Who's In & Who's out

 

When a coaching change takes place in 2024 in any sport there's going to be all kinds of roster movement.  Ian Mccaw moved about as quickly as he possibly could to make a new head coach hire in Bradley LeCroy but that didn't stop a good portion of the top returning production from entering the portal.  The Flames faired fairly well in keeping their incoming commitments together other than their top HS signee Sawyer Black.  Coach LeCroy continues to work to finalize his coaching staff and the roster and we're just a little over 3 weeks away from the start of classes.  There's always the potential for some of those that have entered the portal but have not yet committed or found a home to their liking to return.  Here's a look at below on where things stand as of late Sunday evening.

Portal - Entered

Todd Hudson - Hudson entered the portal and committed to Miami even before Scott Jackson had resigned

Brayden Horton - Horton entered the portal after the change and found quite a bit of P4 interest out there and landed at Oklahoma.  

Kane Kepley - Kepley had his choice of suitors and followed Coach Jackson to UNC.

Cale Bolton - Bolton didn't have much of an impact coming off injury early in the year before really flashing down the stretch.  He followed Coach Jackson to UNC as well. 

Talor Grubbs - Grubbs entered the portal and found a pretty good market for his services.  He will transfer to ECU. 

Tanner Marsh - Marsh played virtually the entire season at SS for the Flames a true Freshman.  He entered the portal just after the change.  The Flames are still in running for Marsh though they are battling some stiff SEC and possibly other P4 competition for Marsh.  As of the 28th Marsh is slated to return to Liberty.  

Macaddin Dye - Dye entered the portal after the change as well.  It sounds like Dye has eliminated quite a few strong P4 options.  The Flames hope to get the combo of Dye/Marsh back.  The Flames appear to be in the final 2 or 3 with a couple other regional P4 teams to get Dye.  As of the 28th Dye is now headed to UNC.  

Three Hillier - Hillier entered the portal and committed quickly to South Carolina.  Mark Kingston was fired and Matt Williams the Flames former PC was not retained which was the likely connection for Hillier to SC.  He's back available.  It's unclear if there's any shot at a return here. 

Ryan Butler - Butler had been a steady long reliver and starter the last 1.5 years before injury ended his 2024 season early.  He followed former PC Tyler Robinson to Ohio State. 

Nick Moran - Moran was the most reliable pitcher on the staff behind Cole Hertzler.  As of now Moran is slated to return to Liberty but I received a couple DM's today that he may still be looking at a couple top G5 schools.   Moran is now headed to ECU to join Grubbs.  

Trey Cooper - Cooper had entered immediately after the end of the season.  He had an up and down year but showed big time stuff.  Cooper will now return to Liberty for the 2025 season. 

Cam Foster - Foster just entered the portal yesterday.  The Flames had hoped to hold onto Foster but it sounds like he will test his options to see what's out there.  At this point it sounds like a return for Foster is unlikely.  

Graham Edwards - Edwards has had some action in the portal but the destination is unknown as of now.  Edwards showed big time stuff down the stretch of the 2023 season but never got on track in 2024.  No word on Edwards recently.  

Bryce Dolby - Dolby was a highly touted RH that showed good stuff but struggled most of the year.  Dolby has now committed to CUSA rival LA Tech.  

Ty Goodson - Goodson has committed to Arkansas Rich Mountain.  

Nathan Keeter, Easton Amundson, Joseph Waters, Brian Mclellin, Maddex Labuda,.  The status of this group is unclear at the moment but it sounds unlikely that anyone from this group will return.  

High School Signees

As of now, Coach LeCroy has been able to retain all of the high school signees with the exception of 2.  Sawyer Black the #10 player in NC flipped his commitment to UNC after the change.  Callum Early has decommitted per his X profile but the Flames remain hopeful to regain his commitment here.  He remains 1 of the top priorities of the new staff and could be a candidate to play early.  The rest of the HS class including VT flip Seth Way, Kentucky top 10 PBR MIF Landon Scilley who had flipped from Yale and top 50 national pitcher Jack Frankel are all locked in.  Losing Black certainly hurts but if the Flames can get Early back in the fold this is still a really good HS group especially considering their was a change.  

