Signing day 2016 is just a week away. With the big snowstorm this past weekend, numerous recruits will be taking their official visits to Lynchburg this coming weekend. As we continue to inch towards February 5th, here’s a look at where the Flames currently stand with the Class of 2016:
Verbals
QB Stephen Calvert
With Josh Woodrum graduating and Stephon Masha the only scholarship QB on the roster, the Flames made the position a high priority stating from the outset they wanted to sign 2 quarterbacks. Calvert had a standout senior season leading Carol City into the playoffs. He will join the team in the summer with the intention of competing for the starting job from day 1. New Miami Head Coach Mark Richt was on site at Calvert’s school late last week, but no word of him contacting Stephen.
QB Rud Yearick
Yearick chose Liberty over IVY League offers and he has enrolled with the Flames for the Spring semester. Yearick had hand surgery at the conclusion of his senior season, but should be ready to go for spring practice.
RB Mitchell Lewis
Lewis picked up his only Division I offer from Liberty just a couple weeks ago, and he committed shortly thereafter. He will be visiting Lynchburg this weekend.
WR Antonio Gandy-Golden
The 6’4″ receiver committed to the Flames Monday night over offers from Elon, Kennesaw State, Mercer, Samford, and Murray State.
OL Damian Bounds, Jr
The Flames have picked up 4 pledges from offensive linemen in the class including Bounds who was named 1st-team All State following the conclusion of his senior season. He is expected to take his official visit the weekend of January 29th.
OL Aidan Burroughs
Burroughs has been listed at 6’4″ and 275 pounds. The offensive lineman product hails from Norfolk, Nebraska where he attended Catholic High. He is expected to make an official visit this weekend.
OL Ethan Crawford
Crawford was the first commitment in this class, as he committed back in early June. He also had offers from East Tennessee State, Charleston Southern, and Robert Morris. He is expected to take his official visit the weekend of January 29th.
OL Daniel Zapata
The 6’3″, 275 pound Zapata committed to Coach Gill and the Flames over Air Force, Army, Colgate, Robert Morris, and Monmouth. He attends Paramus Catholic in Paramus, New Jersey.
DE Michael Anderson
Anderson committed to the Flames December 15th. Liberty was the only offer for the 6’3″ defensive end product out of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida.
DL DeCarlo Hamilton
Hamilton chose Liberty over Southeast Missouri State and Florida A&M. At 6’4″ and over 300 pounds, he could play on either side of the line, but will begin his career on the defensive line. Hamilton picked up an offer from UNC Charlotte last week, and he made an official visit to Florida A&M this past weekend. His verbal can be classified as “soft” at this point. We’ll see if and where he takes an official this weekend, and then wait and see where he will be signing next week.
LB Korell Evans
Evans committed to the Flames in December after being offered by Coach Gill in November. Evans is from Hallandale, Florida.
DB Jimmy Faulks, Jr
Faulks committed to Liberty in August over reported offers from Florida International, Pittsburgh, and Western Kentucky. He first landed on the coaching staff’s radar as part of the team that won the 7-on-7 tournament at Liberty last July.
S Solomon McGinty (JUCO)
McGinty is a veteran defensive back who has 2 years of eligibility remaining. He is from Texas where he spent 3 seasons at Tyler Junior College including 1 year as a medical redshirt. McGinty is on campus and enrolled for the Spring semester
S Brandon Tillmon
Tillmon is expected to be a 2-sport star at Liberty, playing both football and baseball. Following a succesful senior season, Tillmon was named to the All-State team. He will be taking his official visit to Liberty this weekend.
K Alex Probert
As the Flames look to find a replacement for John Lunsford, they have picked up a commitment from Probert who recently picked up 3 stars from ESPN. Probert is scheduled to take his official visit this weekend.
Pending Offers
ATH Arkeem Byrd
Byrd has a laundry list of offers including the likes of Louisville, Kansas, and Tennessee. He visited Wake Forest on January 16th, and has also visited Louisville, Colorado State, and Minnesota. He also picked up an offer from Missouri.
ATH Jaylan Foster
The Byrnes High School prospect has numerous offers including Liberty, Charleston Southern, and Eastern Michigan. He announced that he was going to announce his college decision on January 20th, but he recently stated he was pushing that date back. Foster says the Flames are no longer showing interest.
ATH Matthew Martin
Martin has offers from Liberty and Coastal Carolina. We don’t have any real update on him. We’ll see if his name pops up this week among those taking an official visit.
ATH Isaiah Perez
Perez is a running back from Refugio, Texas. His only reported offer is from Liberty.
ATH Kadofi Wright
Wright also has offers from Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, JMU, and Rhode Island. No update on Wright or where he has taken any visits.
RB Theo Anderson
Anderson has picked up offers from several FBS schools, but he still says he is considering the Flames. Unless he visits this weekend, it’s unlikely he will be choosing Liberty.
RB Kevon Hudson
He has reported offers from Liberty and Charlotte, and had a standout senior season coming off a knee injury.
WR Colby Cooper
The prospect from Wake Forest, North Carolina has several offers including Old Dominion, Villanova, and Delaware. He’s also picked up offers from North Carolina Central and Delaware recently.
WR Deshon Cowling
Cowling is from Brundidge, Alabama and has offers from Southern Miss and Alabama State.
WR Trey Fullwood
Fullwood has numerous offers including several from the FBS level. It looks like he is not interested in Liberty.
WR Lionell McConnell
McConnell is currently committed to Missouri State, but Liberty just offered on Monday and he is expected to visit Lynchburg this weekend.
WR Jacquez Payton
He also has offers from Jacksonville State, Memphis, Samford, and South Alabama. He took an official visit to Jacksonville State this past weekend.
OL Julio Lozano
Lozano hasn’t officially been offered a scholarship to this point. He will be visiting campus this weekend. Lozano has an offer from Division II Texas A&M Kingsville with Bethune Cookman also showing interest.
DT Da’shon Copes
Copes has offers from Liberty and Army. Scout has dropped 2 stars on him.
DT Alejandro Solis
He has several offers including some FBS-level offers. It sounds like grades may be an issue with Solis.
DB Terry Beckham
His only reported offer is from the Flames; however, there doesn’t appear to be much activity on either side recently.
DB Hamp Cheevers
Cheevers has begun picking up numerous FBS offers including one from Boston College recently. He was named Florida’s 1A player of the year following his senior season. He has taken a visit to Marshall, Boston College, and Kansas. He is no longer considering Liberty.
DB Khris Pam
Pam has set official visits for Western Carolina and Hampton.
DB Lynval Sutherland, Jr
With an offer from USF, the Florida native seems to have the Bulls on his radar. There doesn’t appear to be any interest from Liberty recently in Sutherland.
S Torrian Hampton
The Flames just offered Hampton in December. He also has offers from Florida A&M and Middle Tennessee State. He’s taken officials to Middle Tennessee and Bowling Green. It looks like he is not considering the Flames.
S Ceneca Espinoza, Jr
The Flames just offered him a couple weeks ago, his only Division I offer. He will be making an official visit to Liberty this weekend.
Stay tuned to LibertyFlamesNation.com, your #1 source for Liberty Flames recruiting info, as we bring you continual updates through Signing Day 2016. Also, give us a follow on twitter where many times recruiting news is first broken.
