(Photo Credit: USATSI)
Key Players Returning:
QB Johnathan Bennett, QB Kaidon Salter, WR Noah Frith, OG X’Zauvea Gadlin, OG Jonathan Graham, DT Kendy Charles, NT Bryce Dixon, LB Tyren Dupree, LB Aakil Washington, CB Kobe Singleton, SS Preston Hodge and PK Nick Brown.
Key Players Departing:
RB Dae Dae Hunter, RB/KR Shedro Louis, WR/RS Demario Douglas, OC Cam Reddy, OG Jacob Bodden, OG Damian Bounds, OG Brendan Schlittler, OT Naasir Watkins, DE Tre’Shaun Clark, DE Durrell Johnson, DT Dennis Osagiede, LB Mike Smith Jr., LB Ahmad Walker, CB Daijahn Anthony, CB Chris Megginson, NB Javon Scruggs, DS Robert Rahimi and PT Aidan Alves.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: LB Bryson Jennings (North Carolina transfer), QB Trey Lowe III (Southern Miss transfer), RB James Jointer (Arkansas transfer), WR Reese Smith (West Virginia transfer), OL Jordan White (Transfer), QB Reese Mooney (Denham Springs, Louisiana), CB Jamal Miles (Pelham, Alabama), DS RJ Roderick (South Carolina transfer), LB Olan Robinson (Covington, Georgia) and DS Christian Bodnar (Valrico, Florida).
2022 Results:
G01 @ Southern Miss W | 2OT 29-27
G02 UAB W 21-14
G03 @ #19 Wake Forest L 36-37
G04 AKRON W 21-12
G05 @ Old Dominion W 38-24
G06 @ UMASS W 42-24
G07 GARDNER-WEBB W 21-20
G08 BYU W 41-14
G09 @ Arkansas W 21-19
G10 @ UCONN L 33-36
G11 VIRGINIA TECH L 22-23
G12 NEW MEXICO STATE L 14-49
BWL vs. Toledo L 19-21
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 8-5
Home: 4-2
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-1
Head Coach: Hugh Freeze
Liberty: 0-0
Career: 99-57
Bowls: 2-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Johnathan Bennett (131-224, 1534 yards, 58.5%, 6.8 avg., 12 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Kaidon Salter (69 car., 285 yards, 4.1 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Noah Frith (25 rec., 446 yards, 17.8 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: Treon Sibley (3)
Sacks: Kendy Charles (5.5)
Tackles: Kendy Charles (59)
Interceptions: Kobe Singleton (2)
Pass Deflections: Kobe Singleton (6)
Tackles For Loss: Kendy Charles (10)
Forced Fumbles: Kendy Charles/Tyren Dupree/Amarian Williams (1)
Kick Returns: Treon Sibley (2 ret., 20 yards, 10.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Nick Brown (11-19 fg/fga., 58/%, 40-41 xp/xpa., 73 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 7 Kaidon Salter (RS SO/TR)
RB: 2 Victor Venn (RS FR/TR)
WR: 4 CJ Daniels (RS JR)
WR: 5 Noah Frith (RS SR)
WR: 9 Elijah Smoot (RS SR/TR)
TE: 83 Austin Henderson (RS JR/TR)
LT: 50 Chase Mitchell (RS JR)
LG: 52 Jonathan Graham (RS SR)
OC: 53 Jordan White (RS JR/TR)
RG: 73 X’Zauvea Gadlin (RS SR/TR)
RT: 63 Xavior Gray (RS SR/TR)
KR: 82 Aaron Bedgood (RS SR/TR)
PK: 95 Teagen Lenderink (RS SO/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 23 TJ Bush (FR)
DT: 92 Chris Boti (RS SO)
NT: 99 Bryce Dixon (SO)
DE: 11 CJ Bazile Jr. (SO)
LB: 00 Jerome Jolly Jr. (RS JR)
LB: 33 Tyren Dupree (RS SR)
NB: 16 Quinton Reese (RS JR)
CB: 3 Kobe Singleton (RS JR/TR)
CB: 26 Amarian Williams (RS SO)
FS: 6 Brandon Bishop (RS SR/TR)
SS: 29 A’Khori Jones (SO)
PR: 15 Brylan Green (SO)
PT: 37 Max Morgan (RS SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/02 BOWLING GREEN FALCONS | Liberty lost (3-62) the only prior meeting between schools in 2003.
09/09 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | Liberty leads the series 3-2. Last season’s 14-49 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2019.
09/16 @ Buffalo Bulls | Liberty leads the series 2-0. Liberty won (35-17) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/23 @ FIU Panthers | Liberty won (36-34) the only prior meeting between schools in 2020.
10/05 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | First meeting between schools.
10/10 @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | Liberty trails the series 0-2. Liberty lost (10-31) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
10/17 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS | The series is tied 1-1. Liberty won (41-13) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/24 @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | Liberty leads the series 3-0. Liberty won (30-24) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/04 LOUISIAINA TECH BULLDOGS | First meeting between schools.
11/11 OLD DOMINION MONARCHS | Liberty leads the series 3-1. Liberty won (38-24) last season’s meeting between schools and their only series loss (17-21) was at the inaugural meeting in 2013.
11/18 UMASS MINUTEMEN | Liberty leads the series 4-1. Liberty won (42-24) last season’s meeting between schools and their only series loss (59-62 OT) was at the inaugural meeting in 2018.
11/25 @ UTEP Miners | First meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 3-4
Away: 0-5
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 1-7
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 3-9 (7th in CUSA)
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