Liberty football has just finished up spring practice as the Flames went through 15 practices over the course of several weeks. With only one transfer portal window which closed following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Liberty knows its roster it will have for the upcoming 2026 season. We are going through a series where we break down each position on the roster. We continue today with a look at the corners.
Previous
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Offensive line
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Linebackers
Defensive Line
Corners
2 Quavo Marshall, 6’4″, 180 lb
5 Elijah Hopkins, 5’10”, 195 lb
12 Prince Cottonham, 6’0″, 170 lb (JUCO)
16 Tyrell Gainey, 6’1″, 175 lb (Albany State)
20 Kennedi Bailey, 6’2″, 175 lb
21 Ashton McShane, 5’11”, 194 lb (Boston College)
23 Myke Gunn, 6’3″, 180 lb
28 Jamal Miles, 6’0″, 180 lb
Unlike the defensive line and linebackers, Liberty’s defensive secondary will have a much different look to it in 2026. Beginning with the corners today (and you will also see a similar scenario when we break down the safeties), there are a lot of unknowns and unproven commodities. Amarian Williams and Damond Harmon are gone, as are their 23 games started at corner a season ago. Also gone is Dexter Ricks, who was the team’s third corner last season. The returners combined to see playing time in 25 games in 2025. Under new defensive coordinator Shawn Quinn, the Flames are also likely to move to more of a zone scheme than the previous teams who played primarily man-to-man coverage in the secondary.
Let’s focus on the returners first, before we dive into the incoming transfers. Elijah Hopkins returns for his fourth season at Liberty after playing in four games as a true freshman at Coastal Carolina in 2022. He’s someone that was and has been pushing for a starting spot the past couple of seasons but injuries have derailed some of those plans. He played in just four games in 2025, finishing with 6 tackles. If he can remain healthy, Hopkins should see plenty of time on the field this coming season.
Three other returners were pushing for playing time last season in Quavo Marshall, Jamal Miles, and Myke Gunn. Marshall, the former Kentucky transfer, played in 12 games last season and had one interception. He provides something unique at the position with his length and has the potential to make a big impact. Miles has played in 14 games over the past two seasons, picking up four tackles and a pass breakup. He’s looking to take the next step this season and earn a spot on the two-deep. Gunn was a highly touted freshman that came in a year ago and has turned heads. He played in four games, maintaining his redshirt season, and is pushing for significant playing time this season.
Liberty also brought in three transfers at the position in Prince Cottonham, Tyrell Gainey, and Ashton McShane. Cottonham joins the Flames from East Central Community College where he saw playing time in 19 games over the past two seasons, finishing with 63 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and four interceptions while earning second-team all-conference honors. Gainey played in 11 games last season at Division II Albany State, earning second-team all-conference honors while helping them to a conference championship and national quarterfinals appearance. He had 25 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, four interceptions, 12 pass deflections and a forced fumble this past season. McShane is from Boston College where 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.
