Liberty’s entire football staff and operations team are in Orlando, Florida as preparation for Saturday’s Cure Bowl is underway. Being away from their home office didn’t stop the Flames from getting work down on Early Signing Day as the Flames brought in 19 signees plus 3 preferred walk-ons. For the full list of signees check out our Signing Day Live Blog.
After his team’s practice in Orlando, Hugh Freeze had a teleconference to discuss the 2020 class. Here’s what he had to say:
OPENING STATEMENT
“I’m really thrilled. We got all 19 that we expected to come with us today, had a few battles throughout the night and the morning hours which I’m accustomed to. I kinda like that sometimes, I really don’t, but you like it when it goes your way. Really, really pleased, I think we met some needs offensive line wise and then defensively every position we addressed somewhat, and we’re able to save 5 more spots. I think that’s a great number for the transition whether it be another midyear kid thats a late out, or someone that got dropped at the end, or a transfer guy. I feel really good where we sit today.”
ON THE 9 MID-YEAR ENROLLEES
“I’ll take as many as we can get on that for sure. I just think it provides such an advantage going into fall camp because the young men have already understood how to manage a semester of academics, spent a semester with our strength staff, and obviously learned our terminology, and walk into fall camp way ahead of the curve.”
“We are planning for all (JUCOs) to be midyear. There is still some course work that’s needing to be done in a couple cases so we can’t say that for sure, but we’re sure hopeful that happens.”
ON CHARLOTTE GRAD TRANSFER LB ANTHONY BUTLER & THE LINEBACKER ROOM
“He’s a mature kid that is big and thick and we think can play either Will or Mike. We think we have some young one’s here that we’ve got to improve in spring ball, but we wanted a mature guy to lead that room and we think we found him in him. We’ve got another scholarship set aside for that position whether it be another mature transfer kid in the portal or another high school kid, I’m not sure yet, but we’re planning on getting one more too. But we’re glad we got Anthony to come in and add some maturity in that room.”
ON JUCO TRANSFER DE DURRELL JOHNSON
“We needed one rush end that was a JUCO kid. You don’t want all your d-linemen in the same class, and I think Durrell is going to be a heck of a player. I think he’s got a special gear once he gets with Dom (Studzinski) and gains some weight. I think hes going to be really special.”
ON JUCO TRANSFERS MARCUS HASKINS & JUAWAN TREADWELL
“Haskins and Treadwell both are proven defensive backs that have played a lot of football, I really like that.”
ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE
“We missed on an offensive tackle; we wanted to go JUCO at that spot. We haven’t solidified that yet, but we’ve got a couple ideas where we’re headed.”
ON WRs JAIVIAN LOFTON, CJ DANIELS, & AHMAD JACKSON
“Jaivian, I think is going to be a starter for us at receiver. He’s really special.”
“The three receivers that we took I think are all special in different ways and all talented. CJ is the slot, the other two are outside guys; however, Jaivian could move either or. It’s a good mixture – two high school kids and one JUCO kid. We were very fortunate that the kids that came with us and committed to us early on stuck with us, and it was rather smooth most of the recruitment.”
NO RB IN THE CLASS
“It’s really a numerical thing for me. You can’t get your scholarships skewed. It’s going to take me a couple years to get the numbers in each room right and that’s one. We’re moving Shedro (Louis) to running back. We just decided once we were going to do that for spring that that would be the running back we take in this class.”
ON CONVINCING CB DEON BIGGINS TO SIGN
“These are tough decisions for young men at times, knowing exactly what’s right. Like I told him this morning, ‘Most men that I know the night before they got married are wondering, man, am I doing the right thing?’ Most men that say they didn’t have any doubts, I don’t know if I believe them or not. I said it’s the same way, but I explained to him, ‘You’re not going off to the Army where you can’t get out. Your mind is playing tricks on you.’ And, obviously, other schools are messing with him and trying to convince him not to sign or to wait until February with their school or sign with them now. You just had to work hard to get through that. Coach Hunley and Coach Symons and all the guys that were involved in that recruitment, it was a collaborative effort with us, his mom, high school coach, and his dad. It did take a little work, but I think he’s well worth it. We’re excited to have him.”
ON THE CROP OF JUCO TRANSFERS
“It’s got to be a good mixture. Those guys provide for us some experience and everybody’s not stacked in the same class. You’ve got to have that mixture. Great programs are usually able to redshirt some younger kids from time to time to help build where you’re playing some 5th year seniors along with some of the young kids. I think them coming in hopefully gives us some more opportunities to do that.”
ON THE 4 OL SIGNEES
“I love all 4 of them. They’re all a little different. They’re long, they are big, strong, tough kids that play the game kind of with a nasty streak. I really believe they’re going to provide added depth to us next year, and then in years to come be a really solid foursome.”
ON HIS BASE RECRUITING FOOTPRINT AT LIBERTY
“I’m still figuring that out. If I had to say today, I would say our blueprint is probably Georgia up the East Coast through DC and a little in to Pennsylvania, maybe into Pittsburgh, which is a little different for me. I’m not sure how much the time-money ratio is worth it in other parts, not that we won’t go after somebody because you know we got one from Minnesota, one from Illinois, Mississippi, California. We will go anywhere, but as far as being able to submerse ourselves into states and high schools, I’m not sure. It seems like maybe Georgia and the Carolinas and North Florida up through Virginia and DC are probably going to be our footprint.”
ON THE COACHING STAFF WORKING OUT OF A HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM
“Coaches are the most flexible people I know. We can work out of a shed if we need to. We had everything set up there this morning, had donuts and coffee, a signing board, and everything went smooth. Ethan Johnson, our Director of Personnel, had a good plan, good organization. It was a fun morning.”
ON LATE SIGNEE TIM COUTRAS
“Late addition to signing class yesterday afternoon was Tennessee 4A Mr Football, Tim Coutras. We are excited to have a player and young man like him added to our program. He’s made of the right stuff.”
