Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff have turned their attention to the 2023 class as the Flames begin to zero in on their top prospects. Under Freeze and with Liberty’s move to the FBS level, we have seen the level of talent committing to and signing with the Flames continue to increase.
WIth the strong recruiting push the Flames have made in recent seasons, several of those propsects have cracked the top 10 rated recruits in program history. Here’s an updated list of the top 10 rated recruits Liberty football has ever had, based on 247Sports’ ratings.
No. 10 Mike Smith
Class: 2022
JUCO: Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Perkinston, MS)
Position: Linebacker
Rating: 3-star 0.8452
Overview:
Smith transferred to Liberty this past spring where he will compete for a starting spot at linebacker.
No. 9 Brylan Green
Class: 2022
High school: Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, LA)
Position: Defensive Back
Rating: 3-star 0.8465
Overview:
Green is a true freshman defensive back for the Flames this coming season.
No. 8 Brian Hannibal
Class: 2020
High school: James Hubert Blake (Silver Spring, MD)
Position: Offensive line
Rating: 3-star 0.8471
Overview:
It’s been a quiet first couple of seasons at Liberty for Hannibal, which is typically the case for offensive linemen. He has yet to be able to crack the rotation, but has a chance to do so this coming season.
No. 7 Rashad Whitehead
Class: 2020
High school: Best Academy (Atlanta, GA)
Position: Defensive line
Rating: 3-star 0.8518
Overview:
Whitehead has been a reserve defensive linemen for the Flames the past two seasons. He played in two games as a true freshman in 2020 and five games this past season where he recorded 7 tackles.
No. 6 Kaci Seegars
Class: 2021
High school: William Amos Hough (Cornelius, NC)
Position: Linebacker
Rating: 3-star 0.8533
Overview:
As a true freshman last season, Seegars redshirted but played in three games where he recorded 2 tackles and one tackle for loss.
No. 5 Markel Fortenberry
Class: 2022
High school: Maryville (Maryville, TN)
Position: Wide receiver
Rating: 3-star 0.8540
Overview:
Fortenberry is a true freshman for the Flames in 2022.
No. 4 Stephen Sings
Class: 2020
High school: Julius L Chambers (Charlotte, NC)
Position: Defensive line
Rating: 3-star 0.8593
Overview:
Sings has developed into one of the team’s top pass rushing specialists. He played in 12 games last season, amking one start, finishing the year with 25 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and one sack.
No. 3 Da’Qon Stewart
Class: 2020
High school: North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, NC)
Position: Wide receiver
Rating: 3-star 0.8675
Overview:
Stewart committed to Liberty in August 2020 but never ended up on campus in Lynchburg that season. He committed to Louisburg College, a JUCO, but has not recorded any stats there.
No. 2 Tayvion Land
Class: 2019
High school: Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA)
Position: Corner back
Rating: 3-star 0.8757
Overview:
Land was the highest rated recruit in school history when he signed with the Flames. As a true freshman in 2019 he played in 11 games and recorded 23 tackles. The following summer he decided to transfer and ended up at Norfolk State. This past season he played in 11 games for the Spartans, recording 32 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and four pass breakups.
No. 1 Khristian Zachary
Class: 2021
High school: Carrollton (Carrollton, GA)
Position: Defensive line
Rating: 3-star 0.8784
Overview:
Zachary played in five games during his true freshman season with Liberty this past season. He finished with four tackles, two tackles for loss, and half a sack.
