This page will track which Liberty players enter the transfer portal and which players in the portal decide to transfer to the Flames. It will be updated for each addition to either category.
TRANSFERRING TO LIBERTY
1/21/26: RB Kanye Udoh (Arizona State)
Udoh is a 6’1″, 220 pound running back who began his collegiate career at Army. As a freshman in 2023, he was second-team Phil Steele Postseason All-Independent Team, finishing with 5 starts in 10 games played for 524 yards on 99 carries with 1 touchdown. In 2024, he racked up 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry and leading Army to a 12-2 record, going 8-0 in the AAC. Udoh then transferred to Arizona State for the 2025 season where he rushed 56 times for 240 yards and 2 touchdowns. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
1/20/26: QB Jaylen Henderson (West Virginia)
Liberty pursued Henderson last year when he was in the portal from Texas A&M before he ultimately landed at WVU. In his collegiate career, Henderson has completed 65 of 104 passes (62.5%) for 814 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He’s also run the ball 86 times for 316 yards, and 3 touchdowns. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
1/17/26: DT John Custis (Emory & Henry)
Custis is a 6’3″, 285-pound defensive tackle from Chesapeake, Virginia. This past season at Emory & Henry, he had 23 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 3 sacks. He has 2 seasons of eligibility remaining. Custis had offers from Hawaii and several FCS schools.
1/16/26: DT Henry Hicks (Elizabeth City State)
Hicks is a 6’2″, 280 pound defensive tackle with two years of eligibility remaining. In 9 games played this past season at DII Elizabeth City State, he had 32 tackles, 9 TFLs, 3 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries. He also had offers from Western Michigan, Buffalo, Akron, Kent State, and Western Michigan.
1/14/26: DB Ashton Whitner (Ball State)
Whitener is a 5’11”, 196-pound defensive back originally from Greenville, South Carolina. He began his collegiate career at Georgia Southern where he redshirted and did not play as a true freshman. He then transferred to Old Dominion where he played in 19 games with 3 starts across two seasons. This past season, Whitner started 8 games at Ball State where he finished with 41 tackles, 2 pass breakups and 3 tackles for loss. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
1/13/26: TE Kelsey Johnson (Baylor)
The 6’3″, 248 pound Johnson has played over 800 snaps in his career and has 23 catches, 174 yards, and a touchdown. He is originally from Red Oak, Texas and Red Oak High School. He started 4 games as a freshman in 2022 and four more in 2023. He redshirted in 2024 after playing only four games before getting injured and missing the rest of the season.
1/12/26: LS Greg Rivera (Grambling State)
Rivera is a 6’1″, 225 pound long snapper from Grambling State who has been there for the past 3 seasons.
1/11/26: QB Deshawn Purdie (Wake Forest)
Purdie threw for 618 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in 8 games, while making 2 starts, for the Demon Deacons in 2025. Purdie is a 6’4″, 228 pound athlete from Baltimore, Maryland and Milford Mill Academy. He was a three-star recruit out of high school with over 4,500 yards and 45 touchdowns during his final two seasons at Milford Mill. In 2024, as a freshman at Charlotte, he appeared in nine games with six starts. He completed 100 of his 200 pass attempts while throwing for 1,802 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a true freshman, also adding a rushing touchdown.
1/11/26: OL Jude Foster (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 has three years of eligibility remaining. He is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
1/11/26: CB Izaiah Guy (South Florida)
Guy is a 6’2″, 200 pound corner originally from Ocala, Florida and Vanguard High School. He began his college career at Georgia State where he had 55 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a sack in 22 games across two seasons. Guy played in 2 games at South Florida this past season before missing most of the year due to injury. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
1/10/26: S D’Icey Hopkins (Georgia State)
5’11”, 195 pound defensive back had 51 tackles and 3 TFLs this past season. He held opposing receivers to a 43.3% completion rate in coverage while playing in all 12 games. He also had a team-high 5 pass breakups. Hopkins, originally from Macon, Georgia, has played in all 24 games for the Panthers over the past two seasons. He has 2 years of eligibility remaining. He was one of the highest rated safeties in the Sun Belt this past season.
1/10/26: K/P Chase Reeves (McKendree)
Reeves is a transfer from McKendree University, a Division II school. He is a grad transfer with one year of eligibility remaining. The 6’2″, 190-pound athlete was a first team all-conference kicker and punter. He was 15 of 19 on his field goals from inside 50 yards. On his 54 punts, he averaged 43 yards with 21 fair catches, 19 inside the 20, and 10 punts of 50 yards or more.
1/10/26: OL Kevin Evehe (Saint Francis)
Evehe is a 6’6”, 300-pound offensive lineman with 3 years of eligibility remaining. Since entering the portal, he had offers from Delaware, Georgia State, and Marshall. He is originally from Randallstown, Maryland and Randallstown High School. He is the third offensive lineman to commit to the Flames this portal cycle, as he joins NC State transfer Valen Erickson and Penn State transfer Alex Birchmeier.
