As we mentioned earlier this week, Liberty’s coaching staff is very busy on the recruiting trails. This weekend was the first big weekend for the Flames’ recruiting efforts, and it was a very successful one. Gill and his staff picked up four verbal commitments, two from JUCO prospects and two from high school student-athletes.
JUCO defensive tackles Devin Pearson and Atunaisa Vanikola each committed while on their official visits. Pearson is a 6’2″ and 318 pound prospect from San Jacinto, California where he attends Mt. San Jacinto College. Liberty is his only reported offer. Vanikola is a 6’2″ and 280 pound prospect from Maui, Hawaii by way of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. He had an offer from Buffalo.
Liberty also picked up commitments from high school prospects Troy Henderson and Jonathan Graham. Henderson is a 3 star prospect according to 247sports. He is a 5’10” and 180 pound running back from Independence High School in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee. He also had offers from Northwestern and Wake Forest. Graham is a 6’5″ and 300 pound offensive lineman from La Plata High School in La Plata, Maryland. Liberty is his only reported FBS offer.
These 4 join Liberty’s class of 2018 which is now up to 17 verbals. Gill plans to sign the maximum of 25 high school prospects in the December and February signing periods while also adding another 5-6 JUCO mid-year transfers. Pearson and Vanikola are the first two JUCO commitments in this class.
Pearson and Vanikola join 3 star Michael Austin Lewis, 2 star Logan Beadles, and Emmanuel Cater to bring the defensive line unit to 5 commitments in the class. Henderson becomes the 2nd running back commitment, joining Uriah West. Graham joins 3 star Henry Chibueze and 2 star Jacob Bodden in Liberty’s 2018 offensive line class.
