SPRING PRACTICE CONCLUDES WITH SPRING GAME
The Flames concluded their spring practice session with the annual Spring game this past Saturday. Masha looked the best of the 3 quarterbacks. He finished the game 12-for-17 for 126 yards and 1 touchdown. His best pass was a 50-yard completion in stride to B.J. Farrow. Rudiger Yearick and Bo Swanson split reps with the 2nd team offense. Not much to note from either guy. Swanson did throw an interception which was returned 47 yards for a touchdown by Alpha Jalloh. Yearick was the 2nd QB to get work, if that means anything. Zach Schreiber was awarded the Luke 2:52 award. Thomas Kennedy was named most improved on offense, while Lucas Irons received the recognition on defense and Elijah Benton on special teams. We are anticipating a post-spring practice depth chart to be released within the next several days.
WESLEY SCOTT INJURY
One of the biggest takeaways from the game, was cornerback Wesley Scott who was seen on the sidelines on crutches and with a brace on his right knee. Following the game, Coach Gill said Scott tore his ACL in the week leading up to the spring game, and will likely miss the entire 2016 season. Scott’s a senior who hasn’t used his redshirt year, so he can redshirt and return in 2017. Regardless, it’s a huge loss as Scott has started 34 games in his Liberty career.
WOODRUM’S DRAFT PROSPECTS’ CLIMBING
According to Daniel Jeremiah of Move the sticks, “Josh Woodrum, from Liberty, is a quarterback that you are starting to hear a little more buzz.” Jeremiah went further into Woodrum’s draft prospects, “He’s someone I think in that 5th round area is kind of a nice, sweet spot for him. A really, really nice developmental quarterback.” The 2016 NFL Draft will be held April 28-30.
“(Woodrum) is someone I think in that 5th round area is kind of a nice, sweet spot for him. A really, really nice developmental quarterback.”
RASHAD JENNINGS TO BE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
As announced by Liberty this week, former running back Rashad Jennings will be the 2016 commencement speaker. The New York Giants running back will speak at the May 14th ceremony. Jerry Falwell, Jr. on Rashad: “Rashad Jennings is a Liberty University living legend. He has seen more success in the NFL than any other Liberty football player in recent years, and he exhibits the Christian values that we pray all Liberty graduates will embrace through his service to others. Having successful alumni like Rashad Jennings and Shannon Bream as our keynote speakers at Commencement is a sign that Liberty is maturing as a university and producing the type of graduates envisioned by our founders.”
2016 GAME TIMES ANNOUNCED
Liberty has announced the 2016 game times. The first 3 games will all kickoff at 7pm, while the final 3 will all kickoff at 3:30. The Flames have their home opener on September 10th against Jacksonville. Liberty will then play host to 2015 FCS Runner-Up Jacksonville State on September 24th, followed by Robert Morris on October 1st. Homecoming will be played on October 22nd against Monmouth, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30. The final two home games are October 29th against Gardner-Webb and November 12th against Charleston Southern.
MANCE JOINS BRYCE DREW’S STAFF AT VANDY
Liberty assistant coach Omar Mance has joined Bryce Drew’s staff at Vanderbilt as Director of Basketball Operations. Mance spent the past 3 seasons at Liberty and will join Drew who just took the head coaching position at Vanderbilt after spending the past 5 seasons as head coach at Valparaiso. No official news yet as to who will replace Mance, but Coach McKay could look internally to Matt Olinger, who has spent the past 11 seasons as part of the men’s basketball program.
FLAMES HAVE LOST 4 OUT OF 5
Liberty has dropped 4 out of its last 5 baseball games and 5 out of its last 7. The Flames lost the first 2 games of the 3 game series at Campbell last weekend. LU did rebound to defeat the Camels, 3-0, in the series finale. The Flame Train lost to Duke and Richmond in mid-week contests by a combined total of 2 runs. The Flames fell behind the Spiders 7-1 and 10-4 before rallying with 5 runs in the final 2 innings before losing 10-9. Liberty stands at 20-19 overall and 6-6 in conference play.
SOFTBALL KNOCKS OFF VIRGINIA
The Lady Flames defeated Virginia, 1-0, in game 1 of a double header on Wednesday. Julia Dimartino pitched 7 scoreless innings while only allowing 2 hits in the win. Virginia outlasted Liberty, 9-7, in game 2 of the double header. The Lady Flames beat Campbell 2 out of 3 games last weekend to improve to 10-5 in the Big South. Liberty enters the weekend, 3-game series against Charleston Southern, 2 games behind first place Longwood. The Lady Flames have a doubleheader with the Bucs beginning at 5pm on Saturday and the series finale is Sunday at 1pm.
GOLF TEAM WINS BIG SOUTH TITLE
The Flames’ golf team won its 4th Big South Championship in 6 years this past week. 3-seed Liberty won by 12 strokes to earn the Big South’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals which will be held May 16-18. The 81-team field will be announced on May 5th at 9:30 AM on the Golf Channel. Liberty finished 11 under par, its 2nd best total at a Big South Men’s Golf Championship Event. Campbell finished as the runner-up with a 1-over par. Isaiah Logue and Mickey DeMorat were named to the All-Conference Team while Gabe Lench was named to the All-Freshman Team.
