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With the adage in football that it all starts up front, Liberty will be ready to go in 2019.

The Blue Jays, coming off a 7-4 campaign in 2018, return their entire offensive line, and five of their front seven defensively.

“We are going to rely on our offensive line to lead our offense early,” head coach Chad Frigon said. “Defensively, we return some key players from a good defense last year that is eager to improve this fall.”

Among those returning on the offensive line are senior guard Nick Biesemeyer (6-foot-2, 260), a three-year starter and unanimous first-team all conference selection in 2018. Fellow senior Matt Lawson (6-foot-2, 255) returns at tackle as a three-year starter, while senior guard Jett Crouch (6-foot-3, 265) is a two-year starter.

Taking over at quarterback will be junior Luke Smith (6-foot-2, 180), who came off a 7-2 junior varsity campaign and "has a very similar set to Alex Roush" said Frigon of Liberty's starter last year, now at Northwest Missouri State.

Smith will have a couple nice targets in senior Blake Fordyce (6-foot-1, 170), who racked up 357 receiving yards and four touchdowns - in just five games due to injury. Also at wideout is another tall target with senior Michael Book (6-foot-4, 190), who snared 26 balls for 384 yards and five scores as a junior.

At running back, Wentric Williams III (5-foot-10, 185) will gather a lot of carries as just a sophomore.

Defensively, senior Isaiah Hall (6-0, 315) anchors the line, while Book, and senior Jackson White (6-0, 190) join junior Jalen Weston (5-foot-11, 190). Weston is on back to finish at the all-time tackle leader in LHS history.

Senior Karrell Simpson (5-foot-9, 150) snared five interceptions in 2018 and will lead the secondary.