*Coach LeCroy was able to flip Charlie Brinkman who was a commit at VCU.  Brinkman is the #1 ranked catcher in the state of VA and the 16th overall prospect.  Brinkman is from King George and played on the Richmond Braves.  He's also athletic enough to play some OF.  

JUCO Signees

As of the moment the entire group of JUCO commitments are expected to make it to campus.  Really strong JUCO group as well including 3 or 4 guys with massive stats.  Coach LeCroy was likely able to sell a great opportunity for PT to this group to keep them together.  I know at least 3 or 4 had strong outside interest from other schools.  In addition LeCroy picked up a huge commitment from JUCO MIF Easton Swofford of Crowder CC today.  He served as the leadoff hitter and helped lead his team to the JUCO World Series.  He hit .317 with 3 HR's and 57 RBI's to go along with 12 stolen bases.  

Portal Commitments

At the moment both Tucker Moore & Spencer Hill are slated to join the program.  Both were committed to the previous staff.  Hill was a UNCA righty that battled injury but was up to 99 in his rehab.  Moore was a top 10 player in the state of Colorado just 2 years ago.  He could factor in at Catcher and OF.  The Flames have also added 2 additional portal pitchers the last couple days.  First starter Tyler August is joining the Flames from future CUSA foe Delaware.  He struggled to a 10.22 ERA in 46 IP as a freshman but did strike out 58 hitters.  The Flames hope to dial him in a bit for better results in year 2.  The Flames have also added High Point transfer Jake Potts.  He also had an ERA over 10 in 16 IP but also had 20 strikeouts.  This late in the game the Flames are betting on stuff and refining them.  Liberty also added WVU transfer 1B Nick Barone.  Barone was the top 1B in the state of PA in his class according to PG.  As of Tuesday the 23rd the Flames have added 2 additional commitments via the portal.  The first is former Florida Gators starting CF Michael Robertson.  He has started nearly 100 games the last 2 years for the Gators.  In 2024 he hit .256 with 2 Hr's and 26 RBI's to go along with 5 stolen bases.  Robertson is an elite defender where he made just 1 error in 231 chances the last 2 years.  He's had several clutch hits and Sportscenter top 10 plays the last 2 years in the Gators post season runs.  They have also picked up a commitment from VCU OF transfer Anderson Fulk.  Fulk hit .286 with 4 HR's and 16 RBI's in 70 at bats this past year.  Fulk was expected to be an all league type performer but was slowed by a groin strain early in the year and then had his season end early on a broken hamate bone.  

*Barone is playing for the Rockford Rivets in the Summer league primarily in the OF.  He's hit .325 with 1 HR and 18 RBI's.  

*The coaching staff has added Maryland 1B/OF transfer Riley Decandido in the last couple days.  Candido is a 6'4 225 1B/OF prospect that is also from Frank Cox HS.   He was the #4 ranked 1B in his class.  Candido has had a nice summer in the Cal Ripken league playing for the Alexandria Aces while hitting .325 with 1 HR and 34 RBI's.  

What's left to do

The good news is that the Flames expect to retain Ben Blair.  Blair undoubtedly had numerous P4 options available to him but thus far has opted to stay true to the Flames.  He had an incredible freshman season with electric stuff and is very likely to be the anchor of the club and start Friday nights for Liberty.  There are several decent bullpen arms that return plus guys like Cooper as well so all in all the pitching staff faired pretty well.  Offensively, the Flames lost quite a bit more.  At the moment only Cam Troyer and John Simmons return from perhaps the Flames best offensive attack in many many years.  However, Dye, Marsh & Early all hang in the balance and Swofford will be a plug and play guy.  As mentioned previously, there are quite a few JUCO guys that could plug in.