Christian Bodnar

Liberty University Football Media Day on June 28th, 2024. (Photo by Cassidy Paxton)

Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Position:
S
Height:
5-11
Weight:
185
Hometown:
Brandon, Fla.

2025 (R-So.):

Phil Steele CUSA Preseason All-Conference Third-Team
Athlon Sports CUSA Preseason All-Conference Fourth-Team
Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List

2024 (R-Fr.):

Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll member
Saw playing time in five games before being sidelined with an illness
Started his final game of the season against FIU
Finished the season with 13 tackles (eight solo, five assisted)
Added 2.5 tackles for a loss (four yards) and 1.0 sacks (three yards)
Also add two quarterbacks hurries, a forced fumble and a pass breakup
Recorded Liberty’s longest interception of the season with a 43-yard return against UTEP
Also added a tackle and a quarterback hurry against UTEP
An assisted tackle, quarterback hurry and a pass breakup against New Mexico State
Posted four solo stops against East Carolina, including a tackle for a loss
Recorded a season-high seven tackles against FIU, including a three-yard sack and a forced fumble

2023 (Fr.):

Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll member
Redshirted
Saw playing time in three out of the last four games of the season
Played against UMass, UTEP and No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

Prep:

Graduated from Bloomington Senior High School in Valrico, Fla.
Helped Bloomington playoff semifinals as a sophomore, finishing the year with a 13-1 record
Recorded six tackles and a pass breakup as a sophomore
First-team defensive back as a junior
Finished his junior season with 51 tackles, including 44 solo stops
Added four interceptions and seven pass deflections as a junior
First-team all-purpose player as a senior
Finished his senior year with 45 tackles
Also added 800 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior
Also participated in track

Personal:

Son of Christina Bodnar
Uncle, Mohamed Sanu, was an all-conference wide receiver at Rutgers (2009-11)
Sanu was a third-round NFL Draft pick by Cincinnati Bengals in 2012
Sanu played in the NFL for 2012-22 for Cincinnati, Atlanta, New England, San Francisco, Detroit and Miami
Business Administration major
Birthday is April 6

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
Liberty was the only school that recruited me really hard and showed that they wanted me.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
My mother inspires me because she worked so hard to raise me as a single mother.