Liberty had four of the seven Big South representatives on the 2015 STATS FCS Preseason All-America teams which were announced earlier today, including three first-team selections.
Liberty’s first-team honorees include wide receiver Darrin Peterson, offensive lineman Jonathan Burgess and kicker John Lunsford. Defensive lineman Chima Uzowihe rounded out Liberty’s preseason honorees with his second-team selection.
The remaining three Big South selections on the 2015 STATS FCS Preseason All-America teams were Gardner-Webb defensive lineman O.J. Mau (first team) and Coastal Carolina running back De’Angelo Henderson (third team) and return specialist Devin Brown (third team).
Liberty was one of the national leaders on the 2015 STATS FCS Preseason All-America teams. Four-time NCAA FCS national champion North Dakota State led with five All-America selections, followed by Liberty and Illinois State, each with four honorees.
Earlier this year, STATS LLC purchased the Sports Network and will continue to provide its national coverage of FCS football.
Peterson and Lunsford were both named to the 2014 Sports Network All-America teams. Lunsford was a first-team selection, while Peterson was a second-team honoree.
Peterson, a two-time All-Big South first team selection (2013 and 2014), set single-season program records in 2014 with 85 receptions and 1,379 receiving yards. He also finished the year with 12 receiving touchdowns, the second highest single-season total in program history.
The native of Attalla, Ala., finished the year with eight 100-yard receiving games, giving him a school-record 12 career 100-yard receiving games. 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).
Burgess, a former walk-on now turned two-year starter, once again had a stellar season for the Flames in 2014. He was recognized for his efforts as he was named All-Big South first team and VaSID first team all-state.
The Stafford, Va., native started all 14 games for the Flames at left guard. He finished the season as Liberty’s top offensive lineman and served as one of four team captains. He led the team in knockdowns and was tied for second on the squad in overall team performance grade.
Liberty ranked second in the Big South in fewest team sacks allowed (16) thanks in part to Burgess individually allowing one sack during the season. Liberty led the Big South and ranked No. 10 in the country in red zone offense (89.7 percent).
Lunsford was named All-Big South and Big South Special Teams Player of the Year. He was also a VaSID first-team all-state selection and he was named to the College Sporting News 2014 Fabulous Fifty FCS and Sports Network All-America teams.
The Fort Myers, Fla., native led the Big South in field goal percentage (79.2) and field goals made (19), while ranking No. 5 nationally in field goals made per game (1.58).
The senior finished the year hitting five-of-six field goals from 50 or more yards and recorded the three longest field goals by an FCS kicker in the country this season (56 yards vs. James Madison, 57 yards vs. Bryant and 60 yards vs. Richmond).
Uzowihe earned his second All-Big South first-team honor last season and was named to the VaSID second-team all-state squad.
The Houston, Texas, native led the Big South with a career-best 14.0 tackles for a loss and ranked second in the conference with 8.0 sacks in 2014. He also ranked third in the conference with three forced fumbles.
Uzowihe, who started all 14 games at right end, was also a key member of Liberty’s special teams units. He finished the season with two blocked kicks, including a field goal block as time expired to allow Liberty to upset No. 1 Coastal Carolina, 15-14, during the final game of the regular season and push the Flames into the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
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