[BJWilliams]

With the cancellation of classes I now have time to write my final 07 team review on the special teams players:


Kickers

• 1. Noah Greenbaum (starter)
  2. David Drake

1. Noah Greenbaum- After spending his undergraduate career as a member of the Virginia Cavaliers, Greenbaum transferred to Liberty University and became the starting kicker in 2007. He gave the kicking game a much needed boost, finishing 15-19 on field goals, and 56-59 on PATs.

2. David Drake- The redshirt sophomore did not attempt a field goal in 2007 but was sometimes used for kickoffs

With Greenbaum graduating, Drake will likely take the #1 position at kicker in the spring, but walk-on Ben Shipps did show promise in practice and this looks to be an interesting battle. Liberty also received a commitment from Matt Bevins, a kicker out of Warwick High School, so this could be a very busy year at the kicker position.



Punters

• 1. Zac Kolegue (starter)
  2. Wes Cheek

1. Zac Kolegue- after speinding much of his career as a kicker for the Flames (and being regularly maligned for missing kicks when they were most needed), and suffering a knee injury, Kolegue returned to the team in 2007 and found somewhat of a renaissance as the #1 punter. Kolegue finished with 38 punts for an average of 40.9 yards per punt and a season long of 55 yards

2. Wes Cheek- the backup running back also served as the backup punter for the flames and attempted 1 punt for 40 yards in 2007

With Kolegue graduating, There are questions about the punter position. Cheek could ascend into the role, but he is also #2 running back behind Rashad Jennings. Look for Drake to be in line for this position as well



Kick Returns

• 1. Wynton Jackson
  2. Dominic Bolden
  3. STOKES, Chris
  4. MANNS, Donald
  5. ROGERS, Eugene
  6. LUCK, Chris
  7. THOM, Richard
  8. QUARLES, Will
  9. CRAWFORD, Jonathan
  10. BISHOP, Derek

1. Wynton Jackson- In 2006 Jackson showed just how much of a gamebreaker he can be leading the Flames in kickoff return yardage. In 2007, teams opted to kick away from Jackson so his numbers were not as impressive, but he still finished with 10 returns for 202 yards to finish #2 on the team.

2. Dominic Bolden- After finishing 2006 2nd in kickoff return yards behind Wynton Jackson, Bolden exploded as teams opted to kick to him instead of Wynton Jackson. Bolden finished #1 in return yards (671) #1 in average per return (32 yards/return) and had the only kick returned for a touchdown, an 83 yarder against VMI, on the season


The following players also registered at least one return in 2007:

• 3. Chris Stokes
  4. Donald Manns
  5. Eugene Rogers
  6. Chris Luck
  7. Richard Thom
  8. Will Quarles
  9. Jonathan Crawford
  10. Derek Bishop

Punt Returns

1. Wynton Jackson- While he was no the #1 kick returner, Jackson was still the gamebreaker when it came to punt returns, finishing #1 in return yards, and a pair of touchdowns, including a season long 88 yarder.
2. Jonathan Crawford- Found his niche as teh #2 returner, behind Jackson, and had the only other punt return for a touchdown, a 65 yard return for a touchdown against VMI
3. Patrick Calvary- The only other player with more than 1 return on the year, he finished with 4 returns for 26 yards.

Al Bailey and Dominic Bolden each registered only one return on the season.


With Wynton Jackson graduating, look for Jon Crawford to be the #1 punt return man in 08, with Dominic Bolden handling most of the kickoffs, but Ryan Greiser has returned kicks as well so he should find time catching a few kicks for the Flames.




This concludes the position by position breakdown of the 2007 Liberty University Flames, 2007 Big South Conference champions. February 6th I will run down the 2008 signing class.

[Cider Jim]

Thanks, BJ.

[PAmedic]

YAY , GREISER


WHOOOOOOO

[BJWilliams]

I was wondering when you'd make an appearance PA. I would have thought youd be all over the Defensive Backs review since your boy Greiser is a starter

[LUconn]

Is Wes Cheek really who we think is gonna be the punter? or is that just your analysis, BJ.

[BJWilliams]

That is just my analysis LUConn. With Cheek as our #2 TB on the roster, I would not be surprised if someone else handled the regular punting duties in 08.