I was fortunate enough to be able to write the Liberty preview for the Athlon Sports’ annual college football preview magazine. Be sure to pick up a copy to get the best preseason college football coverage out there. There is also a projected depth chart I put together included. Please note: the deadline to submit this was prior to the spring portal opening so there will be references to a few players that are no longer with the Flames. Here is what I submitted for Liberty’s portion of the preview magazine:
Liberty Flames
Offense
In head coach Jamey Chadwell’s third year at Liberty, the offense will look much different from his first two seasons. Most notably, quarterback Kaidon Salter and running back Quinton Cooley are no longer on the team, as the former has transferred to Colorado and the latter is pursuing the NFL. Chadwell turned to the transfer portal and brought in former Coastal Carolina transfer Ethan Vasko who expected to lead the Flames’ offense in 2025. Vasko started all 12 games for the Chanticleers in 2024, throwing 14 touchdowns and 8 interceptions with a 55% completion percentage while throwing for over 2,000 yards.
After leading the nation in rushing in Liberty’s 2023 CUSA Championship and Fiesta Bowl season, Cooley helped carry the Flames to 250.7 yards rushing per game in 2024, fourth best in the country. This year’s running back room is inexperienced but doesn’t lack for talent highlighted by Julian Gray, Caden Williams, Vaughn Blue, and Georgia Tech transfer Evan Dickens. If the running back room can get close to the level of production the team saw in Chadwell’s first two seasons, this offense should be good enough to have the Flames competing for a CUSA championship once again.
Defense
The Flames return eight starters and four of its top five tacklers from a 2024 defense that ranked third in CUSA in both scoring defense (23.5 ppg) and total defense (351.1 ypg). All four starters return on the defensive front, including second-team all-CUSA performer TJ Bush who is entering his third season as a starter. Joseph Carter brings loads of experience and leadership to the defensive unit from his spot at linebacker. The question marks remain in the defensive backfield where Liberty has been susceptible in the pass game. This weakness was covered up by a nation’s best 21 interceptions in 2023, but when that number dipped to eight last fall, the defense struggled, at times, to get stops in critical situations.
Specialists
Brylan Green and Julian Gray are back as returners, where they have showcased their ability to be playmakers. Max Morgan also returns as Liberty’s punter, where he was fifth in CUSA last year averaging 38.5 net yards per punt. The biggest question mark on special teams for Liberty, as has been the case the past few years, is at kicker. Colin Karhu made 10 of 14 field goals last season, but his eligibility has been exhausted. Brayden Beck is currently the only kicker on the team with any experience, having made four of five field goal attempts in 2021 as a freshman.
Final Analysis
For a third straight season, Liberty will play one of the weakest schedules in the country and may be favored in every game it plays this year. It worked out in 2023, with the Flames going 13-1 and winning the CUSA Championship, but, last year, Liberty struggled to a fourth-place CUSA finish. The defense could end up having to carry the offense in the early part of the season until Vasko and company get all the kinks worked out. Once they do, the Flames should be right in the mix of things in the conference once again.
And here is the depth chart I provided for Athlon to use:
Offense
WR 5 Elijah Canion (Sr.) 2 Casey Cain (Jr.)
WR 3 Jamari Person (Jr.) 8 Tyson Mobley (Sr.)
WR 6 Reese Smith (Sr.) 9 Donte Lee Jr. (Jr.)
LT 75 Jack Tucker (Sr.) 66 Erwil Anthony (Sr.)
LG 51 DJ Geth (Fr.) 77 Andrew Johnson (Sr.)
C 61 Aaron Fenimore (So.) 54 Cal Grubbs (Fr.)
RG 55 Harrison Hayes (Sr.) 78 Blake Heckmann (Fr.)
RT 56 Christian Williams (Jr.) 79 Trey Bedosky (Sr.)
TE 84 Jacob Jenkins (Sr.) 83 Austin Henderson (Sr.)
QB 15 Ethan Vasko (Jr.) 7 Michael Merdinger (Fr.)
RB 21 Caden Williams (Fr.) 1 Julian Gray (Sr.)
Defense
DE 3 TJ Bush (Jr.) 1 Larry Jones III (Jr.)
DT 4 Jay Hardy (Sr.) 92 Chris Boti (Sr.)
DT 99 Bryce Dixon (Jr.) 97 Mike Jarvis (Sr.)
Joker 11 CJ Bazile Jr (Sr.) 17 Bryson Jennings (Jr.)
Mike 25 Joseph Carter (Sr.) 6 Micah Pollard (Jr.)
Will 9 Deuce Spurlock (Jr.) 30 Ethan Crisp (So.)
CB 20 Dexter Ricks (Jr.) 22 Jayden Sweeney (Jr.)
CB 26 Amarian Williams (Sr.) 28 Jamal Miles (So.)
S 29 A’Khori Jones (Sr.) 0 Jalon Rock (Sr.)
S 15 Brylan Green (Sr.) 31 Christian Bodnar (So.)
S 2 Eldric Griffin (Sr.) 14 Elijah Auguste (Sr.)
Specialists
K 85 Brayden Beck (Sr.)
P 37 Max Morgan (Jr.)
KR 1 Julian Gray (Sr.)
PR 15 Brylan Green (Sr.)
