Another edition of the ASOR Mailbag! 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.

  1. It’s probably too early to give an accurate assessment of the defensive line, or any position, through the first week of practice. Only four periods of practice to this point have been open to the media, and the interview sessions to this point have been primarily focused on the quarterback position and getting to know the new assistant coaches and new coaching responsibilities of the staff. That said, the defensive line should be the strength of the team in 2022 with the level of depth and and talent they have accumulated over the past couple of years.
  2. A lot depends on the quarterback position as for what the ceiling for the football team is this coming fall. The Flames open with a very challenging schedule right from the get go playing at Southern Miss in the first game of the year before facing UAB and Wake Forest, two very good teams. Liberty will be, at best, a toss up to win all three of the games. Getting out of that opening three game slate at 2-1 would be a big feat. The back half of the schedule features more games where the Flames should be favored but also have games against BYU, Arkansas, and Virginia Tech. I do expect the football team to compete once again to be bowl eligible and have a winning record, but the schedule is very daunting.
  3. Great question. It probably depends on each year with the football bowl win being the default answer. For example, Liberty’s win over Coastal Carolina in the 2020 Cure Bowl was one of the most viewed and best bowl games of the 2020-21 bowl season. Now, if Liberty were to make a run to the Sweet 16 in men’s hoops, it would probably be worth more than a Lending Tree Bowl win over Eastern Michigan. A College World Series run would be on par with each of those, but the spring sport does not typically bring the same number of eyeballs as football and men’s hoops.

I’m not convinced CUSA is looking to add a 10th team at this point. That could certainly change as time goes forward. It’s also nearly impossible to predict what will happen in the future of conference realignment where everything is on the table. UMass and UConn would be potential football only members, but it doesn’t sound like that is something all parties agree on. The next most likely thing is for the CUSA to tap back into the FCS with a school like Tarleton State, if they do decide to expand further. It might also make sense for the conference to just wait it out and hope the new look league builds itself back into a position of power that it had not too long ago and be able to swoon other solid FBS programs.

  1. I definitely think the offensive line has the potential to be much better in 2022. That position has been one of priority for the coaching staff this offseason. With a new OL coach and several new transfers, as well as an offense that’s not designed primarily around one person, I expect to see improvement on the O-Line.
  2. Last go a round in the ASUN and the Flames have won three out of the past four championships. That’s incredibly difficult to do in a one bid league, and the expectation next year will be to compete for a fourth title in five years before moving to the CUSA.
  3. It’s still very early in the season and a lot can change over the next several weeks and months, but the way Derek Orndorff has started off this season certainly has him on scout’s radars. Aaron Anderson has been a highly productive bat the past two season and he is certain to get some looks as well. Others that could make a case include Stephen Hill and Brady Gulakowski.

The early favorites entering spring practice were Johnathan Bennett and Charlie Brewer with Kaidon Salter and Nate Hampton being the dark-horses. That is still probably the case, but the more I ask around and watch this battle take shape, the more I think Salter has a real shot to push into this battle. Coach Freeze has mentioned that he hopes to have it down to the top two challengers by the end of the spring, so be sure to check back on our frequent updates over the next few weeks.

Best thing to do is reach out to Liberty Athletics and their Fan Experience & Promotions group at 434-492-7097.