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Ryan Ayers
R-Fr
5'10" 175lb
4.44 40

Was a 4* recruit coming out of high school and top 25 in the state of GA.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/r ... yers-78613" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-f ... yan00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://scoutcombines.scout.com/a.z?s=45 ... id=3446616" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice pick up

I think it could it be argued that Ayers is the biggest FBS transfer to the FCS this year. He was the top recruit for GT in 2010.

LUnpretty, you seem like a reasonable person, honest question here...why would a guy from Georgia with opportunities like this kid had choose to play football at Liberty? This is not a slight on Liberty...but a small town, not the greatest competition/facilities in the Big South and LU, by design, is not for everybody...how/why? Is the kid devout, family in the area?...a four star, nice.

I realize that you cannot answer for another person but thought I'd ask anyway, LU has a good qb, LU has an NFL type TE...why I ask? LU must have a darn good recruiter is all I have to say...

JMUpurplehazed wrote:LUnpretty, you seem like a reasonable person, honest question here...why would a guy from Georgia with opportunities like this kid had choose to play football at Liberty? This is not a slight on Liberty...but a small town, not the greatest competition/facilities in the Big South and LU, by design, is not for everybody...how/why? Is the kid devout, family in the area?...a four star, nice.

I realize that you cannot answer for another person but thought I'd ask anyway, LU has a good qb, LU has an NFL type WR...why I ask? LU must have a darn good recruiter is all I have to say...

I think your facilities question is geared toward the other big south schools right? Cause LU has some of the best facilities in the nation. Apparently one of our strength coaches or someone in our strength program is like a brother to this guy. If my info is correct (which isn't much) Ayers is going through some family problems. So basically we had the connections to make it happen. I'd say we definitely have some of the better recruiting and recruiting connections as well. Honestly cannot say if the kid is devout or not... his facebook doesn't indicate one way or the other (from what I've seen).

No FBS (especially of this guys caliber) transfers to an FCS school because the FCS school has something better to offer... unless the kid is a Tim Tebow type Christian.

Regardless, doesn't take away from the fact that this could be the biggest transfer in a long while.

ODU had a transfer from Georgia Tech last year...unfortunately didn't do much, if anything last year.

ODUalum11 wrote:ODU had a transfer from Georgia Tech last year...unfortunately didn't do much, if anything last year.

Don't think he was of the caliber of Ayers.

Speculating on transfers is fun.

We thought disgruntled Flacco from Pitt might be decent when he transferred to Delaware. We thought disgruntled Rob Schoenhoft from mighty The Ohio State might be a superstar.


Transfers are like a box of chocolates...

LUnpretty - I was not referring to LU's stadium which was impressive the last time I was there in the pouring rain, I'm sure much better now with the renovation...the video board was very nice. Your facilities are far and above the average Big South facility... I'll be back soon. Sometimes I think LU would be better off as an Indy.

JMUpurplehazed wrote:Sometimes I think LU would be better off as an Indy.

Honestly, that's the ultime goal for Liberty. The aim is to become an Indy like BYU and Notre Dame, however we know that's a LOOONG way down the road.

JMUpurplehazed wrote:LUnpretty, you seem like a reasonable person, honest question here...why would a guy from Georgia with opportunities like this kid had choose to play football at Liberty? This is not a slight on Liberty...but a small town, not the greatest competition/facilities in the Big South and LU, by design, is not for everybody...how/why? Is the kid devout, family in the area?...a four star, nice.

I realize that you cannot answer for another person but thought I'd ask anyway, LU has a good qb, LU has an NFL type TE...why I ask? LU must have a darn good recruiter is all I have to say...

We never know what some of these kids want out of their college experience. Why would Chris Summers, with an offer from Louisville, choose Liberty right out of high school?

Rocco has shown he can get some of the best talent in the FCS to Liberty. It's all a matter of putting it all together on the field, every game. Our facilities are on par with anyone in the FCS and can compete with a lot of the FBS.

93henfan wrote:Speculating on transfers is fun.

We thought disgruntled Flacco from Pitt might be decent when he transferred to Delaware. We thought disgruntled Rob Schoenhoft from mighty The Ohio State might be a superstar.


Transfers are like a box of chocolates...

I agree. It's tough because we don't know their mental state. But, on paper, with this kid and Walt Aikens (a transfer from Illinois who was on the all Big Ten freshman team and has 3 years eligibility remaining) both at CB, LU could have the best CB tandem in all of FCS for the next 3 years.

LUnpretty11 wrote:I think it could it be argued that Ayers is the biggest FBS transfer to the FCS this year. He was the top recruit for GT in 2010.

I'd actually say Washaun Ealey (Jacksonville St) is probably the biggest transfer since he's played and put up decent numbers. But all in all every transfer is a crapshoot.

tampajag wrote: I'd actually say Washaun Ealey (Jacksonville St) is probably the biggest transfer since he's played and put up decent numbers. But all in all every transfer is a crapshoot.