1/10/26: RB Terron Kellman (Wyoming)
Kellman rushed for 901 yards and 5 touchdowns in three seasons while playing for Northern Illinois, Charlotte, and Wyoming. He is a 5’8”, 210-pound back who spent one season at Northern Illinois where he redshirted. In 2 seasons at Charlotte, Kellman 570 rushing yards on 130 attempts with 1 touchdown in 17 games. At Wyoming this past season, he rushed 65 times for 331 yards and 4 touchdowns.
1/10/26: RB Justin Marshall (Colorado State)
Marshall rushed for 1,006 yards and 5 touchdowns over the past 2 seasons at Colorado State. He played 3 seasons for the Rams. The 5’10, 180-pound back is from Merrillville, Indiana.
1/9/26: CB Ashton McShane (Boston College)
McShane is a 5’11”, 195 pound defensive back originally from Boston College. He missed most of the 2025 season with an injury, playing in four games, but was a starter as a true freshman in 2024 and posted 20 tackles and 4 passes defended. He played in 11 games in 2024 and started 6. McShane attended McKinney High School in Dallas, Texas. He was first team all-district as a senior.
1/9/26: RB Peyton Jones (Duke)
Jones was 2nd on the team in rushing in 2024 while playing in 30 career games for the Blue Devils. He had visits scheduled to Appalachian State, Charlotte, and Memphis.
1/8/26: DB Tyrell Gainey (Albany State)
He is a 6’1″, 175 pound defensive back from Orlando, Florida and Wekiva High School. Since entering the portal, Gainey has received offers from FIU and several others. He also took visits to Virginia Tech and Georgia State. In 10 games played this season, Gainey has 5 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 2 touchdowns, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 30 tackles while playing for the top scoring defense in the country at the Division II level. He was named second team all-conference as a defensive back.
1/7/26: TE Zeke Wimbush (Virginia Tech)
The 6’2″, 245 pound tight end appeared in 24 games over the past two seasons for the Hokies, primarily on special teams, and has two years of eligibility remaining. He also took an official visit to Oregon State.
1/7/26: LB Kyle Ferm (SMU)
Ferm was a top JUCO prospect a year ago and missed 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. The 6’3″, 230 pound linebacker spent his freshman season in 2024 at Citrus College where he had 50 tackles, two sacks and an interception.
1/7/26: Edge Lorenzo Payne (West Florida)
Payne is a 6’1″, 245 pound defensive end who played for the Division II program that went 10-2 this past season. He was named first-team all-conference after recording 23 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 6 quarterback hurries in his first full season playing for West Florida. Since entering the portal, Payne has picked up numerous offers including Charlotte, UTEP, Western Kentucky, Georgia State, North Texas, Kent State, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, FAU, New Mexico State, and Ohio. He is originally from Apopka, Florida where he attended Apopka High School.
1/6/26: WR Rashawn Cunningham (Charleston Southern)
The 6’2″, 200 pound receiver was a FCS freshman All-American and first-team all-conference performer this season with 34 receptions for 628 yards, and 7 touchdowns.
1/6/26: RB Kam Davis (Florida State)
Davis rushed for 173 yards as a true freshman in 2024, before playing in four games this past season and preserving his year of eligibility with a redshirt. He was a consensus four-star prospect out of high school and ranked as the No. 3 RB prospect in his class.
1/5/26: TE Breckan Kirby (North Greenville)
Kirby picked up several offers since entering the portal such as Central Michigan, Buffalo, and others. This past season as a redshirt freshman, in 8 games played, Kirby had 4 catches for 23 yards and a touchdown. The 6’4″, 220 pound tight end has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Kirby is originally from Gainesville, Georgia where he attended North Hall High School.
1/5/26: OL Alex Birchmeier (Penn State)
Birchmeier played in 26 games over the last two seasons for the Nittany Lions. 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. He played at Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia.
1/5/26: WR Makai Jackson (Indiana)
Jackson transferred to Indiana for the 2025 season. Jackson played in four games for the Hoosiers this season where he caught 3 passes for 15 yards while playing 51 total snaps. Prior to his time at Indiana, Jackson spent two years at Appalachian State where he had 73 catches for 1,163 yards, and 7 seven touchdowns, while also rushing 5 times for 90 yards and a score.
1/4/26: OL Valen Erickson (NC State)
Erickson is a 6’6″, 315 pound offensive lineman originally from Chicago who played in 7 games this year for the Wolfpack. He has two years of eligibility remaining. He began his career at Missouri and has played both guard and tackle.
12/2/25: CB Elijah McKenzie (Bowie State)
McKenzie began his college career at Morgan State, where he played in nine games as a redshirt-freshman, finishing the season with six tackles. He then entered the transfer portal to join Bowie State at the Division II level. During his time at Bowie State, he finished the season with 33 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and 16 pass breakups. He ranked second in all of Division II this season with 16 pass breakups. He also had one interception. McKenzie was named first-team all-conference this past season.
TRANSFERRING FROM LIBERTY
1/7/26: RB Malachi Fannin-Render (committed to JMU)
Fannin-Render played sparingly during his true freshman season in 2025. He finished the year with 2 rushes for 6 yards in 1 game played.
