As we move towards the summer and inch closer to the kickoff of the 2023 football season, Liberty has undergone an approximately 50% roster makeover under new head coach Jamey Chadwell.
Since the conclusion of the 2022 season, the Flames have replace about half of its scholarship players that have left due to graduation or through the transfer portal. Coach Chadwell and his staff have been busy throughout the winter and this spring adding to the roster to help offset those losses.
Whether it be high school signees, Junior College transfers, or the transfer portal, there will be a lot of new faces on the field for Liberty this fall as the program moves into Conference USA. It’s hard to have a good feel for exactly what was lost, what is returning, and what is coming in. So, let’s break it all down, position by position.
QUARTERBACK
Lost:
Charlie Brewer (3 GP, 2 GS, 8/15 passing for 52 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 7 rushes for 23 yards)
Sean Brown (didn’t play)
Returning:
Johnathan Bennett (12 GP, 7 GS, 131/224 passing for 1,534 yards, 12 TDs, 9 INTs, 76 rushes for 181 yards, 2 TDs)
Kaidon Salter (8 GP, 4 GS, 86/149 passing for 1,088 yards, 8 TDs, 5 INTs, 69 ryshes for 285 yards, 2 TDs)
Nate Hampton (5 GP, 3/8 passing for 76 yards, 13 rushes for 19 yards)
Zak Burnett (didn’t play)
Incoming:
Trey Lowe (Southern Miss transfer)
Reese Mooney (High School signee)
It will be virtually the same room for the Flames at quarterback just replace Trey Lowe for Charlie Brewer (who was injured most of the year). Going into the summer, it looks like it will be either Johnathan Bennett or Kaidon Salter fighting for the starting job. The progress they make from 2022 to this fall will go a long way in determining just how good Liberty will be in 2023.
Net impact to roster: Upgrade due to continuity, experience
RUNNING BACK
Lost:
Dae Dae Hunter (9 GP, 8 GS, 130 rushes for 854 yards, 8 TDs, 18 receptions for 149 yards, 1 TD)
Shedro Louis (12 GP, 3 GS, 122 rushes for 529 yards, 8 TDs, 9 receptions for 81 yards)
TJ Green (7 GP, 2 GS, 44 rushes for 232 yards, 2 TDs, 5 receptions for 36 yards)
Returning:
Malik Caper (9 GP, 18 rushes for 32 yards, 1 TD, 2 receptions for 1 yard)
Incoming:
Quinton Cooley (Wake Forest transfer)
Victor Venn (Colorado transfer)
James Jointer, Jr (Arkansas transfer)
Billy Lucas (Duquesne transfer)
Vaughn Blue (High School signee, early enrollee)
It is the first but won’t be the last of the positions that will have a completely new look. All three running backs that carried the bulk of the load in 2022 is gone. There’s a ton of incoming talent, but we never know how that will translate. Quinton Cooley and Vaughn Blue had very impressive springs, and Liberty will need them to carry that production over into the fall. Could Venn or Jointer also push for playing time to add additional depth to the room?
Net impact to roster: Upgrade due to depth and top-end talent potential
WIDE RECEIVER
Lost:
Demario Douglas (13 GP, 11 GS, 79 receptions for 993 yards, 6 TDs, 5 rushes for 105 yards, 1 TD)
CJ Yarbrough (11 GP, 4 GS, 16 receptions for 221 yards, 2 TDs)
Caleb Snead (8 GP, 7 GS, 18 receptions for 193 yards)
Jaivian Lofton (10 GP, 2 GS, 10 receptions for 102 yards, 2 TDs)
Khaleb Coleman (11 GP, 3 receptions for 37 yards, 1 TD)
Brody Brumm (2 GP)
Returning:
Noah Frith (13 GP, 8 GS, 25 receptions for 446 yards, 1 TD)
Treon Sibley (13 GP, 1 GS, 11 receptions for 186 yards, 3 TDs)
CJ Daniels (4 GP, 1 GS, 3 receptions for 38 yards, 1 TD)
D’Wayne Crawford (no stats recorded)
Kylen Austin (2 GP)
Markel Fortenberry (no stats recorded)
Incoming:
Reese Smith (WVU transfer)
Errol Rogers (Louisiana transfer)
Elijah Smoot (UT-Martin transfer)
Victor Jones, Jr. (Nebraska transfer)
This is another position where there has been a lot of turnover. Replacing Demario Douglas will be very difficult as he was a game changer for the Flames during his career. CJ Yarbrough had a lot of potential, but it was never fully realized. Sneed, Lofton, and Coleman provided solid depth for the Flames, but are not huge losses in the stat book. Reese Smith should be a solid possession receiver in the slot for the Flames. How will the other newcomers translate?
