(Photo Credit: Douglas DeFelice/USA TODAY Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Malik Willis, RB Joshua Mack, WR/PR Demario Dougles, WR D.J. Stubbs, WR Kevin Shaa, OC Thomas Sargeant, OG Damian Bounds, OG Brendan Schlittler, OT Cooper McCaw, OT Tristan Schultz, DE TreShaun Clark, DE Durrell Johnson, DT Elijah James, NT Ralfs Rusins, LB Tyren Dupree, LB Aaron Pierre, CB Marcus Haskins, CB Chris Megginson, NB Javon Scruggs, SS Juawan Treadwell, KR Shedro Louis, PK Alex Barbir, and PT Aidan Alves.
Key Players Departing:
LB Anthony Butler, and CB Emanuel Dabney.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DE Khristian Zachary (Carrollton, Georgia), LB Kaci Seegars (Cornelius, North Carolina), LB T.J. Green (Utah transfer), WR Kylen Austin (Baltimore, Maryland), QB Nate Hampton (Mocksville, North Carolina), S Skyler Thomas (Washington State transfer), DT Marquise Brunson (Virginia Beach, Virginia), OG Andrew Adair (Baltimore, Maryland), OT Mason Bundy (Blue Ridge, Georgia), and LB Ahmad Walker (Warner Robins, Georgia).
2020 Results:
G01 at Western Kentucky W 30-24
G02 FIU W 36-34
G03 NORTH ALABAMA W 28-7
G04 UL-MONROE W 40-7
G05 at Syracuse W 38-21
G06 SOUTHERN MISS W 56-35
G07 at Virginia Tech W 38-35
G08 WESTERN CAROLINA W 58-14
G09 at NC State L 14-15
G10 MASSUCHUSETTS W 45-0
BOWL vs. #9 Coastal Carolina W | OT 37-34
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 10-1
Home: 6-0
Away: 3-1
Neutral: 1-0
Head Coach: Hugh Freeze
Liberty: 18-6
Career: 60-38
Bowls: 3-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Malik Willis (170-265, 2250 yards, 64.2%, 8.5 avg., 20 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Malik Willis (141 car., 944 yards, 6.7 avg., 14 TD)
Receiving: D.J. Stubbs (38 rec., 523 yards, 13.8 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: Malik Willis (14)
Sacks: Durrell Johnson (8.5)
Tackles: Javon Scruggs (69)
Interceptions: Javon Scruggs (2)
Pass Deflections: Marcus Haskins (4)
Tackles For Loss: Durrell Johnson (10.5)
Forced Fumbles: Javon Scruggs (3)
Kick Returns: Shedro Louis (14 ret., 354 yards, 25.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Demario Douglas (15 ret., 166 yards, 11.1 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Alex Barbir (13-20 fg/fga., 65%, 50-52 xp/xpa., 89 pts.)
Punting: Aidan Alves (26 punts, 1088 yards, 41.8 avg., 8 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 7 Malik Willis (RS JR/TR)
RB: 8 Joshua Mack (RS SR/TR)
WR: 2 Kevin Shaa (RS SO)
WR: 81 Noah Frith (RS SO)
WR: 5 D.J. Stubbs (SR)
TE: 00 Johnny Huntley (RS SR/TR)
LT: 68 Tristan Schultz (SR)
LG: 59 Damian Bounds (RS SR)
OC: 65 Thomas Sargeant (RS SR)
RG: 55 Brendan Schlittler (RS SO)
RT: 77 Cooper McCaw (RS JR)
KR: 1 Shedro Louis (SO)
PK: 95 Alex Barbir (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 TreShaun Clark (SO)
DT: 55 Elijah James (SR/TR)
NT: 99 Ralfs Rusins (RS SR)
DE: 11 Durrell Johnson (JR/TR)
LB: 00 Rashaad Harding (GR/TR)
LB: 32 Aaron Pierre (RS JR)
NB: 1 Javon Scruggs (JR)
CB: 4 Chris Megginson (SO)
CB: 29 Duron Lowe (RS SR/TR)
FS: 23 Cedric Stone (GR/TR)
SS: 5 Skyler Thomas (GR/TR)
PR: 3 Demario Douglas (RS FR)
PT: 46 Aidan Alves (RS JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 CAMPBELL FIGHTING CAMELS | First meeting between schools.
09/11 at Troy Trojans | Liberty leads the series 2-1. The Flames won (22-16) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/18 OLD DOMINION MONARCHS | The series is tied 1-1. The Flames won (52-10) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/24 at Syracuse Orange | The series is tied 1-1. The Flames won (38-21) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (0-24) the inaugural meeting in 2019.
10/02 at UAB Blazers | First meeting between schools.
10/09 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS | Liberty lost (7-27) the only prior meeting between schools in 1982.
10/16 at UL-Monroe Warhawks | Last season’s 40-7 win was the first meeting between schools.
10/23 at North Texas Mean Green | Liberty lost (7-47) the only prior meeting between schools in 2018.
10/30 MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMEN | Liberty leads the series 2-1. The Flames won (45-0) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series loss (59-62 OT) was at the inaugural meeting in 2018.
11/06 at Ole Miss Rebels | First meeting between schools.
11/20 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS | Liberty lost (14-35) the only prior meeting between schools in 2019.
11/27 ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS | Liberty lost (14-38) the only prior meeting between schools in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 5-1
Neutral: 0-0
Overall: 11-1
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