Happy Signing Day and welcome to our Live Blog where we will continually update all the activity today as the NLI’s come rolling in! So, go ahead and keep this tab open and hit that refresh button frequently as we update the day’s action with highlights, offer lists, previous articles, and so much more for Liberty’s 2023 signing class.
In the meantime, get caught up with what to expect today and this week in our Signing Day Primer. Also, for ASOR Club members, you need to check the Rumor Mill for news leading into Signing Day and keep tabs there today and this week as well in case we hear any rumors.
With the 4 NLI’s received Wednesday, the Flames are done for the day. OL Austin Anderson is expected announce his signing on Thursday following a ceremony at his school.
NLI’S RECEIVED
OL AUSTIN ANDERSON
Anderson is a 6’4″, 290 pound offensive lineman from Bowling Green, Kentucky where he attends Bowling Green High School. In addition to his offer from the Flames, he also had offers from Air Force, Army, Charlotte, Georgia Southern, Western Kentucky, Marshall, and several FCS schools. He committed to Liberty last summer and stayed true to his early pledge despite the coaching change. Anderson actually signed with the Flames back in December, but he wanted to wait and announce it now after having a signing ceremony at his school today.
CB MARQUIS BELL (JUCO)
Marquis Bell is a JUCO corner who committed to Liberty earlier this week after taking an official visit to campus this past weekend. He is a 5’11”, 175 pound corner who has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Bell will come to Liberty from Palomar Junior College in California. In 10 games played there this past season, Bell recorded 37 tackles, 4 TFLs, 7 PBUs, and 3 interceptions. Bell also had an offer and took a visit to Colorado State, and Old Dominion was also pursuing him.
DB JABIN FORD (JUCO)
A JUCO teammate of Liberty signee Tysheik Galloway, the Flames add Jabin Ford to the class. The 6’0″, 178 pound Ford attends Coffeyville Community College and is originally from Macon, Georgia. As a defensive back this past season at Coffeyville, Ford played in seven games while recording 25 tackles and three interceptions. In addition to Liberty, Ford also has an offer from Old Dominion. After high school, Ford spent one season at Fork Union for post grad before heading to Coffeyville for a season.
DE LARRY JONES III
Larry Jones III is a three-star defensive end from Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. The 6’1″, 235 pound athlete also has offers from Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, and several FCS schools. Jones was heavily recruited by the Liberty staff when they were at Coastal.
DE/OLB BRYAN WHITEHEAD II (JUCO)
Bryan Whitehead II is a JUCO defensive lineman from Pearl River Community College who was named a Second Team All-American this past season. He finished 2022 with 39 tackles, 19 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception. The three fumbles that he recovered, Whitehead also returned all of them for a touchdown. He ranked fourth in the NJCAA in sacks and sixth in tackles for loss. He also took an official visit to Old Dominion recently. His offer list includes ODU, Jacksonville State, Sam Houston, FIU, Toledo, South Florida, UTSA, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, and several FCS schools.
As a reminder, Liberty signed 13 players during the December signing period:
QB Reese Mooney
RB Vaughn Blue
TE Bo Burklow
OL Tajh Boyd
OL Cal Grubbs
OL Aaron Fenimore
DL Donovan Dozier
DL TJ Bush
DL Eliyt Nairne
DT Tysheik Galloway (JUCO)
LB Olan Robinson
CB Jamal Miles
S Christian Bodnar
The Flames have also added 10 transfer portal additions Liberty added to its 2023 roster who are already enrolled in classes and part of the team. Here are those transfers:
QB Trey Lowe
RB James Jointer, Jr
RB Quinton Cooley
WR Reese Smith
WR Errol Rogers
TE Jacob Jenkins
TE Billy Durocher
OL Jordan White
CB Elijah Hopkins
S Brandon Bishop
