QB JOHNATHAN BENNETT
“Offensively, start with the quarterback. In our system, our quarterbacks have had a lot of fun and put up a lot of crazy numbers. Coach Dailey, to his credit, identified a guy – Johnathan Bennett – and we were able to get him and spend some time with his family. We hit it off. Johnathan came with us today. I think he’s a talented, good kid, athletic, dual-threat which I like to have ’cause it makes us tougher to defend.”
WR C.J. YARBROUGH
“Receiver-wise, I don’t know that we could have done any better with 3 weeks or 4 weeks, some was a credit to Kyle (DeArmon) and the former staff.
“C.J. Yarbrough, out of Alabama, you guys did a magical job here. Matt Bevins kinda organized most of the things, did a masterful job. When i got into the home, the dad was decked out in Liberty gear that he got form Walmart. You’re feeling pretty good when you walk in there, if I just don’t screw this up, we feel pretty good with this kid. They were very familiar with the receivers that played in our system, and the success they had, and the numbers they put up and moved on to the next level. We’re thrilled to get him.”
WR SHEDRO LOUIS
“Shedro Louis is a kid, as is Treon Sibley, two ultra-talented – just go watch their highlight video, you will see what I’m referring to. Treon and Shedro both signed last year with Akron, but for one reason or another it did not work out for them to enroll. We were able to get in on the ground level, and be one of the first to get to them when I got here. Shedro is a phenomenal punt returner, kick returner, slot.
“Shedro was one class short (of graduating high school and enrolling at Akron). Fortunate I had some ties to the staff that knew them, and I was the one they chose to pass the names on to first. There was only one weekend, and we were able to get them here.”
WR TREON SIBLEY
“Shedro Louis is a kid, as is Treon Sibley, two ultra-talented – just go watch their highlight video, you will see what I’m referring to. Treon and Shedro both signed last year with Akron, but for one reason or another it did not work out for them to enroll. We were able to get in on the ground level, and be one of the first to get to them when I got here.
“One of them just didn’t get admitted. He was a qualifier, but there was a rule on the cumulative GPA that had to be a bit higher. That’s a rare thing, that was just a wierd deal with him. Fortunate I had some ties to the staff that knew them, and I was the one they chose to pass the names on to first. There was only one weekend, and we were able to get them here.
“Treon can do a little bit of everything from running back to wide out. He’s just a tremendous kid.”
TE/DE BRAYDEN MONDAY
“When I first got here and started watching tapes of recruits, I was like I don’t know who this kid is, I don’t have a relationship with him, but we need to get him on the bus. I don’t know what seat he sits in yet because you watch his tape and, as an offensive guy, I want him at tight end, and then I watch his defensive tape and I want him to sack the quarterback too. He can do both.”
TE/DE ZACK AMERSON
“Got to meet with (his family). I think he’s another guy that has potential to play both places, defensive line or tight end. Athletic kid, 6’4″, 215 right now, can probably, easily carry 240-250.”
DE TRE’SHAUN CLARK
“Defensive end, explosive, and can really rush the passer – what you have to have. We’re thrilled to get him out of Cape Coral. Love his mom. He’s going to be a asset, and I expect him to contribute pretty early. He has such a high motor, flexible. He was MVP of the All Star game last week in Florida. We’re thrilled to get him.”
DT DEVONTE LLOYD
“Out of Mississippi, defensive tackle, a true nose guard, 1st and 2nd down guy. I have great ties in Mississippi. Coach Singletary had done a great job identifying him. True inside guy, run-stopper that you have to have.”
DB CHRIS MEGGINSON
“(His family) They just fit when you talk about a Liberty fit. And that family, not only is he a fit, but this guy is long and you want some long DBs to play against these receivers they have to. He’s a local product, you want to get them when you can.”
CB ISAIAH AVERY
“Came on his visit (this weekend). Really, really talented cornerback out of San Francisco College.”
S MICAH GLAIZE
“Another local product, safety. They were all in in helping us recruit the other families. I give them great credit for helping to put the rest of this class together.”
S AUBREY WILLIAMS
“Josh Aldridge, one of our new coaches, really identified him out of Navy Prep. He was scheduled to go to the naval Academy. We were able to get him on a trip when we found out he was not returning. This guy will strike you. He is physical, he is one of the better tacklers. Trae Elston at Ole Miss, he reminds me a lot of Trae Elston, his early years. He started for us 4 years there, and I expect him to come in and compete.”
K/P JASON STRICKER
“This is a kid that is on mission all the time to represent the Christian faith, and his dad is strong into missions as well. That’s great, and it represents us well. Now, we just need to put the ball through the uprights every time we put him out there. Hopefully, we don’t have to kick too many field goals, more extra points than field goals, but we like the 3 when we have to get those too.”
ON IMPORTANCE OF SIGNING LOCAL KIDS
“It’s important if they can play. If there’s a local kid that can play, we don’t want to lose him to anybody, period, but the Liberty brand is going to be based on what we put on that field whether they are from California, Hawaii, Samoa, that’s what it will be based on. To me, it’s important that we win the battles for local talent when they can play, and these two certainly can. We want to hold on to local talent. I don’t think long-term, local talent is the only thing you need, but when we do have one, we want to win it.”
OTHER NOTABLE COMMENTS
“One more receiver that signed that we won’t announce until February, but we’re excited to have him as well.”
“I couldn’t be more thrilled with how the journey has started off here. It’s certainly been a whirlwind for me and my family. You’re a bit apprehensive. This was my first experience with an early signing period, and I wasn’t thrilled with it one bit having only one week. But I stand here today, and I don’t mind it one bit. I think we did really well today.”
“A lot of credit goes to Turner Gill and his staff. I thought they did an outstanding job of developing relationships with the young men and the families of whom chose to go with us today. Most of the credit goes to them.”
