We are still nearly 4 months away from the start of the 2025 season, but it’s never too early to begin to look ahead to the fall and football season. Coming off an 8-4 season and loss in the Bahamas Bowl, the Flames will be looking to get back to the top of Conference USA in 2025. The roster is not quite completed as the Flames will certainly be looking to add some additional pieces out of the spring portal. The portal window has closed which means no one else can enter the portal though players that already entered can still search for their destination. It’s also difficult to identify exactly where the spring portal commits will fit in before they have gotten to campus. So, this depth chart will still change as the roster is finalized and again once summer workouts and training camp begin, but doing this now gives us an idea of what the roster currently looks like.
Quarterback: Ethan Vasko
Backup: Ryan Burger OR Michael Merdinger OR Jayden Bradford OR Ethan Houck
Vasko, the transfer from Coastal Carolina, certainly appears to be the favorite to win the job as he’s the only quarterback in the room with significant starting experience at the FBS level. Ryan Burger will likely be his biggest competition, but Burger missed all of the spring due to an injury. Merdinger, a transfer from North Carolina, redshirted in 2024 before seeing some playing time in the bowl game after an injury. Bradford missed spring practice after having surgery on an injury suffered during practice while Houck arrived on campus for the spring. These three are all freshmen, two redshirt and one a true freshman. It will be hard for any one of them to emerge from this group and then also be able to push past the more veteran Vasko and Burger as a starter, but they will get a long look.
Running Back: (A-Back) Juju Gray; (B-Back) Caden Williams OR Evan Dickens
Backup: (A-Back) Darius Copeland OR Vaughn Blue (B-Back) Malachi Fannin-Render
Another position that will have a new look for the Flames this fall. Quinton Cooley and Billy Lucas are gone as are James Jointer and Victor Venn. With Juju Gray a full-time running back now, expect him to get plenty of touches this fall. Vaughn Blue returns and should continue to see his role increase. Caden Williams, who redshirted in 2024 but got some playing time in the bowl game, will be in position to fight for serious playing time on the field this season. Evan Dickens, a transfer from Georgia Tech, will also be in the mix. Darius Copeland, who got injured in the season opener against Campbell and missed the entire season, should be back by time training camp begins and he will have a chance to see the field.
Wide Receiver: Elijah Canion
Backup: Casey Cain
Wide Receiver: Jamari Person
Backup: Tyson Mobley
Wide Receiver: Reese Smith
Backup: Donte Lee
Liberty actually has several pieces returning to the receiver position this season. With the exception of Treon Sibley, just about everybody else returns who was part of the two-deep this past season. Add in Colorado State transfer Jamari Person and Texas/UNLV transfer Casey Cain, and there are several names to watch out for during the offseason. The Flames have several pieces here, just need one or two to emerge as go-to targets this fall.
Left Tackle: Jack Tucker
Backup: Erwil Anthony
Left Guard: DJ Geth
Backup: Andrew Johnson
Center: Aaron Fenimore
Backup: Cal Grubbs
Right Guard: Harrison Hayes
Backup: Blake Heckmann
Right Tackle: Christian Williams
Backup: Trey Bedosky
There are some holes to fill on the offensive line. Aaron Fenimore has established himself as a starter and leader for the team and offense, but, outside of him at center, there are a lot of unknowns and question marks for this unit. Jack Tucker and Harrison Hayes will certainly be part of the plan and are likely favorites to start a t this point. DJ Geth could also break into a starting spot at one of the guard positions. Trey Bedosky is a veteran transfer from UAB who will also have a chance to break into the rotation. Erwil Anthony, making the move from Division II Wingate, will be counted on. He was a starter at right tackle there. It will also be interesting to see how Christian Williams, a transfer from Florida, fits into this group. We will also have to see how JUCO tackle Da’Jy’Quwan Jackson, who committed to Liberty in early April, fits into this group when he arrives on campus this summer.
Tight End: Jacob Jenkins OR Austin Henderson
Back up: Bo Burklow OR Connie Hewitt OR Eli Sisson OR Caleb Ryan
Austin Henderson should return off his injury and will team with Jacob Jenkins as the leaders at this position. Younger names behind them are looking to establish themselves including Bo Burklow, Connie Hewitt, Eli Sisson, and Caleb Ryan.
