Spring practice has concluded for the Liberty Flames as the team continues its preparation for the 2024 season. What better time than now to update our projected depth chart for the Flames’ football team for the 2024 season.

This is based on as the roster currently stands as we know it today. Of course, there will likely be more changes to the roster prior to the start of the season, likely both additions and subtractions as the team still must navigate through the spring transfer portal.

Quarterback: Kaidon Salter
Backup: Ryan Burger

Salter has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the entire country this coming fall. Burger is a nice addition to the room, coming to Liberty from Appalachian State where he was the team’s starter entering the 2023 season before suffering an injury in the opener. He is a nice insurance piece and can serve as a backup to Salter and potentially compete for the starting spot once Salter moves on. The Flames also have Jayden Bradford in the room, and he should be able to redshirt this season as he continues to develop.

Running Back:  (A-Back) Billy Lucas; (B-Back) Quinton Cooley
Backup: Vaughn Blue; Jaimes Jointer, Jr OR Caden Williams.

Everybody returns from the nation’s leading rushing offense in 2023. Talk about depth. Add to these four Victor Venn and true freshman Caden Williams. Sheesh. We’ve heard good things about Williams too, someone who could even push for playing time as a true freshman.

Wide Receiver (X): Donte Lee
Backup: Markel Fortenberry OR Errol Rogers

Wide Receiver (Z): Treon Sibley
Backup: Kylen Austin

Wide Receiver (H): Reese Smith
Backup: Tyson Mobley

The hope is Donte Lee can step in and become the team’s X receiver this fall. The return of Victor Jones and Reese Smith from injury would certainly help, as well. We also must keep our eyes on Kylen Austin and Markel Fortenberry in their continuing emergence. Mobley is another piece that made a huge impression during the Spring Game and he should be able to make an impact this fall.

Left Tackle: Jack Tucker
Backup: Hunter Porterfield

Left Guard: Chase Mitchell
Backup: John Paul Flores

Center: Jordan White
Backup: Aaron Fenimore

Right Guard: Harrison Hayes
Backup: Brian Hannibal

Right Tackle: Xavior Gray
Backup: Hunter Porterfield

During the spring, we saw Chase Mitchell move from left tackle to left guard, allowing Jack Tucker to move into the starting lineup at left tackle. Jordan White missed the spring but will step back into the starting lineup upon his return. If Tucker is able to hold down the left tackle spot, the only question then becomes the depth and second unit of what should be another really good offensive line unit. The Flames could certainly use another tackle through the portal

Tight End: Bentley Hanshaw OR Austin Henderson
Back up: Jacob Jenkins OR Bo Burklow

The Flames welcome Coastal Carolina transfer Jacob Jenkins who had his waiver denied and had to sit out the 2023 season after his second transfer. The depth is very evident here with him as well as the returners Hanshaw and Henderson.

Defensive End: TJ Bush
Backup: Grey Carroll OR Larry Jones, III

Defensive Tackle: Jay Hardy
Backup: Chris Boti

Nose Guard: Bryce Dixon
Backup: Eli Hall

Joker: CJ Bazile
Backup: Bryson Jennings

The two outside positions are pretty stable from the 2023 season. The interior of the line is much more a work in progress. Chris Boti, Bryce Dixon, and Jay Hardy all return and will help anchor that group. Wake Forest transfer Eli Hall could also factor in here, as could redshirt-freshman Eliyt Nairne.

Mike: Teylor Jackson
Backup: Joseph Carter

Will: Jahmar Brown
Backup: Jerome Jolly, Jr.

This is a room that has been a huge focus of the recruiting staff throughout the Class of 2024, including through the portal. The addition of Jackson will provide tremendous depth and experience while Jolly and Carter return to provide some continuity. Aidan Vaughan is another name to watch out for here as he is a piece that can be used for development with his best years likely ahead of him, but he is also someone who can fight for playing time immediately. This group has the potential to have more depth than we have seen in a while at linebacker for the Flames.

Cornerback: Dexter Ricks, Jr. OR Dominick Hill
Backup: Joshua Wiggins OR Elijah Hopkins

Cornerback: Amarian Williams
Backup: Christian Bodnar

The Flames lost some strong production at corner from the 2023 team and return Amarian Williams who leads this group. Dominick Hill is a Temple transfer that will factor in here, as well, while Liberty also looks for some of the other returners to step into more prominent roles.

Star: Quinton Reese
Backup: A’Khori Jones

Safety: Brylan Green
Backup: Marquise Bell

Safety: Eldric Griffin
Backup: Jayden Sweeney

There has been a decent amount of turnover at the safety position, one of the few units on the team that has seen significant change to this point. Quinton Reese returns for one more season and provides plenty of leadership and experience while Brylan Green is now an upperclassman and leader. A’Khori Jones has been a good depth piece his first two years on the team, and he has the potential to have a much larger impact and potentially even a starter. Eldric Griffin is a JUCO transfer who could be an immediate impact performer.

Kicker: Nick Brown OR Colin Karhu
Backup: Brayden Beck

Karhu is a PWO transfer from North Greenville that will at least add some additional competition. He made 14 of 18 field goals with a long of 54 and was a perfect 25 of 25 on PATs last season. Will he be able to push Nick Brown for the team’s starting kicker spot? Through the spring, it looked like this was a pretty even competition. We will see how the develops through the summer and into training camp.

Punter: Max Morgan

Long Snapper: Austin Turner

Holder: Max Morgan

Kick Returner: Donte Lee

Punt Returner: Brylan Green