Fan the Flames 2012 Preview Part 3: WR/TE
Posted: July 30th, 2012, 7:51 pm
With the football team reporting to town on Wednesday, we continue looking at the 2012 edition of the Flames and finish with the receivers as well as PAMedic's favorite position (besides kicker).
WR
Players Lost
Chris Summers 64 catches 1,014 yards 7 TDs Liberty all time leader in catches, TDs and yards
Ervin Garner 18 catches 181 yards 1 TD
BJ Hayes 28 catches 306 Yards 1 TD
Greg Pratt 1 catch 6 yards 0 TD (moved to CB in the spring)
Players Returning
Ryan Ferguson 9 catches 148 yards 1 TD
Pat Kelly 40 catches 591 yards 3 TD
Elliot Dutra No 2011 stats
Branden Francis No 2011 stats
JaQuan Glover No 2011 stats
Gabe Henderson No 2011 stats (redshirt, converted QB)
Players Incoming
Damarcus Faison 6-4 190 Lbs Tampa, FL (Cambridge Christian HS)
Ryan McCarter 6-2 165 Lbs Sterling, Va. (Park View HS)
Darrin Peterson 6-2 190 Lbs Attalla, Ala. (Etowah HS)
Dante' Shells 6-2 170 Lbs Camden, Del. (Caesar Rodney HS) (Grayshirt).
This position can be pretty much described as Pat Kelly...and everybody else. Kelly finished second on the team in catches with 40 and three touchdowns. The Liberty Christian product has shown electrifying ability when he is healthy as five of his eight TDs have gone for 50 yards or more (including introducing himself to the LU faithful with a 75 yard catch and run against St. Francis in 2010). His ability has been recognized as he has been honored as a preseason all-Big South selection as well as a preseason All-American by CollegeSportingNews.com. Its pretty much wide open after him though. Of the remaining four returning receivers, only Ryan Ferguson has caught a pass (picked up his first career TD against Robert Morris). PK endorsed junior Glover who opened a few eyes with his performance in spring practice. Dante Shells, who came in in January, made good progress in the spring as well. Look for all three of the incoming freshmen (Faison, McCarter and Peterson) to get a fair shot at breaking into the rotation and dont be surprised to see at least one of them on the field whenever the Flames go into a five wide package. Gabe Henderson, who converted from QB, will get a chance to channel former star Mike Brown, who parlayed his conversion to Big South Offensive Player of the Year in 2009.
TE
Players Lost:
Tommy Shaver 17 Rec 307 Yds 2 TD
Players Returning:
Andrew Cordasco No 2011 stats
Brandon Apon 5 Rec 34 Yds 2 TD
Justin Gunn 1 Rec 6 Yds 0 TD
Peter Gagliardi 6 Rec 80 Yds 1 TD
Players Incoming
Kendall Couamin 6-2 225 Lbs Pines, Fla. (Everglades HS)
Canon Smith 6-4 255 Lbs Birmingham, Ala. (Briarwood Christian HS)
Tommy Shaver made quite an impression his last couple years as both a blocker and a pass catcher and all 6 of these guys will have quite an act to follow. Apon saw the most action of the returners, tying with Shaver for most TDs by a TE last season. As noted in the spring outlook, three of the four returning TEs combined for 12 catches and just 114 yards (Tommy Shaver had a career high 110 yards against Gardner-Webb last season). Apon and Gagliardi will probably start camp as 1 and 2 but do not be surprised if Cordasco (transfer from UVa before the 2011 season), Gunn or even freshmen Couamin or Smith earn their way into the lineup by the time LU heads for Winston-Salem at the end of August.
WR
Players Lost
Chris Summers 64 catches 1,014 yards 7 TDs Liberty all time leader in catches, TDs and yards
Ervin Garner 18 catches 181 yards 1 TD
BJ Hayes 28 catches 306 Yards 1 TD
Greg Pratt 1 catch 6 yards 0 TD (moved to CB in the spring)
Players Returning
Ryan Ferguson 9 catches 148 yards 1 TD
Pat Kelly 40 catches 591 yards 3 TD
Elliot Dutra No 2011 stats
Branden Francis No 2011 stats
JaQuan Glover No 2011 stats
Gabe Henderson No 2011 stats (redshirt, converted QB)
Players Incoming
Damarcus Faison 6-4 190 Lbs Tampa, FL (Cambridge Christian HS)
Ryan McCarter 6-2 165 Lbs Sterling, Va. (Park View HS)
Darrin Peterson 6-2 190 Lbs Attalla, Ala. (Etowah HS)
Dante' Shells 6-2 170 Lbs Camden, Del. (Caesar Rodney HS) (Grayshirt).
This position can be pretty much described as Pat Kelly...and everybody else. Kelly finished second on the team in catches with 40 and three touchdowns. The Liberty Christian product has shown electrifying ability when he is healthy as five of his eight TDs have gone for 50 yards or more (including introducing himself to the LU faithful with a 75 yard catch and run against St. Francis in 2010). His ability has been recognized as he has been honored as a preseason all-Big South selection as well as a preseason All-American by CollegeSportingNews.com. Its pretty much wide open after him though. Of the remaining four returning receivers, only Ryan Ferguson has caught a pass (picked up his first career TD against Robert Morris). PK endorsed junior Glover who opened a few eyes with his performance in spring practice. Dante Shells, who came in in January, made good progress in the spring as well. Look for all three of the incoming freshmen (Faison, McCarter and Peterson) to get a fair shot at breaking into the rotation and dont be surprised to see at least one of them on the field whenever the Flames go into a five wide package. Gabe Henderson, who converted from QB, will get a chance to channel former star Mike Brown, who parlayed his conversion to Big South Offensive Player of the Year in 2009.
TE
Players Lost:
Tommy Shaver 17 Rec 307 Yds 2 TD
Players Returning:
Andrew Cordasco No 2011 stats
Brandon Apon 5 Rec 34 Yds 2 TD
Justin Gunn 1 Rec 6 Yds 0 TD
Peter Gagliardi 6 Rec 80 Yds 1 TD
Players Incoming
Kendall Couamin 6-2 225 Lbs Pines, Fla. (Everglades HS)
Canon Smith 6-4 255 Lbs Birmingham, Ala. (Briarwood Christian HS)
Tommy Shaver made quite an impression his last couple years as both a blocker and a pass catcher and all 6 of these guys will have quite an act to follow. Apon saw the most action of the returners, tying with Shaver for most TDs by a TE last season. As noted in the spring outlook, three of the four returning TEs combined for 12 catches and just 114 yards (Tommy Shaver had a career high 110 yards against Gardner-Webb last season). Apon and Gagliardi will probably start camp as 1 and 2 but do not be surprised if Cordasco (transfer from UVa before the 2011 season), Gunn or even freshmen Couamin or Smith earn their way into the lineup by the time LU heads for Winston-Salem at the end of August.
