- August 6th, 2011, 1:32 pm
#351911
The Liberty Flames finally got to turn the ignition on the 2011 season on Wednesday as the players reported back to begin practice as the 2011 opener is just four and a half weeks away (four as I type this). There is a lot of excitement from players, coaches and fans for this season. Liberty comes in with four preseason All-Americans (Mike Brown, also 2011 Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the year, Chris Summers, Asa Chapman and Matt Bevins) and comes in with many pieces from the most explosive offense in FCS (over the last two seasons, Liberty has scored 40 or more points 11 times, 50 or more on 8 of those occasions). Chapman leads a defense that is hoping to improve on their 20.2 ppg allowed average last year (After only allowing 20 or more points 3 times in 2009 against FCS competition, it happened 5 times in 2010 including losses to Robert Morris and Coastal Carolina). Liberty has won or shared the last four conference titles, but this isnt the schoolyard or the classroom, where sharing is encouraged, Liberty wants the Big South title (and the NCAA automatic bid that comes with it), all to themselves this year.
With a daunting schedule out of the gate, including games against two 2010 NCAA Championship participants (Lehigh and Robert Morris), an in state rival (JMU) and a 2010 FBS bowl team (NC State), Liberty hopes to be primed and ready to let the fire in their name burn brighter than ever and roll through the Big South like they did in 2007 and 2008.
Brown will once again be the man under center (well as much under center as one can be in Liberty's offense) running the show for Liberty, but look for backup Tyler Brennan to get quite a few snaps as the coaches hope to minimize much of the pounding that their QB took last year and left him quite gimpy on many occasions. The running game was almost a non-factor due to problematic offensive line play, but with all three backs, Sirchauncey Holloway, Korrey Davis and Chase Barnett all back this year, as well as the return of 2009 leading rusher Aldreakis Allen, there will be plenty of people hoping to shoulder the load.
Summers leads the receiving corps, along with Pat Kelly, who had his "coming out party" against Stony Brook in the 2010 finale. Kelly set a school and conference record with 235 yards receiving and two long touchdowns, and cemented himself as a second deep threat, as three of his four touchdowns on the year went for 50+ yards. Ervin Garner and BJ Hayes complete a stout foursome of receivers for Brown to spread the ball to.
The biggest question comes from the aforementioned offensive line. Last year saw four of the five 2009 starters return, but saw a drop in rushing yards. Malcolm Boyd is the only returning starter this year and he will be tasked with leading a newer line this year, which could include Liberty's top signee this past February, Grant Jones, a local product out of Liberty Christian Academy.
Defensively, the biggest losses contribution-wise came in the front seven. Liberty lost two all conference selections (Terry Adams and Kyle O'Donnell) and nine total players (three, Eric Fath, Justin Gunn and 2010 signee Matt Baptiste converting to offense) so there will be plenty of players tasked with stepping up to take a lot of the pressure off nose guard Chapman. Mike Connolly leads the linebackers, after recovering from a knee injury that cut short his 2010 season, and Scott Hyland, another Liberty Christian Academy grad, as well as Demetrius Ward and 2010 Ole Miss transfer Marques Jenkins. 2010 signee Nick Sigmon out of nearby Northside High School looks to cement himself in the lineup and make an impact after redshirting in 2010.
In the defensive backfield, there is probably as much talk of who is new as there is who is returning, as FBS transfers Walt Aikens (Illinois) and Ryan Ayers (Georgia Tech) look to bolster what was already a very good group of ball hawks. 2009 All conference selection Kajuan Lee along with Kevin Fogg, Chris Mayo, Brent Vinson and Brandon Robinson as well as Aikens and Ayers hope to put pass defenses on "lock down" this season.
Special teams has probably seen the least amount of change of any of the units this year...or even in the past four years...Matt Bevins has had the kicker spot "on lock" since he hit the mountain in 2008. Mike Larsson came on as a walk-on at punter and he has missed very few games...in fact in three years, he has only had one punt blocked.
This is a team that has a chance to be a very special team and hopefully this year's team has as magical a run as another group of seniors, the 2005 Liberty Lady Flames basketball team, who made a run in the NCAA Tournament all the way to the sweet 16...although this group no doubt is aiming much higher...the national championship game in Frisco, TX.
With a daunting schedule out of the gate, including games against two 2010 NCAA Championship participants (Lehigh and Robert Morris), an in state rival (JMU) and a 2010 FBS bowl team (NC State), Liberty hopes to be primed and ready to let the fire in their name burn brighter than ever and roll through the Big South like they did in 2007 and 2008.
Brown will once again be the man under center (well as much under center as one can be in Liberty's offense) running the show for Liberty, but look for backup Tyler Brennan to get quite a few snaps as the coaches hope to minimize much of the pounding that their QB took last year and left him quite gimpy on many occasions. The running game was almost a non-factor due to problematic offensive line play, but with all three backs, Sirchauncey Holloway, Korrey Davis and Chase Barnett all back this year, as well as the return of 2009 leading rusher Aldreakis Allen, there will be plenty of people hoping to shoulder the load.
Summers leads the receiving corps, along with Pat Kelly, who had his "coming out party" against Stony Brook in the 2010 finale. Kelly set a school and conference record with 235 yards receiving and two long touchdowns, and cemented himself as a second deep threat, as three of his four touchdowns on the year went for 50+ yards. Ervin Garner and BJ Hayes complete a stout foursome of receivers for Brown to spread the ball to.
The biggest question comes from the aforementioned offensive line. Last year saw four of the five 2009 starters return, but saw a drop in rushing yards. Malcolm Boyd is the only returning starter this year and he will be tasked with leading a newer line this year, which could include Liberty's top signee this past February, Grant Jones, a local product out of Liberty Christian Academy.
Defensively, the biggest losses contribution-wise came in the front seven. Liberty lost two all conference selections (Terry Adams and Kyle O'Donnell) and nine total players (three, Eric Fath, Justin Gunn and 2010 signee Matt Baptiste converting to offense) so there will be plenty of players tasked with stepping up to take a lot of the pressure off nose guard Chapman. Mike Connolly leads the linebackers, after recovering from a knee injury that cut short his 2010 season, and Scott Hyland, another Liberty Christian Academy grad, as well as Demetrius Ward and 2010 Ole Miss transfer Marques Jenkins. 2010 signee Nick Sigmon out of nearby Northside High School looks to cement himself in the lineup and make an impact after redshirting in 2010.
In the defensive backfield, there is probably as much talk of who is new as there is who is returning, as FBS transfers Walt Aikens (Illinois) and Ryan Ayers (Georgia Tech) look to bolster what was already a very good group of ball hawks. 2009 All conference selection Kajuan Lee along with Kevin Fogg, Chris Mayo, Brent Vinson and Brandon Robinson as well as Aikens and Ayers hope to put pass defenses on "lock down" this season.
Special teams has probably seen the least amount of change of any of the units this year...or even in the past four years...Matt Bevins has had the kicker spot "on lock" since he hit the mountain in 2008. Mike Larsson came on as a walk-on at punter and he has missed very few games...in fact in three years, he has only had one punt blocked.
This is a team that has a chance to be a very special team and hopefully this year's team has as magical a run as another group of seniors, the 2005 Liberty Lady Flames basketball team, who made a run in the NCAA Tournament all the way to the sweet 16...although this group no doubt is aiming much higher...the national championship game in Frisco, TX.
Liberty Class of 2009
2007 AND 2008 Big South Football Champions
2014 FCS Playoff Qualifier
2007 AND 2008 Big South Football Champions
2014 FCS Playoff Qualifier
- By thecomeback
- By Sly Fox
- By jmclaughlin