This is the fourth piece in a five-part series taking a look at Liberty football entering 2025 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.

Every year in college football there are players who take huge leaps and step into the spotlight. That is no different now, and probably even amplified with the transfer portal leading to so much roster turnover each and every year. Here are a few players we see that could step into the spotlight for the Flames in 2025.

Julian Gray

We had Gray on this list last year, but injuries seemed to derail his opportunities for much of the season. Gray was an all-conference kick returner at NC State. After spending his first year with the Flames at returner and wide receiver, now he has made the move to running back full time while also continuing to factor in the return game. He could grow into a game changer for the Flames with his elusiveness and speed and is an early favorite to lead the team in all-purpose yards this fall.

Casey Cain

Cain is a 6’3″, 200 pound receiver originally from New Orleans. He began his collegiate career at Texas where he played in 22 games with 3 starts over 3 seasons for the Longhorns. After redshirting in 2021, Cain had 8 receptions for 201 yards as a redshirt-freshman in 2022. He posted four catches for a career-high 108 yards that season in the Alamo Bowl against Washington. In 2023, Cain had one reception for 13 yards at Texas before entering the portal and landing at UNLV. Last season for the Rebels, Cain had 7 receptions for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns while playing in 12 games and starting 5. He had a strong spring for the Flames, and he has a chance to step into the role as the team’s go-to wide receiver this fall.

Caden Williams

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. He has a high ceiling and could end up growing into the team’s leader in carries this season. In the Bahamas Bowl against Buffalo, Williams got 10 carries for 31 yards in his only significant action of his true freshman season.

Aaron Hester

Hester played in eight games in 2024 for the Seminoles, finishing the year with 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and one pass breakup. He was the highest graded returning EDGE for Florida State, per PFF, following the 2024 season before deciding to enter the portal. Over the course of his first two seasons in Tallahassee in 2022 and 2023, he played in four games and had two tackles. Liberty will be looking for Hester to help fill the vacated shoes of TJ Bush who transferred to Cal in the spring.

Derrell Farrar

Farrar is a 6’1″, 225 pound linebacker originally from Loganville, Georgia. In two seasons at App State, Farrar totaled 52 tackles and 1.5 sacks. A late addition to the team joining through the spring portal, Farrar could end up pushing his way up the depth chart and into a starting spot this fall.