Training Camp Position Preview: Wide Receivers
8/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Throughout the month of August, LibertyFlames.com will run a series of interviews with each of Liberty's position coaches, getting further insight into each position leading into the 2015 season.
LibertyFlames.com continues its position previews today with a look at the Flames wide receivers, a group that is led by one of the nation's top offensive threats in Darrin Peterson.
The senior had a record breaking year in 2014, setting new program single-season standards for receiving yards (1,379) and receptions (85), while adding a career best 12 receiving touchdowns. Nationally, he ranked No. 4 in receiving yards in the country, No. 10 in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards per game (98.5) and No. 25 in receptions per game (6.1).
Peterson enters his senior season poised to rewrite most of Liberty's career receiving records. He was named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America team and is one of the 22 players named to the STATS FCS Preseason Offensive Player of the Year award watch list.
Peterson is the senior leader of Liberty's wide receivers following the graduation of Gabe Henderson. The former quarterback finished his senior year at Liberty with career receiving numbers, ranking second on the squad with 56 receptions, 651 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Zac Parker and Dante' Shells look to be Liberty's other top contenders for the remaining starting positions within the wide receiver group.
Shells had a breakout year in 2014, finishing the season with 25 receptions for 560 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The junior had two standout games last year against Appalachian State (eight receptions, 164 yards) and Gardner-Webb (two receptions, 106 yards). However, the injuries that hampered him during the second half of the year lingered during spring workouts, limiting his ability to prepare for the 2015 season.
Parker saw playing time in 13 of 14 games in 2014, but most of his time on the field came as a part of Liberty's special teams unit. He finished the year with seven punt returns for 16 yards (2.3 average) and seven kickoff returns for 104 yards (14.9 average). He also finished the year with three receptions for 16 yards.
The next two players on Liberty's wide receiver list with previous playing experience are junior Ryan McCarter and sophomore Dakota Kelly. McCarter has been with the program for three years and saw his first playing time in three games in 2014. Kelly saw time in 13 of 14 games, finishing last year with four receptions for 41 yards.
The remainder of players available to wide receiver coach Ron Brown, the newest addition to Liberty's coaching staff, is made up of younger players, including sophomores (Isaac Brown and Malaki Roy), redshirt freshmen (Kyle Carrington, B.J. Farrow and Marquis Fitzgerald) and true freshmen (Denvre Daniels and Damian King).
Wide Receivers Position at a Glance:
(Depth Chart leading into August Training Camp)
Starters
WR (X) – Darrin Peterson (Sr., 6-2, 190)
WR (Z and H) – Zac Parker (Jr., 5-9, 175)
Back-Ups
B.J. Farrow (R-Fr., 6-2, 170)
Dakota Kelly (So., 5-11, 170)
Ryan McCarter (Jr., 6-2, 165)
Dante' Shells (Jr., 6-1, 175)
Reserves
Isaac Brown (So., 6-3, 180)
Kyle Carrington (R-Fr., 6-1, 175)
Denvre Daniels (Fr., 5-10, 175)
Marquis Fitzgerald (R-Fr., 6-1, 180)
Damian King (Fr., 5-11, 170)
Malaki Roy (So., 5-10, 185)
Practice Update:
The Flames held their second of four consecutive morning practices on Tuesday under nearly ideal conditions (overcast skies and upper 70 degrees). Liberty will continue morning workouts until Friday when they practice before the incoming freshmen class as part of the President's Kickoff event.
LibertyFlames.com's coverage of the Flames' August training camp continues tomorrow when the website has a chance to catch up with Head Coach Turner Gill for a post practice update.
