Liberty football will wrap up its spring practice periods this weekend as part of the Spring Showcase event that is open to the public on Saturday afternoon. Throughout the spring, the Flames have been in the midst of a quarterback competition after bringing in a pair of transfers and a true freshman. Those newcomers, Deshawn Purdie, Jaylen Henderson, and Jachin Davis, have been competing with returning redshirt-freshman Ethan Houck while last year’s starter, Ethan Vasko, has been sidelined throughout the spring due to offseason shoulder surgery.
“Those guys have done a really good job picking up on the system,” said new Liberty QB coach Malcolm Dixon of the three newcomers. “Just some details and stuff that we have to continue to work on as far as gravitating and picking up on the playbook.”
Vasko was Liberty’s starter last year, completing 151 of 266 passes (56.8%) for 1,961 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also rushed 100 times for 258 yards and 5 touchdowns. Because of Vasko’s struggles on the field in 2025 and his off-season shoulder surgery, the Flames went to the transfer portal and brought in two talented and experienced quarterbacks in Purdie and Henderson.
Former Wake Forest and Charlotte quarterback, Purdie threw for 618 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in 8 games, while making 2 starts, for the Demon Deacons in 2025. Originally 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.
Henderson began his career at Fresno State before transferring to Texas A&M, where he appeared in five games during the 2023 season. In those appearances, he completed 53 of 78 pass attempts for 715 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. He also ran the ball 41 times for 104 yards and two scores. This past year at West Virginia, Henderson completed 7 of 18 passes for 50 yards. He also rushed 29 times for 146 yards and a touchdown. 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.
“It’s only one quarterback that can go in and play,” Dixon said. “Those guys have built a really strong connection. You see guys like Purdie and Jaylen, they’re hanging out, they’re having a good time. You see Houck and Vasko bringing in the young guy. It’s been really good just to see those relationships being formed. They understand we are competing with each other. At the end of the day, it’s one room, but when you see just the competition and seeing when one guy goes out there and makes a play, like say a Purdie goes out there and makes a play, then you see Vasko or somebody very excited about him making that play. Then, a young guy in Jachin, he comes in and makes a play and then everybody gets excited. The relationships have been the highlight, seeing those guys together. We’re not competing against each other, we’re competing together.”
Dixon, who came to Liberty Mountain when Jamey Chadwell was named Liberty’s head football coach in December 2022, is in his first season as the team’s quarterbacks coach, taking over for Willy Korn who left following the 2025 season. Dixon served the program as a Senior Offensive Quality Control staff member during the 2023-24 seasons before being elevated to Assistant Quarterbacks Coach in 2025. He says there won’t be significant changes to the offense with running backs coach Newland Isaac being promoted to offensive coordinator and Coach Chadwell calling the plays.
“We talk about securing punishing, scoring,” said Dixon. “The first goal is securing the football. You look back at last season, that’s been a major emphasis. I think those guys understand the offense and what it looks like, understanding we’re going to take shots, but understand, at the same time, we recruit athletic guys so if the coverage breaks down understand you have legs of being able to run it. You don’t have to force the situation. Move the chains, move the chains, move the chains. That’s been a major emphasis, keeping the ball moving.”
Purdie is one who has all the physical tools if he can figure out a way to put it all together on the field. The two biggest question marks surrounding him is his career 50% completion rate and his lack of rushing success. Dixon sees potential in both of those perceived weaknesses.
“When you watch the film first and foremost everybody noticed the arm talent jumped off,” Dixon said of Purdie. “Then, when you go back and watch, you saw him actually scramble at times. You knew he had enough burst. That’s what we look for, you don’t have to be a 4.4 or 4.5 guy, but you have to have enough burst to run the system. You saw the burst you just didn’t see the big plays off of it, but it’s based off the offense and what they do. Seeing him come in, you’re seeing where his running ability if he gets a crease he actually can take it the distance.”
More than his physical traits, Dixon has been more impressed with Purdie’s demeanor off the field. He has become the ultimate teammate and has been investing in relationships with guys on the team.
“Outside of just his talent and ability, him as a person,” Dixon continued about Purdie. “He loves his teammates. He came in, he’s taking guys out and just really establishing relationships with guys, having guys over. It’s not just about offensive guys, he’s had defensive guys over to his place. He’s really just come in and really been a great teammate. That’s the thing that I think has really excited me the most, seeing him come into a situation and be a teammate first.”
As the spring comes to a close, Liberty is still searching for who its starting quarterback will be the team opens the season in early September at James Madison. Will it be one of the transfers? Will Vasko be able to win the job coming off surgery, or can Houck or Davis earn the spot?
