We continue our position previews today with a look at Liberty’s linebackers.
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Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Teddy Gallagher may be the youngest and one of the newest position coaches for Liberty this season, but he has one of the most experienced units on the team. Gallagher has five 5th year guys on his roster, including four of them that are expected to be the leaders for the team at linebacker. Coach Gallagher has been challenging his group to be the leaders of the defense, make sure everyone is lined up correctly and has the right play call on. He’s got the veterans in the room to see this be one of the best linebacker corps the Flames have seen in quite some time.
Linebackers Coach Teddy Gallagher – “It’s been awesome seeing the guys fly around in fall camp. We were missing about half the crew during spring ball. It’s good to get everyone back. They’ve been flying around. Got a really special group. Got a lot of championship level linebackers that are in the room. A lot of guys are standing out. It starts with us and ends with us on the defensive side of the ball. We want to be the guys that if something is going good or something is going bad, they should look to us. We’ve got to be running the show.”
Frontrunners
1 Derrell Farrar 5th Year 6’1″ 225
Derrell Farrar anchors this group entering the season. He was the team’s top tackler a season ago, finishing the year with 71 tackles to go along with 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, 2 QB hurries, and a forced fumble. The former Appalachian State transfer, it took him a few games to adjust to Liberty’s system and scheme, but once he did he became one of the defense’s most important players. Now, Farrar is ready to take the next step as a team leader this season.
Linebackers Coach Teddy Gallagher – “Rell came back towards the end of spring. Rell is Rell. He’s the alpha. He means business. Rell flies around. He leads us in the production chart category, but he’s flying around making plays, and getting us lined up. We do these daily quizzes every single day, and Rell has the highest score. He’s definitely set himself as the alpha of the group and a lot of the guys look up to him on the defensive side of the ball. I’ll be up here late at night and Rell will come in to my office with his hoodie on and just sit down and say teach me something. He’s dedicated to the craft. He just wants to learn the game of football. It’s definitely awesome when one of your best players is also one of the hardest working guys.”
Competition
9 Deuce Spurlock 5th Year 6’0″ 225
Spurlock began his career at Michigan before transferring to Florida where he played in three games over two seasons. He transferred to Liberty a year ago and was part of the team’s two-deep at the position last year, recording 15 tackles. Now, he’s looking to step into a much larger role and be one of the top players on the team this fall, highlighted by Coach Chadwell naming him to the CUSA Preseason Watch List earlier this summer. He missed spring practice due to injury, but is moving towards full strength.
Linebackers Coach Josh Linam – “Deuce has come back really strong. I think Deuce is doing a great job this fall camp.”
22 Kyle Ferm SR 6’3″ 232
Liberty also brought in one transfer at linebacker to help bolster the team’s depth, bringing in Kyle Ferm from SMU. Ferm was a top JUCO prospect a year ago before missing most of 2025 at SMU due to injury. He was a three-star prospect coming out of Junior College and also a three-star prospect in the transfer portal. He spent his freshman season in 2024 at Citrus College where he had 50 tackles, two sacks and an interception. Ferm also missed the spring with injury, but he has been turning heads during camp.
Linebackers Coach Teddy Gallagher – “Ferm has been doing a great job. I have high expectations for him. He’s exceeded those.”
33 Aidan Vaughan 5th Year 6’3″ 220
Aidan Vaughan will be another key piece to the Flames this season. He started six games last year, taking on a larger and more prominent role once Joe Carter was lost for the season due to injury. He went on to finish the year with 27 tackles. He’s a veteran who has been with the program for a couple years now after transferring in from Wisconsin. He missed the spring but is back practicing now.
4 Micah Pollard 5th Year 6’2″ 235
Like Spurlock, Pollard began his career at Michigan where he played in 29 games over three seasons before transferring to Liberty a year ago. He worked his way onto the field last fall, finishing the year with 28 tackles, and he is looking to take a bigger step this season.
Depth
6 Dillano Glaud JR 6’3″ 220
Dillano Glaud is another name to watch at linebacker this season. He continued to improve a year ago and eventually worked his way into a role for the team, even starting a game late in the season. The youngster should continue to see his game develop, as will his role and production on the team.
34 Ellis Alloway FR 6’1″ 210
Alloway is an incoming true freshman who joined the team this spring. A three-star prospect from Fort Walton Beach, Florida and Choctawhatchee High School. He flipped from South Florida to Liberty right at signing day in December. He is someone who has really turned heads of his coaching staff this past spring.
Glaud and Alloway are likely the future of this position, but it may be difficult for them to have a huge role at linebacker this fall unless there are injuries ahead of them due to the experienced talent ahead of them.
38 Tre Lawing 5th Year 6’0″ 200
43 Matthew Kramer SR 6’1″ 215