Net impact to roster: Downgrade due to loss of Demario
TIGHT END
Lost:
Jerome Jackson (13 GP, 12 GS, 15 receptions for 120 yards, 1 TD)
Michael Bollinger (13 GP, 4 GS, 3 receptions for 22 yards, 1 TD, 1 rush for 2 yards)
Brayden Monday (didn’t play)
Teigan Martin (didn’t play)
Returning:
Bentley Hanshaw (13 GP, 1 GS, 6 receptions for 117 yards, 1 TD)
Austin Henderson (13 GP, 1 GS, 5 receptions for 50 yards, 1 TD)
Incoming:
Jacob Jenkins (Coastal Carolina transfer)
Billy Durocher (JUCO transfer)
Bo Burklow (High School signee)
Hanshaw and Henderson had a lot of playing time last year and should help offset the losses of Jackson and Bollinger. Look for both of them to be used much more in the passing game than they were in 2022. Jenkins should also provide some depth at the position, at the minimum, as he was an all-conference performer in the Sun Belt.
Net impact to roster: Upgrade due to expected increased use of position
OFFENSIVE LINE
Lost:
Cam Reddy (13 GP, 13 GS)
Naasir Watkins (11 GP, 11 GS)
Cooper McCaw (13 GP, 3 GS)
Jacob Bodden (5 GP, 3 GS)
Reggie Young (9 GP)
Will Buchanan (7 GP)
Mason Bundy (didn’t play)
Returning:
X’Zauvea Gadlin (13 GP, 13 GS)
Brendan Schlittler (13 GP, 13 GS)
Jonathan Graham (13 GP, 9 GS)
John Kourtis (9 GP)
Chase Mitchell (3 GP)
Brian Hannibal (didn’t play)
Harrison Hayes (didn’t play)
Incoming:
Jordan White (WVU transfer)
Xavior Gray (Akron transfer)
Jack Tucker (Texas Tech transfer)
Aaron Fenimore (High School signee, early enrollee)
Cal Grubbs (High School signee)
Tajh Boyd (High School signee)
Austin Anderson (High School signee)
It’s a mixed bag on the offensive line with a good amount of production lost but also a fair share of experienced players returning. The biggest question mark will be how all the pieces fit together and the depth of the unit. With the newcomers, the starters should be very solid.
Net impact to roster: Undetermined
DEFENSIVE LINE
Lost:
Dre Butler (13 GP, 10 GS, 23 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1.5 sacks)
Dennis Osagiede (13 GP, 12 GS, 37 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 6 sacks)
Durrell Johnson (13 GP, 13 GS, 58 tackles, 27.5 TFLs, 9 sacks)
Treshaun Clark (10 GP, 10 GS, 32 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 5 sacks)
Khristian Zachary (12 GP, 3 GS, 10 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks)
Stephen Sings (11 GP, 13 tackles)
Marquise Brunson (2 GP)
Rashad Whitehead (1 GP)
Rashaud Pernell (didn’t play)
Returning:
Kendy Charles (13 GP, 13 GS, 59 tackles, 10 TFLs, 5.5 sacks)
Jay Hardy (13 GP, 1 GS, 16 tackles, 1.5 TFLs)
Bryce Dixon (8 GP, 10 tackles, 1.5 TFLs)
CJ Bazile (7 GP, 7 tackles, 1.5 TFLs)
Chris Boti (1 GP)
Miyon Conaway (didn’t play)
Jackson Shirer (didn’t play)
Incoming:
Grey Carroll (Georgia Tech transfer)
Bryson Jennings (UNC transfer)
Amari Williams (Junior College transfer)
Tysheik Galloway (Junior College transfer)
Donovan Dozier (High School signee)
TJ Bush (High School signee)
Eliyt Nairne (High School signee)
Larry Jones III (High School signee)
Liberty has a lot of production to replace on the defensive line, as three starters and several key reserves are gone. Kendy Charles is the lone returning starter. Jay Hardy and Bryce Dixon will be counted on to help on the interior of the defensive line. The incoming transfers will certainly have their opportunities to play immediately, as will some of the true freshman. TJ Bush is a name to watch out of that group as the early enrollee made a big splash during the spring and spent a lot of time with the first team.
