LIBERTY REPORT: More on signing day

Notes and musings on Danny Rocco’s fourth recruiting class at Liberty …

Space is getting tighter and tighter in the print product, so there wasn’t much chance to break down the 11-man recruiting class in the Thursday News & Advance. So here’s an expanded look at the class, which actually included 18 players if you include the seven players who enrolled at the mid-term in January.

Let’s start by taking a look at the Flames’ biggest needs:

1. Offensive skill players. The list of lost players from last year’s 10-2 team is mind-boggling, starting with the top two tailbacks (Rashad Jennings and Zach Terrell), a three-year starter at quarterback (Brock Smith), the Big South’s most dynamic return threat (receiver Dominic Bolden) and a solid second option in the receiving game (Jonathan Crawford).

2. Bodies up front. Liberty lost all-conference linemen in Mike Godsil and Britt Stone. Godsil, in particular, will be a difficult man to replace. He was a four-year starter at center and was the heartbeat of Liberty’s mammoth o-line.

3. Secondary. The Flames lost safety Ryan Greiser and cornerbacks Kent Hicks and Pat Calvary. Tim Torrence returns at center, and Larry Claiborne broke out at the end of last season and could be an excellent option at safety. Chris Rocco, who really molded into an excellent safety by the end of the year, returns as well. Don’t forget about Donald Manns, who broke his ankle in the preseason and redshirted. He may have a chance at starting. Torrence’s energy is best utilized in his current nickel role, so I’d actually be a little surprised if he moved into the starting lineup. But you never know.

Now a closer look at some of the players in the class:

WR Pat Kelly (6-3, 190, LCA)

I know a lot of Kelly’s numbers came against weaker private-school competition. But I covered a few of his high-school games, and the kid passes the eye test. He’s tall and athletic and has tremendous hands. He’s the type of receiver who can go up in the air and win a jump ball. Kelly graduated early from LCA so he could enroll at Liberty and be available for spring ball, and with two relatively untested players battling for time at quarterback in the spring (Spencer Landis and Mike Brown), it’s important the new receivers get acclimated as soon as possible.

ROCCO’S TAKE: “He’s been in a system where he’s been very well coached. He’s had an outstanding high-school career. So we’re very excited about Pat. He’s got good size. He comes from a winning program. I really think he’s going to have an opportunity to have an early impact on our football team. He can catch the ball. He’s got great hands.”

OL Malcolm Boyd (6-4, 275, Spartanburg, S.C.) and OL Jay Weathering ton (6-4, 280, Woodbridge)

Rocco’s pattern has been to redshirt as many of his line recruits as possible their rookie years. So it’s pretty telling to me that he’s touting this duo as guys who can help right away in terms of offensive line depth. According to Rocco, at this time last year, Boston College had an offer out to Weatherington, and he was still high on many FBS schools’ lists. Both have college-ready bodies that will only get stronger after spending some time with LU strength coach Bill Gillespie.

ROCCO’S TAKE: “(Weatherington) is a kid who can play either side of the ball, tight end, offensive line or defensive line. (With Boyd), it came down to us and Appy State. He visited Appy State on his last official visit. There were a number of I-A teams communicating with him, trying to keep him alive. We think he’s a really, really good get. They give us a chance to maintain this recent history we‘ve had. They‘re both big, they‘re both versatile and they both can play a number of positions.”

RB Chase Barnett (5-8, 175, Stafford)

Barnett broke his ankle midway through his senior season, so the big schools eventually cooled on him. As a junior, Barnett ran for 2,100 yards and 28 touchdowns and averaged 8.1 yards per carry for Brooke Pointe. Rocco loves Barnett’s breakaway speed (he was all-district in the 55-meter dash in high school.)

ROCCO’S TAKE: “The most dynamic guy in the signing class is Chase Barnett. He’s small but he’s very fast, very quick. Just a very, very exciting athlete.”

LB Demetrius Ward (6-1, 215, Hampton)

Ward was a big part of Phoebus’ nine shutouts this season. He’s another quick, athletic body for a linebacking corps that must replace senior leader Nick Hursky.

ROCCO’S TAKE: “He played on a phenomenal defense. I mean, this kid can play. He can run and hit.”

The Flames addressed the wide receiver need in January with the addition of transfers Ervin Garner (Virginia Tech) and Justin Hilton (Butte JC). Barnett, Sir Chauncey Holloway (another January signing), Kevin Fogg and Aldreakis Allen give Rocco some options at running back. Brent Vinson, a Fork Union transfer, and D.J. Edmond give the Flames defensive back options. And one of the more interesting signees was Robby Cramer, and not just because he’s from Hoover (Ala.) High School. (DING!)

Cramer was signed as a long snapper, another area of concern after the graduation of Dan Pope. That’s a position a coach would rather not have to worry about.

That’s all for now.