Conference USA released the 2026 preseason watch list, as selected by the league’s 10 head coaches, on Thursday. Five student-athletes from each of the conference’s 10 member institutions are recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2026 season. For Liberty, WR Jamari Person, OL DJ Geth, DL Mike Jarvis, LB Deuce Spurlock, and PR Darius Copeland were selected. The list was selected by the head coach of each school.

CUSA will hold its annual CUSA Football Kickoff event next week on July 20-21 in Arlington, Texas. The preseason event will feature a live ESPN+ Kickoff Show from Texas Live Arena on Monday, July 20 with Liberty’s segment scheduled to begin at Noon Eastern. CUSA All-Conference linebacker Derrell Farrar and tight end Caleb Ryan, along with head coach Jamey Chadwell, will represent the Flames at the event.

2026 CUSA PRESEASON WATCH LIST
OFFENSE
QB Nick Minicucci, Delaware
QB Landyn Locke, Sam Houston
QB Rodney Tisdale Jr., WKU
RB Alton McCaskill, Sam Houston
WR Kyle McNeal, FIU
WR Deondre Johnson, Jax State
WR Brayden Munroe, Kennesaw State
WR Jamari Person, Liberty
WR Cam’ron Lacy, MTSU
WR TK King, NM State
TE Jeron Askren, Missouri State
OL Steven Demboski, Delaware
OL Antonio Tripp Jr., FIU
OL Lucas Mrachkovskiy, Jax State
OL Nikola Milovac, Kennesaw State
OL DJ Geth, Liberty
OL Reese Tripp, MTSU
OL Matthew Greene, Missouri State
OL Karsten Upchurch, WKU

DEFENSE
DL Noah Matthews, Delaware
DL Kenton Simmons, FIU
DL Jawaun Campbell, Jax State
DL Marcus Patterson, Kennesaw State
DL Mike Jarvis, Liberty
DL Reggie Johnson, MTSU
DL Tim Brantley Jr., Missouri State
DL Henry Davis, NM State
DL Gabe Peterson, NM State
DL Dylan Frazier, Sam Houston
DL Darien Jackson, Sam Houston
DL LaTrevion Thompson, WKU
LB Baron Hopson, Kennesaw State
LB Deuce Spurlock, Liberty
LB Jared Lloyd, Missouri State
LB Sone Aupiu, NM State
DB KT Seay, Delaware
DB Shamir Sterlin, FIU
DB Tre’Quon Fegans, Jax State
DB Jason Hardy, MTSU
DB Jaylen Lewis, WKU

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Garrison Rippa, Jax State
K Dominic Bourgeois, MTSU
P Josh Cupitt, Delaware
P Brody Richter, NM State
KR Davis Bryson, Kennesaw State
KR Tim Burns Jr., Sam Houston
KR/PR Jmariyae Robinson, Missouri State
KR/PR Maguire Anderson, FIU
PR Darius Copeland, Liberty
PR K.D. Hutchinson, WKU