Net impact to roster: Downgrade due to the amount of lost production
LINEBACKER
Lost:
Mike Smith, Jr. (12 GP, 12 GS, 85 tackles, 10 TFLs, 0.5 sacks)
Ahmad Walker (12 GP, 11 GS, 63 tackles, 11 TFLs, 4 sacks)
Carl Poole (6 GP)
Kaci Seegars (didn’t play)
Returning:
Tyren Dupree (12 GP, 47 tackles, 6 TFLs, 4 sacks)
Aakil Washington (13 GP, 46 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks)
Jerome Jolly, Jr. (7 GP, 13 tackles)
Maurice Freeman, III (11 GP)
Jordan Norwood (3 GP)
Incoming:
Chike Nwankwo (Abilene Christian transfer)
Olan Robinson (High School signee)
The Flames lose its two starters at linebacker and two of the team’s top players in Mike Smith and Ahmad Walker. Tyren Dupree and Aakil Washington are veteran leaders in the room that return and Jerome Jolly has a lot of potential. He has been one of the team’s top special teams players the past couple of years, and Jolly should be able to take the next step this season. Chike Nwankwo is one of the top incoming transfers to the team in terms of production at his previous stop and other offers he had in the portal. He could very well step into the starting lineup for the Flames this fall.
Net impact to roster: Downgrade due to the amount of lost production
CORNERS
Lost:
Chris Megginson (12 GP, 12 GS, 33 tackles, 2 TFLs)
Daijahn Anthony (12 GP, 1 GS, 27 tackles, 0.5 TFLs, 2 INTs)
Deon Biggins (4 GP)
Returning:
Kobe Singleton (13 GP, 10 GS, 26 tackles, 2 INTs)
Amarian Williams (13 GP, 3 GS, 20 tackles, 1 TFL)
Dexter Ricks, Jr. (3 GP)
Antwon Jackson (didn’t play)
Incoming:
Joshua Wiggins (Colorado transfer)
Elijah Hopkins (Coastal Carolina transfer)
Marquis Bell (Junior College transfer)
Jamal Miles (High School signee)
The Flames lose half of their corners that saw significant playing time last year, but the addition of three transfers should help offset the loss of Megginson and Anthony.
Net impact to roster: Neutral
SAFETIES
Lost:
Javon Scruggs (12 GP, 12 GS, 69 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT)
Rocket Rahimi (13 GP, 13 GS, 56 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 5 INTs)
Juawan Treadwell (13 GP, 5 GS, 25 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack)
Tim Coutras (11 GP)
Returning:
Quinton Reese (12 GP, 9 GS, 29 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT)
Brylan Green (13 GP, 32 tackles, 9.5 TFLs)
Preston Hodge (12 GP, 12 tackles)
A’Khori Jones (11 GP, 18 tackles, 3 TFLs)
Jaylon Jimmerson (4 GP)
Jayden Sweeney (2 GP)
Incoming:
Brandon Bishop (Louisiana transfer)
Jabin Ford (Junior College transfer)
Christian Bodnar (High School signee)
Again, another position where the Flames lose a lot of production. Quinton Reese is the only returning starter. Brylan Green would seemingly be the next guy to step up at the position, but he did miss the majority of the spring as he has been with the baseball team. Preston Hodge, A’Khori Jones, and Jaylon Jimmerson should all provide solid depth at the position while incoming transfer Brandon Bishop will also be counted on to provide a large role.
Net impact to roster: Downgrade due to the amount of lost production
SPECIALISTS
Lost:
Aidan Alves (punter)
Austin Mock (long snapper)
Jason Stricker (kickoff specialist)
Returning:
Max Morgan (punter)
Brayden Beck (kicker)
Nick Brown (kicker)
Teagen Lenderink (kicker)
Austin Turner (long snapper)
Incoming:
None
Just like most of the rest of the positions, Liberty turns over most of its specialists too. Brayden Beck and Nick Brown have each had shots at being the team’s kicker over the past two years, while Max Morgan stepped in admirably for an injured Aidan Alves in 2021.
Net impact to roster: Downgrade due to the loss of significant experience
