A Sea Of Red

Our final look into the 2013 Liberty Flames takes a look at the group that few people are talking about coming into the year but may be one that most needs to stay healthy this season:

Players Lost:

Brennan Landis
Aaron Sassaman

Players Returning:

John Lunsford (2012 Second team All Conference)
Grant Bowden (2012 Second Team All Conference)
Kevin Fogg
Walt Aikens
Ryan Ayers
D.J. Abnar
Jaquan Glover

While a whole stable of kick returners comes back for 2013, only two kickers are listed on the roster coming into the fall in all-conference honorees Lunsford and Bowden. True freshman Lunsford, did miss the Concord game with a leg injury before coming back and hitting a season long 50 yard field goal in the rain at Coastal Carolina. With the loss of Sassaman and Landis, Lunsford will likely be counted on for the vast majority of kicking responsibilities. I wouldnt be surprised to see Bowden, a transfer from Virginia Tech for 2012, take some kickoffs to take some of the burden off of the sophomore.

Liberty's first kickoff return may be one of the most exciting moments against Kent State with two gamebreakers likely lining up in All-American Fogg and Abnar, who electrified Williams Stadium the first time he touched the ball against Gardner-Webb last season, breaking an 83 yard return and showing that Fogg wasnt the only player return units had to be mindful of.

Come on BJ, you really should know better. Lunsford´s ability to boom the ball into the end zone on kickoffs is one of the best weapons he brings to the team, not a ¨burden¨. With the possible exception of trying out someone else in a blowout, I will be SHOCKED if Lunsford does not make every kickoff this season unless he is injured.

Also, all the reports from spring practices are saying that Gabe Henderson will be our second option as PR, and may run back some kickoffs as well.

What I was getting at as that with only him and Bowden as available kickers, if Lunsford DOES get injured, there arent any other options available for kicking other than Bowden. If Lunsford can take the load of doing all the kicking then fine, but I am a bit concerned at the prospect of where we turn if something happens to him.

There will always be walk-on options at kicker on just about any campus. And LU always seems to have them step in an contribute. I'm not losing any sleep over our kicking depth right now.