We continue our position previews today with a look at Liberty’s linebackers.
Previous:
Quarterbacks
Ever since Liberty made the move to the FBS, the linebacker position has been one that has seemingly lagged behind the rest of the position groups in getting caught up to speed to the new higher level of competition. The Flames’ coaching staffs have tried several different strategies to try and rectify this situation from one-year stop gaps in graduate transfers to high school recruiting and allowing them to develop.
After several years of tinkering, it appears that Liberty’s linebacker corp entering the 2025 season could be one of the strengths of the defense. It is anchored by Joe Carter who has been described as an extension of the coaching staff on the field. The Flames also have a couple returning players who transferred in from Power Four conference teams a year ago in Aidan Vaughan and Ethan Crisp. Three new transfers this year – Derrell Farrar, Micah Pollard, and Deuce Spurlock – could be the final pieces this unit has been needing.
Frontrunners
2 Joseph Carter SR 6’0″ 235
Joe Carter has become the leader of Liberty’s defense. From a walk-on to a rotation player, he has become invaluable to this team. It’s not just what he does in the stat sheet – though he performs admirably there – it’s what he brings from a leadership standpoint and in all the intangibles. Carter is like the quarterback of the defense for the Flames, making sure the group is in the right spots and has the right call for each play. Carter was a second-team All-CUSA selection last year after leading the team with 88 tackles, 30 more tackles than the second most on the team. He finished as the second-highest graded linebacker in CUSA by PFF, was third on the team in defensive snap count while also finishing the season with five games with 10 or more tackles.
Linebackers Coach Josh Linam –”Leadership. He’s always been a guy who’s been a great example. He does everything right. He is an extension of the coaches and the culture, and he’s led by example. Now, he’s taking that next step. He’s been more vocal. He’s been a guy that can hold guys accountable. He’s been a guy that can get up and talk in front of the team. The more that he can use that influence and try to affect people positively around him by talking to them, trying to get them to understand what the culture is, what the expectation is, that helps you immensely.”
33 Aidan Vaughan R-JR 6’3″ 220
If it weren’t for Vaughan missing much of the spring with an injury, he could likely be entrenched as a starter here. A transfer from Wisconsin a year ago, he played in 11 games last season, mainly on special teams. He has a had a strong off-season and will carve out a role for himself at linebacker this season. He has been working with the first team for much of training camp so far. We will see if he can maintain that position as we move into the start of the season. Regardless, Vaughan will be part of the mix at linebacker if he remains healthy.
11 Derrell Farrar R-SO 6’1″ 225
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. Coach Chadwell raved about his dedication and time spent at the football facility throughout the off-season as he attempted to get up to speed in learning the playbook. He’s someone who is expected to not only compete for significant playing time this season, but could also earn a starting job at linebacker.
Linebackers Coach Josh Linam – “He operates on a different level. He is a guy who just gets it. He’s got a veteran-mindset. He’s got a pro-mentality. He wants to max out his potential. It’s evident in the way he approaches the game, how he approaches the film room, how he approaches studying. On the field ,it shows up in his attention to detail, him asking questions constantly, trying to learn something, trying to get caught up with the rest of the guys. He can fly, I’ll tell you that. A lot of that comes with being comfortable in the system and knowing where to look what, your schemes are, and how you fit in the scheme in the defense. That is starting to click for him. As we go forward in this next week, you’re going to see him like being shot out of a cannon because the dude can absolutely roll.”
Competition
4 Micah Pollard R-JR 6’2″ 235
A mid-year enrollee at Liberty after transferring from Michigan where he played in 29 games over the previous three seasons, Pollard is looking to make an impact at his new home.
Linebackers Coach Josh Linam – “He is a longer type body who can go affect the edge and rush the edge.”
9 Deuce Spurlock R-JR 6’0″ 225
Spurlock began his career at Michigan where he was teammates with Pollard before transferring to Florida. He played in three games over the past two seasons for the Gators before reuniting with Pollard at Liberty this past spring.
Linebackers Coach Josh Linam – “Deuce can rush off the edge, but he is so powerful and explosive that he can be a stacked backer, he can be a Will, he can be a Mike. He’s learning both of those roles. He can walk up on the edge and do that. He’s got some twitch off the edge as well, pretty explosive.”
30 Ethan Crisp R-SO 6’3″ 235
A transfer from Vanderbilt a year ago, Crisp finished 2024 with seven tackles, three of them for loss. He’s probably most remembered for his play in the game at Middle Tennessee where he had three tackles, two for loss, and a fumble recovery that he returned 29 yards to set up a Liberty score, helping to provide some separation in that game for the visiting Flames.
Depth
24 Kaidon Whidby R-FR 6’0″ 210
34 Seneca Moore, Jr. R-FR 6’2″ 225
35 Dillano Glaud R-FR 6’3″ 220
