We continue our position previews today with a look at Liberty’s offensive line.
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Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Liberty has had one of the top rushing attacks in the country in each of the past three years under head coach Jamey Chadwell, including leading the nation in rushing in 2023. That level of success doesn’t happen without a strong offensive line. Up front, Liberty returns an experienced group that combines for 100 games played and 58 starts for the Flames over their careers. The Flames return four starters and have brought in four transfers to help keep that tradition going. The offensive line is the only position group on the offensive side of the ball where Liberty returns a significant amount of production and has several known commodities. Under fourth year offensive line coach Bill Durkin, the Flames should be able to rely on the front group, at least to begin the season while the skill position groups on offense figure out their rotation and responsibilities.
Liberty Offensive Line coach Bill Durkin – “I feel pretty good about the progress we’ve made. We’ve worked hard this summer at not locking guys into one particular spot, but training them to be O-Linemen, work them right, work them left, snapping the ball, interchangeable pieces all over to try and develop them not just ‘I’m the right tackle.’ Getting them comfortable doing other things. I think that’s really paying off. I think you can see it now. We are still rotating guys. Trying to find that right fit for everybody and get the competition to keep it rolling because we have some good competition going. At the end of the day, just trying to get the best five out there at all times.”
“We want to lead up front. We want to be able to run the football when we want to run the football. We go into our inside run drill the first day and everybody’s looking around, how come there’s so many people. I’m like, they’re going to put as many people as they can put up there and we’ve got to run the ball. That’s it.”
Frontrunners
LT 51 DJ Geth SR 6’3″ 295
DJ Geth was a highly recruited player out of high school, landing at North Carolina where he spent his true freshman season. He then decided to enter the transfer portal and came to Liberty prior to the 2024 season. Over the past two seasons, Geth was a key part of Liberty’s offensive line and started all 12 games last year, working primarily at left tackle. He has also spent time at guard during his career providing some flexibility for Coach Durkin. His potential is incredibly high, and he looks to be one of the future anchors of this group moving forward.
Liberty Offensive Line coach Bill Durkin – “I’m moving DJ around. I told him, I’m not trying to be unfair to you but I can count on you in a bunch of different spots. He’s kind of my utility knife right now. He’s played some left tackle, left guard, some center.”
LG 60 Joep Engbers SR 6’4″ 305
After transferring in from Illinois a year ago, Joep Engbers quickly earned a starting spot for Liberty in 2025, starting 10 games at left guard, a spot that he enters as the team’s starter to begin 2026. He’s also taken a big step forward in terms of leadership with the Flames, now in his second season.
Liberty Offensive Line coach Bill Durkin – “He’s awesome. I love Joep. He’s developed into a leader in that room. It’s really he and Aaron that kind of run that deal. He’s taken some of the young guys under his wing, I’ve been pleased with that. He’s another one. First day, in the summer, I’m like you are going to play center. He was like, I’m a starting guard. I was like we need another center. He was just like yes, coach. He’s really improved. His body looks great. He’s got to continue to play that way. Sometimes he gets caught getting a little bit cute, I call it, where he’s not playing at physical as you like. Just play physical and go bang something and something good is going to happen. He’s trying to be perfect all the time. I’m like don’t be perfect, just go block that guy.”
C 61 Aaron Fenimore SR 6’1″ 295
The offensive line will once again be anchored by Aaron Fenimore as he enters his third year starting at Liberty. The captain is not just one of the top offensive linemen in Conference USA, he is one of the top in the country. He was first-team all-conference in 2024 as a redshirt-freshman and named VaSID All-State Offensive Rookie of the Year. He enters the 2026 season having started 24 straight games for Liberty at center.
Liberty Offensive Line coach Bill Durkin – “Aaron looks as good as he’s ever looked physically. He’s always been kind of the wardog and the leader in the weight room. He’s a strong kid and led in that way. He’s actually trimmed up a little bit, looks good.”
