Football is right around the corner as the summer months come to an end and training camp looms. Coming off an 8-4 season and loss in the Bahamas Bowl, the Flames will be looking to get back to the top of Conference USA in 2025. This depth chart will still change as the team begins participating in fall camp and we get more of an idea for how all the pieces fit together. But, doing this now, gives us an idea of what the roster currently looks like.

Quarterback: Ethan Vasko
Backup: Ryan Burger OR Michael Merdinger OR Jayden Bradford OR Ethan Houck

Vasko, the transfer from Coastal Carolina, certainly appears to be the favorite to win the job as he’s the only quarterback in the room with significant starting experience at the FBS level. Ryan Burger will likely be his biggest competition, but Burger missed all of the spring due to an injury.

Merdinger, a transfer from North Carolina, redshirted in 2024 before seeing some playing time in the bowl game after an injury. Bradford missed spring practice after having surgery on an injury suffered during practice while Houck arrived on campus for the spring. These three are all freshmen, two redshirt and one a true freshman. It will be hard for any one of them to emerge from this group and then also be able to push past the more veteran Vasko and Burger as a starter, but they will get a long look.

Running Back: (A-Back) Juju Gray; (B-Back) Caden Williams
Backup: (A-Back) Vaughn Blue; (B-Back) Malachi Fannin-Render OR Evan Dickens

Another position that will have a new look for the Flames this fall. Quinton Cooley and Billy Lucas are gone as are James Jointer and Victor Venn. With Juju Gray a full-time running back now, expect him to get plenty of touches this coming season. He will likely be more utilized in space catching passes out of the backfield and as the pitch guy in the option game than a bruising back between the tackles.

Vaughn Blue returns and should continue to see his role increase. He can play both the A and B-Back. Caden Williams, who redshirted in 2024 but got some playing time in the bowl game, will be in position to fight for serious playing time on the field this season and could be the go to running back between the tackles. Evan Dickens, a transfer from Georgia Tech, will also be in the mix.

Wide Receiver: Casey Cain
Backup: Jamari Person

Wide Receiver: Elijah Canion
Backup: Reese Smith

Wide Receiver: Tyson Mobley
Backup: Donte Lee

Liberty actually has several pieces returning to the receiver position this season. With the exception of Treon Sibley, just about everybody else returns who was part of the two-deep this past season. Add in Colorado State transfer Jamari Person and Texas/UNLV transfer Casey Cain, and there are several names to watch out for during the offseason. The Flames have several pieces here, just need one or two to emerge as go-to targets this fall.

Left Tackle: Jack Tucker
Backup: Erwil Anthony

Left Guard: DJ Geth
Backup: Andrew Johnson

Center: Aaron Fenimore
Backup: Cal Grubbs

Right Guard: Harrison Hayes
Backup: Blake Heckmann

Right Tackle: Christian Williams
Backup: Trey Bedosky

There are some holes to fill on the offensive line. Aaron Fenimore has established himself as a starter and leader for the team and offense, but, outside of him at center, there are a lot of unknowns and question marks for this unit. Jack Tucker and Harrison Hayes will certainly be part of the plan and are likely favorites to start a t this point. DJ Geth could also break into a starting spot at one of the guard positions.

Trey Bedosky is a veteran transfer from UAB who will also have a chance to break into the rotation. Erwil Anthony, making the move from Division II Wingate, will be counted on. He was a starter at right tackle there. It will also be interesting to see how Christian Williams, a transfer from Florida, fits into this group.

We will also have to see how JUCO tackle Da’Jy’Quwan Jackson, who committed to Liberty in early April, fits into this group, as well as the late spring portal additions in Joep Engbers (Illinois) and Braeden Edwards (Northwestern). A lot of new faces that will have to blend in with the returners. It may be a few weeks into the season before it all shakes down.

Tight End: Jacob Jenkins OR Austin Henderson
Back up: Bo Burklow OR Connie Hewitt OR Eli Sisson OR Caleb Ryan

Austin Henderson should return off his injury and will team with Jacob Jenkins as the leaders at this position. Younger names behind them are looking to establish themselves including Bo Burklow, Connie Hewitt, Eli Sisson, and Caleb Ryan.

