We conclude our roster review series today by looking at the special teams. If you have missed any of our previous nine roster reviews in this series, be sure to check them out. A link to each one is listed below.

As has been the case the past few seasons, Liberty has questions at kicker entering the season. Last year, the Flames brought in Division II transfer Colin Karhu who ended up putting together a very strong campaign in his only year with the Flames. He was 10 of 14 on his field goals with a long of 47 while making 8 of 9 inside of 40 yards. He also made all 41 of his PATs. Jamey Chadwell and his staff would take that every year from the kicker.

With Karhu having exhausted his eligibility, Liberty brought in Wake Forest transfer Tyler Black to help add competition to the room. Black is a 5’9″, 190 pound kicker originally from Goochland, Virginia and Goochland High School. He spent the past two years at Wake Forest. In 2023 as a freshman, he saw action in 11 games, finishing the year with 38 kickoffs for 2,459 yards, good for 57.3 yards per kick. 22 of his kicks resulted in touchbacks. He was 1 for 2 on his field goal attempts and made both of his PATs. In 2024, Black played in four games and finished the season with 12 kickoffs for 778 yards, averaging 64.8 yards per kick. He had nine touchbacks. Out of high school, Black was ranked as the 19th best kicker in the nation by Kohl’s. He was named Virginia 3A Second Team All-State honors. As a senior, he connected on 4 of 6 field goal attempts with a long of 38 and was 26 of 31 on PATs.

Brayden Beck appears to be Black’s biggest competition for the field goal duties. Beck made 4 of his 5 field goal attempts with a long of 43 for the Flames back in 2021, the last time he has attempted a field goal in a game. Over the past two seasons, Beck has handled the kickoff duties on a part-time basis, with 18 kickoffs for an average of 62.6 yards per kick and 9 touchbacks.

Sam Crossan and Caleb Willis were preferred walk-ons listed as kicker/punter who joined the Flames prior to the 2024 season.

The rest of the specialists should be in good shape, as they return from last season. Ryan Manis (long snapper) and Max Morgan (punter, holder, kickoff specialist) return. Morgan has been the Flames’ punter for the past two seasons, while also getting significant work in 2021 as Aidan Alves was injured. Last season, Morgan averaged 42.4 yards per punt on his 43 punts with 4 touchbacks and 15 inside the 20-yard line. He also averaged 63 yards per kickoff on 53 kickoffs with 28 touchbacks.

Brylan Green has been Liberty’s primary punt returner for each of the past two seasons. He has 17 returns for 180 yards with a long of 45 during that time.

Juju Gray handled most of the kickoff return duties when he was healthy last season. He had 17 returns for 348 yards, an average of 20.5 yards per return, with a long of 56. He was very successful in the return game during his time at NC State, as he tallied 822 total kickoff return yards during his three seasons with the Wolfpack, averaging 24.9 yards per kick return. He ranked No. 3 in the ACC and No. 11 in the country in kickoff returns in 2023 and was No. 3 in the ACC and No. 26 in the country in 2022.

Previous Roster Reviews:

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Linebackers
Corners
Safeties
Defensive Line