I agree. While Ayers could potentially be a big time CB from Liberty, Ealey did pretty well at Georgia. Jacksonville State got a real good running back.

tampajag wrote:

LUnpretty11 wrote:I think it could it be argued that Ayers is the biggest FBS transfer to the FCS this year. He was the top recruit for GT in 2010.

I'd actually say Washaun Ealey (Jacksonville St) is probably the biggest transfer since he's played and put up decent numbers. But all in all every transfer is a crapshoot.

Thanks for pointing that one out. When did Ealey peace out from UGA? I have a tendency to not be able to keep up with everything. Just most things

LUnpretty11 wrote:

tampajag wrote: I'd actually say Washaun Ealey (Jacksonville St) is probably the biggest transfer since he's played and put up decent numbers. But all in all every transfer is a crapshoot.

Thanks for pointing that one out. When did Ealey peace out from UGA? I have a tendency to not be able to keep up with everything. Just most things

he transferred in June. I also want to point out I'm not knocking the guy mentioned in the original post. I just view guys that have played a little higher than guys who haven't. Although we've all had super talented transfers flame out.

tampajag wrote:

LUnpretty11 wrote:
Thanks for pointing that one out. When did Ealey peace out from UGA? I have a tendency to not be able to keep up with everything. Just most things

he transferred in June. I also want to point out I'm not knocking the guy mentioned in the original post. I just view guys that have played a little higher than guys who haven't. Although we've all had super talented transfers flame out.

Fair point. Nice pun.

LUnpretty11 wrote:

tampajag wrote: he transferred in June. I also want to point out I'm not knocking the guy mentioned in the original post. I just view guys that have played a little higher than guys who haven't. Although we've all had super talented transfers flame out.

Fair point. Nice pun.

wasn't meant to be a pun.

LUnpretty11 wrote:I think it could it be argued that Ayers is the biggest FBS transfer to the FCS this year. He was the top recruit for GT in 2010.

Hardly. There's been 2 "four star" players that have transferred to CAA schools:

UD got one at DB who played in 8 games last yr at MD who will likely be a starter as UD lost their whole secondary to graduation:
http://blogs.delawareonline.com/college ... secondary/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncstate/footbal ... kins-67659" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

UMass got one at RB, who might end up splitting time with Jonathan Hernandez who led the CAA in rushing last season (CAA games only):
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/r ... urns-64632" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
As a Redshirt Sophomore In 2010: Played in 12 of 13 games at Pittsburgh including BBVA Compass Bowl victory over Kentucky ... Carried 21 times for 49 yards ... Also had one catch ... Scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in win over Florida International (10/2).

As a Redshirt Freshman In 2009: Played in five games at Pittsburgh ...rushed for 29 yards on 11 carries for the year ... had a season-high 18 yards on five rushes in the opener against Youngstown State.

As a Freshman In 2008: Redshirted as a true freshman at the University of Pittsburgh ... earned Pitt's Offensive Prep Player of the Year honor.

UD also got a transfer at LB, wasn't 4 star, but 3 star, but did play 6 games as a true frosh at Nat Champ Auburn
http://blogs.delawareonline.com/college ... om-auburn/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://rivals.yahoo.com/auburn/football ... urry-88662" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As has already been mentioned, Jack State got that 4 star transfer RB who was UGA's leading rusher last yr.

Yeah even Stony Brook picked up a four star transfer from Maryland. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncstate/footbal ... ongo-58201" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think Jack State has to have the most impressive transfer this year.

Dont overlook our latest recruit from Pitt. Fernando Diaz highly recruited offensive lineman from Da Bronx!

He's definitely going to to be interesting watch.

Not to hijack this thread but the Stony Brook transfer I'm most excited to see is Kevin Norrell. As a true frosh at Washington State he played in every game and had 6 starts. According to washington state blog post I recently read, he was considered their top WR before leaving the team at the start of his sophomore season.

jcmanson wrote:We never know what some of these kids want out of their college experience. Why would Chris Summers, with an offer from Louisville, choose Liberty right out of high school?

Not true. Chris was all set to go to Louisville, there was a coaching change and Louisville pulled their offer because they had over recruited. After that, our coaches (Charlie Skalaski primarily) were able to talk him out of playing basketball in college and coming to Liberty for football instead.


As for Ayers: he's grown up around Liberty. His brother played at Liberty and is now a strength coach at Liberty. He's been around the program since 03 or 04. He came to camp at Liberty even while he knew he would likely end up at a big-time FBS school. At the end of the day, some kids just want to be around family.

SuperJon wrote:

jcmanson wrote:We never know what some of these kids want out of their college experience. Why would Chris Summers, with an offer from Louisville, choose Liberty right out of high school?

Not true. Chris was all set to go to Louisville, there was a coaching change and Louisville pulled their offer because they had over recruited. After that, our coaches (Charlie Skalaski primarily) were able to talk him out of playing basketball in college and coming to Liberty for football instead.

Yeah I know. I just couldn't think of another good example real quick off the top of my head.