We continue to countdown towards the 2023 football season where Liberty will make its debut in Conference USA and under new head coach Jamey Chadwell all while looking to make it back to a 5th straight bowl game.

This year’s team brings many questions with it as is expected with a new coaching staff, but also with approximately 50% roster turnover through graduation, the transfer portal, and other departures. Setting out to rank the top 30 players on the team is an arduous task any time, but even more so entering the 2023 campaign for the Flames.

We are certain to miss on some of these players’ rankings with so many changes from the 2022 season to this year.

Be sure to check out our previous rankings of #30-21 and #20-11 as we continue today with our ranking of players #10-1.

10. Reese Smith

Smith has the ability to lead the team in receptions in 2023. The first year player for the Flames, Smith comes to Lynchburg from West Virginia where he was a valuable member of the Mountaineers’ receiving corps.

9. CJ Daniels

Daniels has the potential to be one of the team’s top receivers. He is coming off a torn ACL suffered last spring. As he hopefully gets back to full strength this fall, the Flames will look to him to help lead a relatively inexperienced group of receivers.

8. Brandon Bishop

Bishop announced his presence to the Liberty faithful during the spring game a few months ago, as his interception would have gone for a touchdown if it weren’t for the bounce houses and inflatables in one end zone. The Louisiana transfer will be needed to help provide experience at safety and offset some key losses.

7. Jordan White

After transferring in from West Virginia, White was immediately inserted into the first team on the offensive line this past spring for the Flames. He is expected to be the team’s starting center, but regardless of where he ends up playing, White will be expected to be a key member of Liberty’s offensive line.

6. Chike Nwankwo

Liberty was decimated in the portal at linebacker, losing both starters to other programs. The Flames were able to bring in Abilene Christian transfer Chike Nwankwo who will be a favorite to lead the team in tackles this season once he adjusts to his new teammates and the new system.

5. Quinton Cooley

The Flames will need Cooley to be a leader at running back. Coming into the program from Wake Forest, Liberty will look to the veteran to lead the new look room in a new look offense. He has the potential to be a 1,000 yard back and get the bulk of the carries in this offense.

4. Brendan Schlittler

Schlittler has been a consistent performer as Liberty’s starting right guard for most of his career. He enters his final year of eligibility and will be looking to advance to a 5th bowl game during his career.

3. Quinton Reese

Reese has played in the shadows of other great Liberty safeties during the first part of his career, most notably Javon Scruggs. That will no longer be the case this year as Reese must emerge to not only be one of the team’s best players but also a key leader.

2. X’Zauvea Gadlin

Gadlin was a key transfer for the Flames last season on the offensive line, immediately becoming an invaluable piece up front. Entering 2023, with several starters and depth pieces from the offensive line no longer in the program, Gadlin becomes that much more important to the team’s success.

1. Kendy Charles

There are a lot of unknowns for the Flames on the defensive line entering the 2023 season, but one thing is for certain – Kendy Charles will be a leader of the team. He must now adjust to being one of the top players on the field at all times and still perform at a high level.