After two days off this weekend, the Liberty football team returned to the practice field on Monday for the team’s second preseason practice of fall training camp.

Following the practice session, Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze and assistants Bruce Johnson and Josh Aldridge spoke with the media on a video press conference call.

Below are notes and takeaways from these press conferences and Liberty’s preseason training camp:

  • Liberty has not officially released COVID-19 testing results for its student-athletes like some schools have done. We did find out on Friday from Coach Freeze that his entire team and staff were tested about two weeks ago. On Monday, Freeze stated, in part, “the few tests that we’ve had that were positive, our kids were not extremely sick, in any manner.” He also went further in stating that no one has required additional testing for showing symptoms in the last week or so. To read Freeze’s full comments on COVID-19, click here.
  • The biggest takeaway from Freeze on day two of practice was the great energy and physicality shown. Freeze said he loved everything about the energy the guys showed and it was a great practice.
  • As reported last week, Malik Willis and Chris Ferguson will rotate the first 7 practices with first team reps. Willis got all the first team reps on Friday and Ferguson got them on Monday. Freeze said he will have to watch the film, but he believes Ferguson may have graded out better than all other quarterbacks on the day.
  • Both Friday and again Monday, the true freshmen on the defensive line have gotten some praise. The Flames brought in five true freshmen defensive linemen in DE Stephen Sings, DE Aakil Washington, DE Rashad Whitehead, DT Karsen Perkins, and DT Kendy Charles. Coach Aldridge spoke highly of Sings’ and Washington’s ability to rush the passer. Freeze says the defensive line could be one of the strengths of the team.
  • Speaking of the defensive line, after a standout true freshman season, TreShaun Clark now takes on the role of the top player on the defensive line. He could see time at any position on the line as the Flames look to move him around frequently.
  • JUCO transfer Juawan Treadwell and Marcus Haskins continue to show their strong ability at safety. Both will be counted on this season to provide depth and either could break into the starting lineup.
  • We all knew Joshua Mack had solidified himself atop the depth chart at running back, and it was expected the fight for playing time behind him would extend into training camp. That doesn’t appear to be the case as Coach Johnson said his play will be to give Mack the first series of the game, Peytton Pickett the second series, and then ride the hot hand while Shedro Louis and Troy Henderson wait in the wings.