L.J. Liston said in December that he planned to win Rutgers' starting middle linebacker job next season. The rising junior won't get that opportunity, as he has been dismissed from the team by head coach Kyle Flood.

"L.J. is no longer a member of the Rutgers football program," Flood said in a statement to NJ Advance Media. "He's currently exploring other options for his career as a student-athlete. We wish him well."

Flood did not provide a reason for the dismissal.

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Liston contacted NJ Advance Media and said he left Rutgers on Saturday because he is set to become a father any day. After the child is born, Liston said he plans to return to Rutgers to finish the spring semester. He hopes to land at a school closer to home next year.

Liston was in the doghouse repeatedly during his sophomore season. He was held out of the first two practices of training camp last summer because he failed the preseason conditioning test. Then, he was suspended for the fourth game of the season for failing to meet the team's study hall requirements. And Liston clashed with linebackers coach Bob Fraser numerous times last season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Liston was the backup middle linebacker last season, earning one start when Kevin Snyder was limited against Tulane with a toe injury. Liston also appeared on several special teams units and registered 15 tackles last season. He had 16 tackles in 12 games as a true freshman in 2013.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound former three-star recruit from Flint, Mich., was in line to open spring practice as the starting middle linebacker. But Liston would have faced stiff competition for the starting job, as Flood added two players — junior college transfer Isaiah Johnson and South Carolina graduate transfer Kaiwan Lewis — who will be eligible to play next season.

The addition of the two experienced newcomers could be seen as an indication of the coaching staff's lack of faith in Liston.

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L.J. Liston targeting a starting job in the 2015 season

*Breaking down Rutgers' linebacker position



Johnson, who spent the past two seasons at the City College of San Francisco, is enrolled at Rutgers and will participate in spring practice. Lewis will join the team this summer as a graduate transfer after finishing this semester at South Carolina. A 6-foot, 230-pound Pleasantville native, Lewis has the experience to step into the lineup immediately after recording 77 tackles in 31 career games in three seasons in the SEC.

Flood also has the option of moving Steve Longa back to the middle after last season's switch to weak side linebacker. But it would be ideal for Lewis or Johnson to seize the starting middle linebacker job so Longa can stay on the weak side.

Speaking before Rutgers' bowl game, Liston said he learned from the highs and lows of his sophomore season.

"I learned that I could have been (a starter), but I didn't do the right things I needed to do," Liston said. "Next year, I'm going to be more focused on doing stuff like that, doing the right things on and off the field to become a starter."

Liston apparently didn't follow through on those words and now Rutgers has one less piece at an important position.

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.