With the arrival of spring practice this weekend for Liberty football, the Flames will get the chance to get to work at practice to improve and prepare for the 2020 campaign.

Every spring is important, but this one seems to be more crucial for a Liberty program looking to replace all-time greats like Antonio Gandy-Golden and Buckshot Calvert. There’s also plenty of other intriguing storylines entering spring and the 2020 season under 2nd year head coach Hugh Freeze.

Here’s a look at the Top 5 questions for the Liberty football team to address during 2020 spring camp:

1. Who will replace Buckshot?

Anytime there’s a quarterback competition it’s a big storyline in the offseason, but Liberty is replacing a 4-year starter who threw for over 12,000 yards in his career. Auburn transfer Malik Willis has been in the program for a year and certainly has a leg up in the battle, but Maine grad transfer Chris Ferguson and redshirt-freshman Johnathan Bennett will make a push. Of course, Bennett is coming off an injury and may not be able to compete in spring practice until towards the end of the 15 practices.

2. Who will replace AGG?

We’ve followed Antonio Gandy-Golden pretty close since his Liberty career ended as he prepares for the NFL Draft. While he is doing that, his former team will begin to prepare for life after him. Replacing a stud WR is not as difficult as replacing a 4-year starter at QB, but AGG does leave huge shoes to fill. It will likely be a collected effort from the likes of CJ Yarbrough, Kevin Shaa, Khaleb Coleman, and Noah Frith. Also, look for JUCO transfer Jaivian Lofton to make an immediate impact.

3. Who will step up at Linebacker?

Linebacker was already one of the positions with the least depth and now the Flames have to deal with the losses of Solomon Ajayi, Brandon Tillmon, and Remington Green. Amarii Jenkins and Waylen Cozad are the only two that have any significant playing time. Charlotte grad transfer Anthony Butler and redshirt-freshmen Malik Caper and Aubrey Williams will be needed to provided depth under new LB Coach Scott Symons. Symons, who is Liberty’s defensive coordinator, will take over at LB Coach as

4. Who will replace Alex Probert?

Probert elected to become a grad transfer and has ended up at Iowa State. The Flames add current Liberty student and former Penn State kicker Alex Barbir who will battle with redshirt-freshman Jason Stricker.

5. How much of an impact will the transfers make?

Liberty will look to several transfers to fill in at key positions this season. Including Malik Willis, who transferred in from Auburn last year and had to sit out the 2019 season, the Flames have also added Chris Ferguson, Jaivian Lofton, Bryce Mathews, Durrell Johns, Anthony Butler, Marcus Haskins, Juawan Treadwell, and Tim Kidd-Glass as transfers. Any or all of them could emerge as leaders of the team and starters in 2020.