We continue our position previews today with a look at Liberty’s corner backs.
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Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Linebackers
Unlike the defensive line and linebackers, Liberty’s defensive secondary will have a much different look to it in 2026. Beginning with the corners today (and you will also see a similar scenario when we break down the safeties), there are a lot of unknowns and unproven commodities. Amarian Williams and Damond Harmon are gone, as are their 23 games started at corner a season ago. Also gone is Dexter Ricks, who was the team’s third corner last season. The returners combined to see playing time in 25 games in 2025. Under new defensive coordinator Shawn Quinn, the Flames are also likely to move to more of a zone scheme than the previous teams who played primarily man-to-man coverage in the secondary while still having man tendencies. How much of an impact will that have on the corners?
Liberty Cornerbacks coach Dino Waites – “Focusing a lot on consistency. Got a lot of guys back there that are good, but just haven’t seen a lot of playing time. So, you’re just trying to see them build consistency, build confidence. I think they have been locking in on trying to stay steady and continue to get better every day, each day. It’s been good to see each guy continue to grow.”
Frontrunners
5 Elijah Hopkins 5th Year 5’10” 195
Elijah Hopkins returns for his fourth season at Liberty after playing in four games as a true freshman at Coastal Carolina in 2022. He’s someone that was and has been pushing for a starting spot the past couple of seasons but injuries have derailed some of those plans. He played in just four games in 2025, finishing with 6 tackles. If he can remain healthy, Hopkins should see plenty of time on the field this coming season as he has stepped into a leadership role not just at his position but for the team as a whole.
Liberty Cornerbacks coach Dino Waites – “He’s been moving into a true leadership role. He’s been able to stay healthy, the Lord willing, hopefully he does, and he will continue to lead that group. He’s really important to the defense and the team. It comes back to him being healthy. When he’s healthy and playing, he’s one of the consistent guys on our team. He’s all the way in. He’s been leading us, offense, defensive. He works hard. He shows up everyday. When he’s on the field and at practice, it just gives us the energy and the right mindset that you want. I love having him in the room because I can coach him hard and everybody sees that, so you can coach the rest of the guys hard. And he coaches on the sideline.”
Competition
2 Quavo Marshall JR 6’4″ 180
Marshall, the former Kentucky transfer, played in 12 games last season and had one interception. He provides something unique at the position with his length and has the potential to make a big impact. He’s fighting for a starting spot for the Flames during camp.
Liberty Cornerbacks coach Dino Waites – “Two guys that were here last year that you can’t miss (because of their size) is Myke Gunn and Quavo Marshall. Quavo, his word that he told me is consistency. He just wants to be consistent. If he does that, the sky is the limit for him. He’s physical. It’s hard even if you run past him at receiver, for a quarterback to feel like they want to throw it over there because his arms. If he puts his arms up, he’s probably 7-foot. He’s super long and he can run. I think he ran a 21 (mph) on the GPS. It’s not like he’s slow. He can move. You feel good with him. I think he will be somebody you got to be ready for.”
23 Myke Gunn SO 6’3″ 180
From Auburn, Alabama, Gunn was a true freshman last year and played in four games. Gunn was a highly touted freshman that came in a year ago and immediately turned heads. Now, he is pushing for significant playing time and perhaps even a starting spot.
Liberty Cornerbacks coach Dino Waites – “Two guys that were here last year that you can’t miss (because of their size) is Myke Gunn and Quavo Marshall. Man, Myke Gunn’s ceiling is high. This is going to be, really, his first year getting to play. Like a freshman. Great kid. To be over 6’1″, 6’2″, he can move. He’s athletic. He was a basketball player. Played receiver. Got good hands. I think, as long as he can mentally handle everything, he will be somebody that is playing a lot.”
21 Ashton McShane JR 5’11” 194
McShane is from Boston College where he missed most of the 2025 season with an injury, playing in four games, but was a starter as a true freshman in 2024 and posted 20 tackles and 4 passes defended. He played in 11 games in 2024 and started 6. He’s in the mix for the Flames at corner.
Liberty Cornerbacks coach Dino Waites – “Saw a lot of playing time as a freshman. I recruited him as a freshman out of high school. He was a receiver and moved to DB late and was playing really good at DB from Texas. They took him at Boston College and he started as a freshman in the ACC. He had a little bit of injuries last year, kind of kept him out of the lineup, but he’s done a phenomenal job, and I think he will be somebody that we can see in the mix.”
28 Jamal Miles SR 6’0″ 180
Miles has played in 14 games over the past two seasons, picking up four tackles and a pass breakup. He’s looking to take the next step this season and earn a spot on the two-deep.
Liberty Cornerbacks coach Dino Waites – “He had an injury in the spring, I think he will fight himself back into the mix.”
16 Tyrell Gainey SR 6’1″ 175
Gainey played in 11 games last season at Division II Albany State, earning second-team all-conference honors while helping them to a conference championship and national quarterfinals appearance. He had 25 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, four interceptions, 12 pass deflections and a forced fumble this past season. Can he break into the two-deep?
Liberty Cornerbacks coach Dino Waites – “He’s probably one of the most athletic, just pure athlete. I think he’s got some more development to do from where he came from, but he definitely has the ability to be one of the top corners in this conference.”
Depth
12 Prince Cottonham JR 6’0″ 170
Cottonham joins the Flames from East Central Community College where he saw playing time in 19 games over the past two seasons, finishing with 63 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and four interceptions while earning second-team all-conference honors.
14 Elijah McKenzie SR 5’10” 170
Elijah McKenzie began his college career at Morgan State, where he played in nine games as a redshirt-freshman, finishing the season with six tackles. He then entered the transfer portal to join Bowie State at the Division II level. During his time at Bowie State, he finished the season with 33 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and 16 pass breakups. He ranked second in all of Division II last season with 16 pass breakups to go along with one interception as he was named first-team all-conference.
20 Kennedi Bailey FR 6’2″ 175
