We continue to countdown towards the 2026 football season where Liberty will look to make it back to a bowl game while also competing for a CUSA title.
As we have done the past several years, we will rank Liberty’s top 26 football players entering the 2026 season. In today’s era of the transfer portal and NIL, putting together a list like this is much more challenging than it was previously as a large portion of the two-deep and roster has been turned over from the previous year. We started our ranking previously with #26-21, go back and check that out if you missed it, by clicking here. Here is #20-16:
20. OL Christian Williams
On an offensive line that figures to be one of the best and deepest the Flames have seen, Williams is the first from that unit to find his way on to this ranking. Williams transferred to Liberty from Florida prior to the 2025 season. He played in 7 games across three seasons for the Gators under now JMU head coach Billy Napier who first recruited Williams to Louisiana and then Florida when Napier took that job. Williams played all 12 games last season for the Flames, while starting the last 10 at right tackle, playing the 5th most snaps on the season for any Liberty offensive lineman. He enters 2026 as the 4th highest rated returning offensive lineman for the Flames, according to PFF.
19. DT Nate Pirolli
A former walk-on, Pirolli was a reserve defensive lineman for the Flames in 2023 and 2024 before seeing his role greatly increase last year. He played in all 12 games in 2025, finishing the year with 42 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 pass breakup. He was the team’s 5th leading tackler and is the 2nd leading returning tackler entering the fall. Pirolli also was the highest rated interior defensive lineman for the Flames and played the third most snaps, according to PFF.
18. LB Micah Pollard
Pollard is Liberty’s third leading returning tackler. He is also the highest graded returning player on the defense that played over 100 snaps last year and also the highest graded linebacker of those that played over 100 snaps for the Flames in 2025, according to PFF. The veteran has played in 41 games throughout his career, beginning at Michigan where he spent his first three seasons before transferring to Liberty a year ago. In 2025, Pollard played in all 12 games for the Flames, recording 28 tackles and one forced fumble. He’s poised to make a big leap on the field this fall.
17. RB Kanye Udoh
Udoh was one of the best running backs in the country coming out of the 2024 season where he ranked 28th in the nation with 1,117 rushing yards for a 12-2 and AAC Championship Army team. He then entered the transfer portal before landing at Arizona State. Last year, Udoh played in 11 games, rushing 56 times for 240 yards and 2 touchdowns. His high water mark came in a game against Mississippi State where he carried the ball 23 times for 105 yards and a score. Udoh played in 23 games over two years at Army, rushing 99 times for 524 yards and a touchdown his freshman season in 2023. Udoh has the experience and ability to help lead a Liberty rushing attack which has been one of the top ground games in the country under head coach Jamey Chadwell.
16. DB Jeremiah Vessel
Vessel transferred to Liberty in the spring from UAB where he appeared in 11 games and made 8 starts in 2025. He finished the season with 54 tackles, 2 PBUs, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sick, and 1 forced fumble. He has also played at UNLV and New Mexico State during his collegiate career. Last fall, Vessel played the 2nd most snaps of any player on defense for the Blazers, and he will be looking to make an immediate impact in a new look secondary for the Flames.
