I had a chance to digest the new class of Liberty Flames for a couple days and here is my analysis of the class, player by player, and at the end will talk about the group as a whole (credit ro LibertyFlames.com for the info on the signees)
Tolen Avery 6-4 235 Lbs DL Texas City, TX (Ball HS)
This is a signing a really liked. He lined up at end mostly in his highlight videos but he did have a few plays as an interrior lineman. With his size and speed he will probably be looking at playing at the offside end spot opposite 2013 All Conference honoree Chima Uzowihe in the next couple years which will afford the Flames the ability to get more pressure on the QB, something that was lacking in the big games last year.
J.T. Bradwell 6-2 190 Lbs QB Tallahassee, FL (Godby HS)
While QB wasnt a dire need for the FLames (with Woodrum, Shashaty and 2013 Redshirt Masha all returning along with 2013 PWO Bo Swanson), Bradwell is a good get to give them an athletic player who can make plays with his arms and his legs. With Woodrum graduating after 2015, this will be a year for Bradwell to get some good seasoning before diving headlong into the QB battle with Shashaty and Masha.
Daquin "Buddy Edwards 6-0 230 Lbs RB/FB Lake Butler, FL (Union County HS)
This was one that flew largely under the radar until the final couple weeks of the recruiting season. Edwards is another big back the Flames will be able to give the rock to and chew up yards and clock, and while he wont set any world records in the 100 yard dash, he will get you plenty of yards after contact thanks to a very powerful frame.
B.J. Farrow 6-2 170 Lbs WR Forest, VA (Liberty Christian Academy)
Farrow joins what is becoming a steadily pipeline of WR from just on the other side of campus, joining former Flames standout Patrick Kelly and his brother Dakota (2013 redshirt and preferred walk-on) and former DB Chris McAlister (who switched over to the defensive side of the ball when he suited up for the Flames). Gill was extremely happy to get what some would call a "value signing" in one of the top WRs in th Central Virginia area. Farrow, at 6-2, played like he was about 6-5 or taller, showing a high propensity to win 50-50 balls and a field awareness that allowed him to make plays that a lot of other receivers might struggle with. If he can adjust quickly to the college game, he could be threatening quite a few records before his time on the mountain is over.
Lucas Irons 6-0 195 Lbs LB Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Coconut Creek HS)
One of the biggest needs for the Flames came at the LB position with two time all-conference standout Scott Hyland (also a former LCA product like B.J. Farrow above) graduating. Irons gives the Flames a smart, but also physical presence (a la former Flame Brent Vinson) at the second level, while also providing speed to get to the QB in blitz situations.
Cameron Jackson 6-1 185 Lbs S Pearland, TX (Lutheran South Academy)
First thing that I like about Cam is his physicality. He had some very solid hits on his highlight film ad would give the defensive backfield some definite pop over the middle as well as in run support. The other positive is his height and ball skills. being 6-1 will help him in coverage situations against equal or taller receivers, plus he will be very good at making plays on the ball in the open field. My big concern is his route recognition and attempting to make a play on the ball leading to a big play (something that happened quite a bit last year in the Flames defensive backfield
Corbin Jackson 6-0 190 Lbs CB Charlotte, NC (Victory Christian School)
Corbin is another big physical DB which will help the Flames on the back end with the departure of Walt Aikens from last year's team (graduation this May), and he has very good ball skills like Cameron above him, but he also showed that he can be a major contributor in special teams much like another outgoing Flame, Kevin Fogg. Jackson could find himself seeing quite a bit of tield time in that aspect before making an impact on the defense.
Avery "A.J." James 6-0 S Duncan, SC (Byrnes HS)
James continues the theme of big DBs for the Flames, and coming from high school power Byrnes (home to former Presbyterian coach Bobby Bentley), he brings an impressive pedigree to the mountain, and much like the other DBs, impressive ball skills to match. Word from my friends over at Liberty Flames Nation (www.libertyflamesnation.com) is that James will get a shot to see the field immediately so he will certainly get a chance to put those ball skills of his to work soon as he hits the mountain this summer.
Javon Majors 6-3 250 Lbs DL Virginia Beach, VA (Ocean Lakes HS)
Majors is the first player from the talent rich Hampton Roads area to suit up for the Flames since former LB and DL standout Demetrius Ward. He played a lot of tackle in his highlight film, but someone of his size, he probably will be playing defensive end, which judging by his video, will take advantage of his speed and he could also play right away which would make for an excellent complement to Chima Uzowihe like Avery.
James Passmore 6-6 270 Lbs OL Dallas, NC (North Gaston HS)
Passmore fills one of two major holes in the trenches with the hogmolly from NC. Passmore was on the right side of the line in every one of his highlights so I think that he could be a future replacement for former right guard Malcolm Boyd.
Gregg Storey Jr. 6-5 315 Lbs OL Cary, NC (Panther Creek HS)
Storey was the other piece up front for Turner Gill and the Flames, and he gives the Flames a bulldozer for the middle of the line. He is very nimble for his size and wll clear the way for the future Flames backfield
Chris Turner 6-3 175 Lbs CB Columbia, SC (Denmark-Olar HS)
This one was filed under "who?". Turner gives the Flames one more big body to match up with the taller WRs that are becoming commonplace in college football. Turner did suffer an injury that caused him to miss much of his senior year so his health is going to be a question coming into camp.
Will Johnson 6-6 245 Lbs TE Maple Grove, MN (Osseo HS/West Virginia)
The Flames picked up their first FBS transfer since Walt Aikens and first on the offensive side since Tommy Beecher with the former Mountaineer. At 6-6, he gives whoever the QB is a very big target which will open up the passing game for the WRs.
Avery Echols 5-10 180 Lbs K Zeeland, MI (East HS)
The Flames pick up another kicker to offer some competition with 2013 starting kicker John Lunsford sitting out the first two games of 2014, which creates a competition now with walk-on Shane Blanchard, who filled in for the first half of the Brevard game while Lunsford was suspended. Echols will have a chance to be the third true freshman to start for Liberty at kicker since 2008 (Matt Bevins and the aforementioned Lunsford being the other two).
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