Liberty starting right guard and senior Brendan Schlittler suffered a lower body injury during practice and might miss the entire 2023 season, head coach Jamey Chadwell said in a press conference Friday.
“Brendan Schlittler was hurt and he’s most likely out for the year,” Chadwell stated.
Schlittler has been the Flames’ starting right guard the past three seasons. The 6’5″, 315 pound offensive lineman is originally from Eureka, Missouri. He has been a team leader and one of the veteran returners of the team and has been with the program since the 2018 campaign.
With Schlittler out of the lineup, Liberty will be looking to find a replacement at right guard. There are several candidates including Texas Tech transfer Jack Tucker and Akron transfer Xavior Gray.
Additionally, Coastal Carolina transfer tight end Jacob Jenkins had his waiver denied by the NCAA and will not be eligible to play this season for the Flames, Chadwell said.
The 6’3″, 235 pound Jenkins has two seasons of eligibility remaining after being named third team All-Sun Belt at tight end for the Chanticleers in 2022. He caught 11 passes for 149 yards and 5 touchdowns this past season before entering the portal on Jan. 1.
He transferred to Coastal Carolina from Jacksonville State where he appeared in 19 games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. At Jacksonville State, Jenkins recorded 6 receptions for 53 yards. He is originally from Hoover, Alabama where he attended Spain Park High School.
With Jenkins no longer eligible this season, the Flames will lean on returners Bentley Hanshaw and Austin Henderson at tight end in 2023. True freshman Bo Burklow and JUCO transfer Billy Durocher could also provide some depth.
Chadwell also announced on Friday that walk-on redshirt-freshman defensive back Lawrence Brown has also suffered an injury and is “most likely out for the year.” Brown is a 6’1″, 195 pound defensive back from Madison Heights, Virginia.