Defensive End: Aaron Hester
Backup: Donovan Dozier OR Sam Cohen

Defensive Tackle: DJ Jackson
Backup: Markus Clark OR Joe Strickland

Defensive Tackle: Bryce Dixon
Backup: Mike Jarvis OR Eli Hall

Joker: CJ Bazile
Backup: Brenton Williams

A once very strong unit following the spring, the Flames got gutted in the spring transfer portal on the defensive line. Four names were removed from the two-deep including two that have now committed to P4 programs (TJ Bush, Jay Hardy).

What we know: the Joker position remained virtually untouched since the end of the spring with CJ Bazile anchoring that position and Brenton Williams with upside behind Bazile.  We also know that Bryce Dixon will anchor the interior of the defensive line. Mike Jarvis and Eli Hall were pushing into the two-deep last year and should take another step going into 2025.

The other two defensive line positions are huge question marks right now. Aaron Hester, the Florida State transfer, seems to be in the running for the starting spot left vacated by Bush’s departure. Donovan Dozier, a returner who has been in the program a couple years, could certainly factor in.

At the other defensive tackle spot opposite Bryce Dixon, we have put DJ Jackson and Markus Clark into the two-deep there. Jackson transferred to Liberty from NC State while Clark joined the Flames from App State prior to the spring. We’ve also added the new transfer from Purdue Joe Strickland.

We will learn a lot about these new pieces and how they all fit in on the defensive line once camp begins.

Mike: Joseph Carter
Backup: Micah Pollard

Will: Derrell Farrar OR Aidan Vaughan
Backup: Deuce Spurlock OR Ethan Crisp

Joe Carter is the obvious leader of the group here, as several top pieces from last year have exhausted their eligibility. Still, there is some depth here led by Aidan Vaughn and Ethan Crisp. Former Michigan teammates Micah Pollard and Deuce Spurlock also will be in the mix here and should be expected to carve out a role and even fight to become starters. We have also heard good things about App State transfer Derrell Farrar and expect him to have a good role on the field this season.

Other young names to watch here include Kaidon Whidby, Seneca Moore, and Dillano Glaud.

Cornerback: Dexter Ricks, Jr.
Backup: Elijah Hopkins OR Jiquavious Marshall

Cornerback: Amarian Williams
Backup: Jamal Miles OR Jaylen Whaley

The Flames return several of its top corners from 2024 including Amarian Williams and Dexter Ricks. Elijah Hopkins is another to watch at the position if he can stay healthy, as is Jamal Miles. Quavo Marshall joined the team this summer and has the potential to break into the two-deep. Whaley, the transfer from Hampton, will also likely be in the mix in the defensive secondary for the Flames. He could play either safety or corner.

Safety: A’Khori Jones
Backup: Jalon Rock

Safety: Brylan Green
Backup: Christian Bodnar

Safety: Eldric Griffin
Backup: Elijah Auguste

Jones, Green, and Griffin provide a good base to build off of at safety. Christian Bodnar had also become a key member of the secondary prior to missing the end of the season, and should factor into the two-deep in the back-end of the defense. He could potentially slide over to corner also. Eli Auguste is a veteran and solid contributor, as well. Rock is a transfer from Weber State who can be counted on to contribute at either safety or corner.

Kicker: Jay Billingsley OR Tyler Black OR Brayden Beck

The Flames got a jolt to the specialists group late in the spring transfer portal with the addition of Billingsley and Black.

Billingsley comes in from Gardner-Webb where he 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, 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 2023, Billingsley made 6 of 7 field goals with a long of 47. In 2022, he was 9 of 14 on field goals and 53 of 54 on his extra point attempts. He has also handled kickoff duties, with 46 kickoffs going for an average of 53.0 yards with 8 touchbacks.

Black, the transfer from Wake Forest, doesn’t have a ton of experience in college kicking field goals, but he did serve as the kickoff specialist for the Demon Deacons.

Expect Billingsley and Black to be heavily involved in the kicking game during camp with Billingsley having the leg up due to his experience.

The rest of the specialists should be in good shape, as they return from last season.

Punter: Max Morgan

Long Snapper: Ryan Manis

Holder: Max Morgan

Kick Returner: Julian Gray

Punt Returner: Brylan Green