1/2/26: Joker Bryson Jennings (committed to Southern)
Jennings has been a reserve defensive lineman, primarily playing at the Joker position. Over the past three seasons, he has recorded 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.
1/2/26: RB Caden Williams
After redshirting as a true freshman in 2024, Williams entered the 2025 season as a starter for the Flames at running back before being passed by Evan Dickens. He finished the 2025 season with 57 carries for 250 yards.
12/30/25: Joker Brenton Williams – exiting the transfer portal and returning to Liberty
After two seasons at Liberty, Williams is entering the portal. This past season, he had 27 tackles, 3 sacks, and a fumble recovery. He began his career at Auburn.
12/30/25: OL Da’Jy’Quwan Jackson (committed to South Alabama)
Jackson was a JUCO transfer to Liberty for the 2025 season. He did not play for the Flames.
12/21/25: S Devin Henderson (committed to App State)
Henderson had 20 tackles in 8 games played for the Flames this past season. He graded as one of the team’s top safeties, according to PFF.
12/20/25: CB Uriah Points
Points was a true freshman for the Flames this past season and red-shirted.
12/18/25: LS Ryan Manis (committed to Louisville)
Manis was Liberty’s long snapper for the past two seasons.
12/18/25: DB Christian Bodnar (committed to Oklahoma State)
Bodnar saw playing time in all 12 games during the 2025 season. He started nine contests for the Flames in the defensive backfield at Liberty’s Star position. The native of Brandon, Fla., ranked fourth on Liberty’s roster with a career-high 44 tackles, including 35 solo stops. He added 2.0 sacks for a loss of 12 yards, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. A successful return to the field in 2025 following a season cut short by illness the year prior helped him earn Comeback Player of the Year honors.
12/18/25: DL Eli Hall (committed to UAB)
Hall led the Flames this past season with 4.5 sacks while playing in a rotation on the defensive line. The former four-star recruit began his career at Wake Forest before transferring to Liberty.
12/15/25: DE Donovan Dozier
Dozier played in all 12 games for the Flames at defensive end this past season while starting 2. He had 15 tackles with 1.5 TFLs.
12/14/25: QB Michael Merdinger (committed to Minnesota)
In his first and only season at Liberty, Merdinger got playing time in five games including two starts – at Old Dominion and the season finale against Kennesaw State. He was 21 of 41 passing for 350 yards and 1 touchdown on the season with 19 carries for 28 yards and a touchdown. In the season finale against the Owls, Merdinger completed 12 of 21 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown while rushing 8 times for 13 yards and a score.
12/13/25: OL Esom Nnajiofor
Nnajiofor was a reserve offensive lineman who did not see the field for the Flames.
12/11/25: TE Connie Hewitt, II
Hewitt redshirted as a true freshman in 2024 while playing in three of the last four games of the season. He played just five offensive snaps for the Flames this past season.
12/10/25: DL Weston Woodard (committed to Towson)
Woodard has been a reserve defensive lineman the past two seasons for the Flames, playing limited snaps.
12/8/25: RB Evan Dickens (committed to Boston College)
Dickens rushed for 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025. Dickens ranked No. 3 in the country in rushing yards per game (121.7), No. 4 in rushing touchdowns (16) and total touchdowns (17), No. 5 in rushing yards (1,339), No. 7 in all-purpose yards (127.27 per game) and No. 10 in scoring (9.3 points per game). The native of Roswell, Ga., posted a school record three 200-yard rushing performances in 2025, ranked second in single-season school history in rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards.
12/8/25: RB Vaughn Blue (committed to Central Michigan)
In 3 seasons at Liberty, Blue had 47 carries for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 19 receptions for 188 yards and 2 scores. This past fall, Blue had 47 rushing attempts for 234 yards (5.0 YPC), and 2 touchdowns to go along with 8 catches for 119 yards and a score.
12/8/25: TE Eli Sisson (committed to North Alabama)
Sisson was a three-star recruit out of high school from Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He redshirted in 2024 and did not have any stats in 2025 while playing just 4 offensive snaps.
12/5/25: OL Cal Grubbs (committed to ETSU)
Reserve offensive lineman Cal Grubbs is entering the portal.
12/4/25: LB Kaidon Whidby (committed to Alcorn State)
A redshirt-freshman this past season, Whidby did not see the field much.
12/4/25: QB Jayden Bradford
Bradford was a 4-star recruit from IMG Academy. He redshirted during his true freshman season in 2024 and saw very limited action in 2025.
12/3/25: CB Dexter Ricks (committed to Texas State)
Ricks played nearly 2,000 career snaps with 57 tackles, 2 interceptions and 8 pass breakups over the last two years.
12/2/25: WR Donte Lee, Jr. (committed to Texas Tech)
Lee began his career at Division II Shaw before transferring to the Flames for the past two seasons. He was the team leader this past season with 32 receptions for 589 yards and 5 touchdowns. In his two seasons at Liberty, Lee had 42 catches for 737 yards, and 6 touchdowns.
