Thank you for submitting your questions and continue to send them in and we will be happy to answer them in our next feature. You can send them to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, e-mail, or as a comment on the site. We had a ton of great questions this week, so let’s get right to it.

With the depth Coach Freeze and his staff has built, there are actually several position battles that are intriguing to watch during training camp this summer and into the fall. How about running back? Joshua Mack is the presumed starter, but expect Utah transfer TJ Green to push and don’t count out the explosive Shedro Louis. Receiver will be another position to watch, particularly on the outside. Another sneaky position battle to keep tabs on is at left guard where super senior Damian Bounds returns as the veteran, multi-year starter but Jacob Bodden nearly had surpassed Bounds by the Cure Bowl. Linebacker will be another highly competitive position for starting spots with Aaron Pierre, Rashaad Harding, and Storey Jackson at the top of the pecking order.

I’ll give you two names to watch, one on each side of the ball. Look for CJ Daniels to have a big impact this year at wide receiver. He’s a typical slot guy but will be getting plenty of reps on the outside this fall. On defense, Aakil Washington had a very strong true freshman campaign, but expect him to continue to develop and have an ever bigger impact at defensive end behind TreShaun Clark and Durrell Johnson.

Question received – “More than likely, is Storey Jackson the starter along with the ULM transfer at linebacker?

It’s hard to answer before Jackson even arrives on campus, but based on his film Jackson looks to be a Will backer and I would expect Aaron Pierre to start at that spot. Jackson’s film is ridiculous though, and he could end up being the best linebacker on the team. So, look for him to have a huge impact this fall. Rashaad Harding, the ULM transfer, is still likely the favorite to be the starter at the Mike backer in Anthony Butler’s absence.

We discussed Williams Stadium expansion plans earlier this summer as Athletic Director Ian McCaw talked about future plans. The current plan is to have some expansion following the 2021 season and prior to the 2022 season to add bleachers in the end zone where the berm currently is. As for the current construction ongoing at Carter Tower, the seldom used patios on each end of the Club 3rd Level is being turned into indoor space to expand the current Club Level.

Playing multiple Power Fives has a big impact in recruiting, as recruits typically spotlight the Flames’ schedule as a big reason for committing. If Liberty plays at least two P5s per season, that will always be as many, if not more, than any Group of Five team in the country as those teams typically play just one P5 per season. Being FBS, whether you have the weakest rated schedule or the toughest, scouts will find you easily. Many times NFL scouts question the competition level faced by players from schools that don’t play in the P5 like we heard about Antonio Gandy-Golden a couple years ago when he was preparing for the draft.

Now you’re making us get rid of some of our Club content from earlier this month! Darius McGhee, Kyle Rode, and Blake Preston are the returning starters. Expect Drake Dobbs (point) and Keegan McDowell (wing) to get the first crack at replacing Parker and Cuffee. Freshmen Joseph Venzant, Brody Peebles, and DJ Moore will have their say in that starting five before the first game, as well. In addition to those, Shiloh Robinson is a lock for playing time as one of the first off the bench. Bryson Spell could fight for playing time, as could Micaiah Abii.

At the mid-major level, even at the high-major level in recent seasons, there just are not many true big men available. That’s just the way the game has evolved over the past decade plus. McKay has always been a fan of having shooters all over the court and that hasn’t changed. He is a fan of either three-point attempts or layups, nothing in-between. Having said that, Blake Preston is the most prototypical back to the basket big that McKay has likely ever had in his rotation during his time at Liberty. McKay does love being able to create mismatches on the offensive end of the floor by having versatile forwards who can shoot and attack off the dribble.

We broke down the early signing period for baseball a few months ago, so be sure to check that out.Transfer Tyler Kehoe, a North Carolina signee, is clearly the most likely to make an immediate impact on the diamond next spring. As for softball, I honestly do not know anything about the incoming recruits.

On the advice of counsel, I invoke my fifth amendment privilege and respectfully decline to answer your question.