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 defensive line.
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Offensive line
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Linebackers
Defensive Line
11 Lorenzo Payne, 6’1″, 245 lb (West Florida)
15 Markus Clark, 6’1″, 295 lb
18 Aaron Hester, 6’2″, 245 lb
40 Chris Law, 6’2″, 293 lb
44 Joe Strickland, 6’4″, 290 lb
50 Gavin Askew, 6’3′, 240 lb
52 Jacob Taylor, 6’8″, 275 lb
53 Nikodemus Tounger, 6’0″, 275 lb
55 Henry Hicks, 6’2″, 285 lb (Elizabeth City State)
56 Samuel Cohen, 6’3″, 245 lb
88 Kam Cullins, 6’4″, 270 lb
91 Michael Floyde, 6’3″, 245 lb (Garden City CC)
92 John Curtis, 6’3″, 285 lb (Emory & Henry)
94 Nate Pirolli, 6’3″, 285 lb
97 Mike Jarvis, 6’4″, 295 lb
98 Austin Tremblay, 6’2″, 275 lb
99 Xavier Reid, 5’11”, 265 lb
Joker/Jack
8 Brenton Williams, 6’3″, 260 lb
13 Seneca Moore, Jr., 6’2″, 225 lb
30 Ethan Crisp, 6’3″, 235 lb
95 Jeffrey Hairston, Jr., 6’3″, 225 lb
A position unit that has been understandably criticized the past couple of the seasons, Liberty’s defensive line has struggled to get into the backfield and create havoc for opposing teams The Flames do return a couple of key pieces and have also added some transfers to help increase the productivity from the group. A new scheme and mindset from newly minted defensive coordinator Shawn Quinn could also have an impact on this group.
Mike Jarvis is entering his 6th year playing college football and is a returning starter and leader for the Flames’ defensive line. After three years at Wisconsin, Jarvis now enters his third season with the Flames. He started and played in all 12 games last year at defensive tackle, finishing the season with 25 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup and 2 QB hurries.
Five other returners should help solidify the interior of the defensive line for the Flames in Nate Pirolli, Kam Cullins, Sam Cohen, Markus Clark, and Joe Strickland. Pirolli, a former walk-on, was a back up to Jarvis last year, playing all 12 games while also starting one. He had 42 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 PBU, and 1 QB hurry. Cullins and Cohen both played as true freshmen last year, each finishing with 6 tackles. With a year of experience under their belt, they should see their production increase this coming season. Clark played in 9 games last season, starting 2, while recording 10 tackles. Strickland, a former Purdue transfer, played in 12 games last season, finishing with 5 tackles and a sack.
Liberty has also brought in Henry Hicks and John Curtis, a pair of transfers to help build out the depth at defensive tackle. In 9 games at Division II Elizabeth City State this past season, Hicks had 32 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 15 QB hurries. Curtis played in 10 games for Division II Emory & Henry last season, recording 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
At defensive end, Aaron Hester returns. The former Florida State transfer started 9 games a season ago for the Flames, playing in all 12. He finished the year with 10 tackles, 0.5 TFLs, 1 PBU, and 4 QB hurries. Looking to increase the competition and productivity at the position, Liberty brought in transfers Lorenzo Payne and Michael Floyde. Payne was first-team all-conference at the Division II level last year for West Florida, finishing with 23 tackles, 12 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He helped lead West Florida to a 10-2 record and the second round of the Division II playoffs. Meanwhile, Floyde played at the JUCO level. Originally from Nevada, he had 47 tackles, 15 TFLs, 6 sacks, and 3 PBUs in 11 games last season.
Perhaps one of the more important roster keeps from last year’s team was Brenton Williams who returned to Liberty after flirting with the transfer portal briefly. Playing behind CJ Bazile the past couple of seasons, Williams was pushing him for playing time and productivity. Last year, he played all 12 games and started two, finishing the season with 27 tackles, 4 TFls, 3 sacks, 3 QB hurries, and a fumble recovery. The Flames will be counting on him to be a menace for opposing quarterbacks.
Behind Williams there is some competition for playing time at the Joker position. Ethan Crisp has moved from linebacker to the spot. He seems the most likely to crack the two-deep, but will be pushed by Seneca Moore and Jeffrey Hairston. Last year, Crisp played in 12 games and started 2, all at linebacker, finishing the year with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Moore played in 8 games, finishing with 3 tackles and a TFL.
