This is the second piece in a series taking a look at Liberty football entering 2026 fall practices. Be sure to check back for the rest of this series throughout the week as we tackle a variety of Liberty football topics.

As Liberty begins training camp this week, there are several position battles that head coach Jamey Chadwell and his staff is keeping tabs on. Here are the top position battles to watch during camp.

Quarterback

This one is obvious. Ethan Vasko is the returning starter, but the Flames have added transfers Deshawn Purdie and Jaylen Henderson, who both have starting experience at the P4 level under their belts, to compete with Vasko. Youngsters Ethan Houck and Jachin Davis also hope to make their own case.

Running back

Liberty had a complete roster overhaul at running back since the end of 2025. The only returning player is Jaylon Coleman who came on late in 2025 as a true freshman. Expect to see plenty from the speedster on the field this fall. But, after him, there are a lot of questions. Kanye Udoh, Kam Davis, and Peyton Jones expect to be heavily involved in the competition for reps at B-Back this season. Justin Marshall and Terron Kellman could also factor in. Expect to see this battle last into the opening weeks of the season.

Secondary

There are a lot of new names in the defensive secondary, both at corner and at safety. We’ve heard a lot about D-Icey Hopkins and Izaiah Guy, so expect to see them on the field this fall, likely as a starter. Other names to watch at safety include Ronald Moore, Jayden Davis, and Jeremiah Vessel. At corner, Elijah Hopkins will be penciled in as a starter if he can remain healthy. Behind him look for names like Jamal Miles, Ashton McShane, Quavo Marshall, Prince Cottonham, and Myke Gunn.

Special Teams

Liberty must find replacements at kicker, punter, long snapper, and holder during training camp. No small feat for Special Teams Coordinator Dylan Lewellyn. Tyler Black, Chase Reeves, and Brayden Beck are expected to compete at kicker while Sam Crossan and Greg Rivera will look to hold off challengers at punter and long snapper, respectively. We will also be keeping an eye on returners as the Flames will also need a replacement for kick returner Juju Gray and punt returner Brylan Green.