Defensive End: Aaron Hester
Backup: Donovan Dozier OR Sam Cohen
Defensive Tackle: DJ Jackson
Backup: Markus Clark OR Joe Strickland
Defensive Tackle: Bryce Dixon
Backup: Mike Jarvis OR Eli Hall
Joker: CJ Bazile
Backup: Bryson Jennings OR Brenton Williams
A once very strong unit following the spring, the Flames got gutted in the spring transfer portal on the defensive line. Four names were removed from the two-deep including two that have now committed to P4 programs (TJ Bush, Jay Hardy). Certainly, defensive line will be a top priority for the team looking to add pieces in the spring portal, but, right now, there are a lot of unknowns.
What we know: the Joker position remained virtually untouched since the end of the spring with CJ Bazile anchoring that position and Bryson Jenings and Brenton Williams with upside behind Bazile. We could see one of those slide over to the other defensive end position that is wide open depending on who is added there. We also know that Bryce Dixon will anchor the interior of the defensive line. Mike Jarvis and Eli Hall were pushing into the two-deep last year and should take another step going into 2025.
The other two defensive line positions are huge question marks right now. Aaron Hester, the Florida State transfer, seems to be in the running for the starting spot left vacated by Bush’s departure. Donovan Dozier was third string just a couple weeks ago and he could certainly factor in. At the other defensive tackle spot opposite Bryce Dixon, we have put DJ Jackson and Markus Clark into the two-deep there. Jackson transferred to Liberty from NC State while Clark joined the Flames from App State prior to the spring. We’ve also added the new transfer from Purdue Joe Strickland.
Mike: Joseph Carter
Backup: Micah Pollard
Will: Ethan Crisp OR Aidan Vaughan
Backup: Deuce Spurlock OR Derrell Farrar
Joe Carter is the obvious leader of the group here, as several top pieces from last year have exhausted their eligibility. Still, there is some depth here led by Aidan Vaughn and Ethan Crisp. Former Michigan teammates Micah Pollard and Deuce Spurlock also will be in the mix here and should be expected to carve out a role and even fight to become starters. Other young names to watch here include Kaidon Whidby, Seneca Moore, and Dillano Glaud. Derrell Farrar just announced his commitment from App State and could also factor into the mix.
Cornerback: Dexter Ricks, Jr.
Backup: Elijah Hopkins OR Jiquavious Marshall
Cornerback: Amarian Williams
Backup: Jamal Miles OR Jaylen Whaley
The Flames return several of its top corners from 2024 including Amarian Williams and Dexter Ricks. Elijah Hopkins is another to watch at the position if he can stay healthy, as is Jamal Miles. Quavo Marshall will join the team this summer and has the potential to break into the two-deep. Whaley, the transfer from Hampton, will also likely be in the mix in the defensive secondary for the Flames. He could play either safety or corner.
Safety: A’Khori Jones
Backup: Jalon Rock
Safety: Brylan Green
Backup: Christian Bodnar
Safety: Eldric Griffin
Backup: Elijah Auguste OR Ronald Moore
Jones, Green, and Griffin provide a good base to build off of at safety. Christian Bodnar had also become a key member of the secondary prior to missing the end of the season, and should factor into the two-deep in the back-end of the defense. Eli Auguste is a veteran and solid contributor, as well. Rock is a transfer from Weber State who can be counted on to contribute at either safety or corner.
Kicker: Tyler Black OR Brayden Beck
Black, the transfer from Wake Forest, doesn’t have a ton of experience in college kicking field goals, but he did serve as the kickoff specialist for the Demon Deacons. Expect him to take over that role for the Flames quickly, and he should also be expected to be the frontrunner to win the field goal kicking duties as well.
The rest of the specialists should be in good shape, as they return from last season.
Punter: Max Morgan
Long Snapper: Ryan Manis
Holder: Max Morgan
Kick Returner: Julian Gray
Punt Returner: Brylan Green
