Liberty begins spring football practices under Chadwell’s new regime

Some say that football games are won on Saturday afternoons. It takes four full quarters of everything from every man to chase victory. Although winning happens on the field in the fall, the true victories are earned in the offseason.

The football offseason is anything but an “off” season. Recruiting, coaching changes and workouts are taking place all winter long so that teams can get a feel for what they have in the spring. 

Liberty’s offseason was one of the busiest in recent memory. While the transition from Hugh Freeze to Head Coach Jamey Chadwell has been the biggest story, some of the program’s stars are headed off to the real world, and new faces have come in to replace them. 

With all the changes, both the rookies and vets are on a level playing field. Chadwell and his staff are installing a completely new offensive system, all the while trying to find the best 11 men to take the field come September. 

Liberty’s previous offensive scheme was more “pro-style,” in the sense of a traditional spread system. Plays were built around a zone running scheme, which is very up-tempo yet methodical.

The new offense is based around the read option, as the play which has changed college football over the last decade or so has finally made its way to the Mountain. A team that runs it must be instinctive, smart and disciplined. 

Those traits are desired in the Flames offensive linemen. Bill Durkin coaches the Flames front lines and seems pleased with the progress his unit is making. Durkin and the entire coaching staff have preached the word “embrace.”

“We all embrace the changes in the different offense that we’re running with some different calls and some different techniques,” Durkin said. “The guys are working hard. We’ve got some work to do, but we’re getting there.”

Durkin also noted that some of the changes are more in terminology, or that some plays build off others.

“Everyone makes it out to more than it really needs to be. The reality is when we run our ‘option’ plays, they’re really just another version of our zone play, which they’ve run up and down the field,” Durkin explained. “Once they learn that ‘this’ is what ‘that’ was, it becomes pretty easy.”  

Durkin was quick to praise some of his young players, such as Jordan White, who has been filling in at center because of injuries, and freshman Aaron Fenimore, who has forgone his senior prom to participate in spring practice.

Changes in the “bread and butter” run scheme are prevalent, but passing will still be a large part of the offense. Fortunately for the Flames, there are several quarterbacks on the roster who can run any style of offense. Graduate Johnathan Bennett and redshirt sophomore speedster Kaidon Salter will each return this season, along with sophomore Nate Hampton, who saw limited action early last season. Senior Trey Lowe has transferred in from Southern Miss and is another great athlete competing for a chance to start at signal-caller.

Each of the Flames’ quarterbacks are all under pressure right now, as the starter has not been named. Each has equal opportunities with the first team, and the starter may not be named until late in the summer. 

One of the pass catchers expected to have a big role is Reese Smith, who transferred from West Virginia. He came to Liberty to follow receivers coach Tony Washington, who is also a former Mountaineer.

“I was in the portal for a couple of weeks, and he sent me a text and gave me a call and said, ‘I’m going to Liberty, would you be interested in being there,’ and I said, ‘Of course,’” Smith said.

Smith has drawn comparisons to former New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker because of his size and skillset. He is likely to be used in the slot, a role previously filled by prospective NFL wide receiver Demario Douglas. 

Smith appears to be on pace with the rest of the team in picking up the new system. He knows his responsibility as a leader in his position and feels as if the entire receiver group is in a similar place.

“Coming here, it’s been easier on everybody having to adjust to a new staff instead of me coming in and having to adjust to the staff they’ve been used to,” Smith said. “I think (the team) has all gotten closer adjusting to the staff.”

Fans will have a chance to see Smith, the new staff and the new offense in action on April 15, when the Flames will play their annual Spring Game at 1:30 p.m. at Williams Stadium. 

Wheeler is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on Twitter