The Liberty Flames football team has released its updated roster and jersey numbers for the 2023 season.
The roster includes a lot of new faces and jersey number changes. Here is a quick rundown of some of those changes and updates:
New additions to roster (jersey #), many of these were on the team for spring 2023:
OL Austin Anderson #70
CB Marquis Bell #21
DB Brandon Bishop #6
RB Vaughn Blue #24
S Christian Bodnar #31
OL Tahj Boyd #77
TE Bo Burklow #17
DE TJ Bush #23
DE Grey Carroll #49
RB Quinton Cooley #20
WR Darius Copeland #11
LB Nicholas Days #46
DE Donovan Dozier #55
TE Billy Durocher #88
OL Aaron Fenimore #61
S Jabin Ford #32
DT Tysheik Galloway #7
OL Xavior Gray #63
OL Cal Grubbs #54
CB Elijah Hopkins #5
TE Jacob Jenkins #84
DE Bryson Jennings #17
RB James Jointer, Jr. #3
DE Larry Jones, III #1
WR Victor Jones, Jr. #18
QB Trey Lowe #8
RB Billy Lucas #0
CB Jamal Miles #28
QB Reese Mooney #16
DT Eliyt Nairne #90
LB Barrett Newman #48
LB Chike Nwankwo #18
DT Nathan PIrolli #94
LB Olan Robinson #34
WR Errol Rogers, Jr. #6
WR Reese Smith #19
WR Elijah Smoot #9
OL Jack Tucker #75
RB Victor Venn #2
DT Rick Weaver #93
OL Jordan White #53
DE Bryan Whitehead II #27
DB Joshua Wiggins #8
DT Amari Williams #13
Most of these names are expected, but there are a few that we should point out – Nicholas Days, Rick Weaver, and Bryan Whitehead.
Days is a new name that is transferring to Liberty from Toledo where he spent the 2022 season. He played in one game for the Rockets, making one tackle. He spent two seasons at Western Kentucky prior to his time at Toledo, playing in 21 games over the two seasons while picking up 35 tackles. Days spent the 2019 season at Independence Community College in Kansas where had 43 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Weaver is a walk-on to the Liberty football team this season, joining from the Flames’ wrestling program. A two-time NCWA National Champion, three-time All-American winner, he joins the football program after four years of wrestling at Liberty.
Whitehead signed with Liberty in February as part of the initial signing class under new head coach Jamey Chadwell. Whitehead was expected to arrive on campus in Lynchburg, Virginia this summer, but, in a statement released on his Twitter account, said he was planning on returning to his Junior College this coming season. Whitehead was a Second Team All-American last season at Pearl River Community College. He finished 2022 with 39 tackles, 19 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception. The three fumbles that he recovered, Whitehead also returned all of them for a touchdown. He ranked fourth in the NJCAA in sacks and sixth in tackles for loss. His offer list included ODU, Jacksonville State, Sam Houston, FIU, Toledo, South Florida, UTSA, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, and several FCS schools.
Notable number changes:
QB Johnathan Bennett #1
S Jaylon Jimmerson #2
CB Kobe Singleton #3
DT Jay Hardy #4
DT Kendy Charles #9
WR D’Wayne Crawford #13
