The Liberty Flames concluded the 2025 season at a very disappointing 4-8. Now, under fourth-year head coach Jamey Chadwell, the Flames are looking to get back in the Conference USA championship discussion while also getting back to bowl eligibility.

Here’s a look at the players who will determine how successful Liberty is in 2026, presented in no particular order…

QB DESHAWN PURDIE

Perhaps the single biggest reason why Liberty struggled to its worst season in 20 years is due to the quarterback play in 2025. The Flames’ quarterbacks last season threw more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (11). That is not the recipe for a successful team and season. The 11 team passing touchdowns are the fewest for Liberty since 2006. Quarterback play must improve this fall for the Flames to have the level of success it aims for. Hopefully, Deshawn Purdie can be the answer. He’s shown flashes throughout his early collegiate career, but also has just a 50% career completion percentage. Was that due to the people around him and/or the system? We don’t know yet. If he can be the type of playmaker the Flames hope he is at QB to lead the offense, the Flames will fare far better than it did in 2025.

WR MAKAI JACKSON

The Flames have struggled to find a go-to receiver since CJ Daniels left. Perhaps Makai Jackson can be that guy. Jackson transferred to Indiana for the 2025 season but did not see significant playing time early in the season and left the program to redshirt and maintain his final year of eligibility. Jackson played in four games for the Hoosiers last season, a team that went on to win the CFP, where he caught 3 passes for 15 yards while playing 51 total snaps. He did suffer through some injuries during the preseason which may have hampered his ability to rise up the depth chart for Indiana. 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. In his final year with the Mountaineers in 2024, Jackson had 46 catches for 745 yards and 5 touchdowns. In 2022, Jackson was at the FCS level with Saint Francis. That season he recorded 85 catches for 991 yards and 9 touchdowns. He added 13 rushes for 44 yards and 3 kick returns for 90 yards and a touchdown. He has proven he can get the job done at the G5 level, having done so for App State.

OL ALEX BIRCHMEIER

Liberty’s offensive line has a chance to be the backbone of this year’s team, especially early in the season while all the new faces at the skill positions gel. The Flames return 4 starters up front and Penn State transfer Alex Birchmeier is likely going to be the 5th starter. Birchmeier played in 26 games over the last two seasons for the Nittany Lions, including all 16 in 2024, mostly in a special teams capacity. He was a top 100 recruit out of high school in the 2023 recruiting class. The 6’5″, 300 pound offensive lineman 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 could be the key piece to ensure this offensive line unit is operating at peak performance to begin the season.

Joker BRENTON WILLIAMS

Over the past several years, Liberty has struggled to consistently rush the passer. Perhaps under new defensive coordinator Shawn Quinn that can change this fall. Brenton Williams could be a key piece in that aspect. Williams has the potential to be a game changer off the edge. He was pushing CJ Bazile last year for playing time, and the two virtually split reps all of last season. Now, Williams can slide into that position being featured much more prominently.

S D-ICEY HOPKINS

To be honest, you could pick just about any name in the defensive secondary out of a hat and pencil them in here. There are so many new faces that will be slotted into starting roles and key positions, that it is hard to pick the exact one that is key. We’re going with D-Icey (partly because of that name) because he has some starting experience and is familiar with new Liberty safeties coach Cory Peoples. The Flames will need Hopkins to provide some leadership as his experience will be crucial for the success of the secondary this coming season.