberty picked up a commitment from Khristian Zachary as part of the 2021 recruiting class, he became the highest rated recruit in school history. The 6’2″, 260 pound defensive end was rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN and a member of their top 300 recruits nationally, as he became the first Liberty signee to achieve that designation.

Out of Carrollton High School in Fayetteville, Georgia, Zachary had offers from Alabama, Appalachian State, Arizona State, Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Colorado, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Penn State, South Carolina, Temple, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech.

Zachary finished his high school career with 58 tackles for loss and 30 sacks. He played in five games as a true freshman for Liberty last year, finishing with four tackles, two tackles for loss and half a sack. He was hampered by an injury that kept him limited throughout much of the season.

“It taught me not to take stuff for granted,” Zachary said of his injury last year. “I came in here thinking I was about to blow stuff up. It’s showed me to trust in God and trust on God’s timing because it’s not me, it’s all God. The abilities I have is from God, everything is from God. I have to be patient in God’s timing. It helped me understand when I get that opportunity to play full speed, I’m going to go all in. It’s helped me to stay motivated and to stay consistent.”

As Liberty prepares to open the 2022 season this Saturday at Southern Miss, Zachary is listed as second on the depth chart at defensive end behind TreShaun Clark. He has been fully healthy throughout training camp and has big plans for his sophomore season. If you follow Zachary on social media, you may have noticed him posting a simple message on a regular occasion throughout the month of August – “25 sacks.”

“It’s a goal that I have,” Zachary said of his social media message, a goal to record 25 sacks this season. “I believe you work hard because you have faith in doing the impossible. 25 sacks is a goal. I’m going to do the things necessary to work hard to get that. The Bible says faith is the evidence of the things unseen. I can’t see it right now. Of course I don’t have 25 sacks right now, but I’m able to see it because I have faith in it.”

As a true freshman last year, Zachary played multiple positions on the line, as he went from defensive end to the three-technique on the interior of the line. This offseason, under new defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett, Zachary has been focusing all of his time on playing at defensive end.

“I had to learn both of those things as a freshman,” he said about playing on the interior and defensive end last year. “That was really tough on me but now that I can focus all my attention on my pass rush and stuff like that and read plays, it’s easier for me. I’m able to lock in and put all my attention, my mind towards one position.”

Coach Garrett has helped Zachary learn to focus on all the small details to prepare to be the best player that he can be. From the way he takes notes, to studying the defense, and so much more, Zachary has shown tremendous improvement in the way he prepares.

“He’s definitely helped me with my angles,” Zachary said of Coach Garrett. “Last year I didn’t have my angles down pat. He’s taught me a lot about angles and how you get to the quarterback as far as your angle of pursuit.”

Zachary hopes that extra work can pay off on the field this season and help him achieve his lofty goals for himself and the team.