We conclude our position previews today with a look at Liberty’s special teams.
Be sure to go back and check out any of our previous previews if you have missed any:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties
The Flames welcome new special teams coordinator Dylan Lewellyn this year. He played his college football at Liberty from 2010-14, playing in 37 games with 17 starts while helping the team to four Big South Conference championships and the program’s only FCS Playoff appearance in 2014. After spending much of his coaching career at ETSU where he coached the linebackers and special teams, Lewellyn returned to Liberty for the 2024 season as a Special Teams Quality Control Coach. Now, he steps into the role as special teams coordinator, and he has returning starters at most of the key special teams spots including punter, long snapper, holder, and both kick and punt returner. The biggest question for his group has been who will step into the kicker role.
Kicker
Competition
43 Jay Billingsley R-SR 5’10” 160
Billingsley transferred to Liberty after four seasons at Gardner-Webb. In his career, he has made 21 of 32 field goals with a long of 54. Last season, he made 6 of 11 kicks with his long of 54 coming during the season against Eastern Illinois, setting a school record. He also made all 35 of his extra point attempts, having made 108 consecutive during his career entering the off-season. In camp, Billingsley made 94 of 103 (91.3%) of his field goals.
85 Brayden Beck SR 5’10” 190
It’s been a bit of a weird career arc for Beck who has spent his entire career at Liberty. He took over as the Flames’ starting kicker as a freshman in 2021, playing in the last nine games of the season. He was 4 of 5 on field goals and 34 of 37 on extra points during that time. It looked like he was primed to be the team’s kicker for the next few years, but he didn’t see the field in 2022 and was a part-time kickoff specialist the past two seasons. Yet, Beck elected to remain on the team and now he is in the mix to win the job in his senior season. In camp, Beck made 95 of 106 (89.6%) of his kicks.
The battle between Billingsley and Beck, both seniors, may come down to game day, but it does sound like both have performed very well in camp.
Liberty Special Teams Coordinator Dylan Lewellyn – “The consistency is really incredible out of these two. It’s the best, as far as teams and kicking goes, that I’ve been a part of in my days coaching. I’d feel comfortable trotting either one of those two guys out. Those two are battling for ones.”
Depth
98 Tyler Black R-FR 5’9″ 190
Black is originally from Goochland, Virginia and Goochland High School. He spent the past two years at Wake Forest. In 2023 as a freshman, he saw action in 11 games, finishing the year with 38 kickoffs for 2,459 yards, good for 57.3 yards per kick. 22 of his kicks resulted in touchbacks. He was 1 for 2 on his field goal attempts and made both of his PATs. In 2024, Black played in four games and finished the season with 12 kickoffs for 778 yards, averaging 64.8 yards per kick. He had nine touchbacks.
Liberty Special Teams Coordinator Dylan Lewellyn – “Tyler, I’m not going to say he didn’t have a great camp, he did. He’s kicked in ACC games. He still has three seasons left with us. I trust Tyler is going to kick a lot of balls for us in the future.”
86 Caleb Willis R-FR 5’10” 190
Punter/Holder
Frontrunner
37 Max Morgan SR 6’2″ 225
Morgan has 36 games under his belt as Liberty’s punter (and holder) as he moves into his fifth year in the program. He averaged 42.4 yards per punt last season, second best single season in program history. Morgan also had 15 punts inside the 20-yard line and eight punts of 50 or more yards. He has also been the team’s kickoff specialist for the past two seasons.
Depth
49 Sam Crossan R-FR 6’3″ 260
Long Snapper
Frontrunner
47 Ryan Manis R-SO 6’1″ 225
Manis returns as Liberty’s long snapper, a spot he held last season though he shared it with Ryan Wilkins. He got some valuable experience in game situations last year, and now will be the primary long snapper for the Flames this season.
Liberty Special Teams Coordinator Dylan Lewellyn – “We wanted to get him out on the field, get some experience in a game. We were just thinking ahead, building for this year, because we knew Ryan Wilkins would leave with no more eligibility, but we wanted to get Manis prepared so he’s not coming out this year with the first time playing in a game. We wanted to get him some reps. He did a nice job. He will be handling both (short and long snapping) of them this year.”
Depth
45 Cayden Comer FR 6’2″ 220
Punt Returner
Frontrunner
15 Brylan Green SR 5’9″ 180
Green is entering his third full season as Liberty’s punt returner. He has been very strong with his ability to field punts while also having a chance to make long returns when the opportunity presents itself.
Liberty Special Teams Coordinator Dylan Lewellyn – “He does a really solid job. Trying to make it hard on himself in practice. When he’s catching balls, he puts boxing gloves on. He’s very solid. Main thing we want him to do is field the punt. BG has the ability to take it. You saw some dynamic returns last year.”
Kick Returner
Frontrunner
1 Juju Gray R-SR 5’11” 195
Juju had 16 kickoff returns for 348 yards last year, averaging 20.5 yards per kick return. He averaged 24.9 yards per kick return during his career at NC State, one of the top kick returners in the country. If he can stay healthy, Gray has the potential to be a dynamic player in the return game this season.
Liberty Special Teams Coordinator Dylan Lewellyn – “Just an explosive athlete. Watching tape on him, when he is putting his footing the ground and getting north and south, it’s scary. Hoping to do the same thing for our opponents.”