RG 53 Alex Birchmeier SR 6’5″ 300
Birchmeier played in 26 games over the last two seasons at Penn State, including all 16 in 2024, mostly in a special teams capacity. He was a top 100 recruit out of high school in the 2023 recruiting class as he was the No. 1 player in Virginia, No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the class of 2023, and No. 54 player in the country per 247 Sports’ Composite rankings coming out of high school, playing at Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia. Birchmeier has been working with the first team at right guard pretty much since he arrived on campus.
Liberty Offensive Line coach Bill Durkin – “I like Alex. It took him a minute to catch up with the offense. He’s a big, strong guy. He’s going to play significant for us.”
RT 56 Christian Williams 5th Year 6’4″ 310
Christian Williams was recruited to Louisiana before following Billy Napier to Florida. He spent the first part of his career there before transferring to Liberty. He went on to start 9 games for Liberty at right tackle. This is a spot he is still pushing for during camp, as he was working with the second team at guard before Erwil Anthony was lost to injury. After that setback, expect to see Williams slide back in as starter at right tackle.
Competition
66 Erwil Anthony, Jr. 5th Year 6’4″ 285 – injured
Erwil Anthony, who transferred to Liberty from Division II Wingate a year ago. He was rarely used last season, getting on the field for three games, but he was pushing for the starting right tackle spot before suffering a serious injury on the first day of camp.
Liberty Offensive Line coach Bill Durkin – “Unfortunately, day one, we had a guy go down and he will be out for a good amount of time, Erwil Anthony, with a lower leg deal. That was a little bit of a shot early.”
70 Austin Anderson SR 6’4″ 300 – injured
Anderson is one that would see the field a ton if he could remain healthy. Injuries have been something that has plagued him throughout his time on the Mountain as he has played just three games in his career. He would be fighting for a starting spot on the offensive line if he can remain healthy. Throughout camp, he has been at practice but in a no contact jersey with no pads on going through conditioning drills on the side. If he can get and remain healthy, Anderson would be a huge boost to the depth of Liberty’s offensive front.
72 Val Erickson 5th Year 6’5″ 320
Erickson transferred to Liberty from NC State where he played in 7 games last year for the Wolfpack. He began his career at Missouri and has played both guard and tackle. Erickson was a three-star recruit out of Chicago’s St. Rita High School. He was ranked as the No. 809 recruit nationally, No. 56 offensive lineman in the country, and Illinois’ No. 18 prospect. In 2024 at NC State, he saw action in seven games and started two. He redshirted in 2022 at Missouri and did not see any action. Erickson was working with the second team at right tackle, right behind Erwil Anthony, before Anthony went down to injury. Erickson is someone Liberty would certainly like to see push towards taking that starting spot to increase the team’s depth.
59 Brandon Edozie SO 6’6″ 275
Edozie is just in his second season at Liberty. A young guy, but he has impressed his coaches throughout his time on campus. We’ve also seen him working a lot with the second team at left tackle, even going back to the spring. Now, with the injuries, Edozie could see his way onto the field this fall.
58 Jude Foster JR 6’3″ 290
Coming from Ole Miss, Foster was a top 150 national prospect as an offensive tackle in the 2024 recruiting cycle. The 6’3″, 290-pounder redshirted his true freshman season, not playing for the Rebels. In 2025, he saw limited action before entering the transfer portal. He’s worked some with the second team at left guard early during camp and could provide some depth up front for the Flames.
52 Kevin Evehe SO 6’6″ 296
Evehe is originally from Randallstown, Maryland and Randallstown High School, transferring to Liberty from Saint Francis. One of the incoming transfers this season, Evehe has been competing for a spot on the two deep during camp.
76 Gabe Smith SO 6’5″ 300
Part of the same recruiting class with Edozie last year, Smith could also be in the mix for some playing time due to the injuries in front of him. He too though has been limited at times during camp due to injury.
62 Blake Martin JR 6’2″ 250
Martin has been working some at second string center for the Flames during camp.
Depth
63 Daniel Schiffert FR 6’3″ 295
64 Hunter Winn FR 6’5″ 305
65 Malcolm Gaston FR 6’4″ 350
73 Curtis Doirilus JR 6’3″ 335
77 Carlton Hall FR 6’4″ 295
78 Joseph Morris SO 6’5″ 290
