SEC Preview: Is Vanderbilt really going to be fine?
For years on end, Vanderbilt has been the laughing stock of SEC Football.
Look, we loved the coaches. James Franklin put the team on the map. Derek Mason brought the energy of a great coach, but wasn’t a great head coach (He’s now working for the SEC Network). And now Clark Lea’s here, who’s on a very long leash, and is willing to take things slowly.
At least at Vanderbilt, they know nothing’s a quick fix. Lea went from 2-10 (0-8 SEC) in his first year to 5-7 last year, with a 2-6 record, which included wins over Florida and Kentucky.
Anyway, we think that Vanderbilt is going to be just ‘fine’, this year. We haven’t a clue what means, but it should be pretty fun.
WHO’S ARRIVED
Vanderbilt’s biggest problem is that it’s a very bright school, and college football players in general aren’t that bright.
So this year’s transfer portal only saw 3 players incoming. One of them was Prince Kollie, who played 13 games at Notre Dame last year and had 1.5 sacks, and 19 total tackles. The other is Aeneas Dicosmo, who comes from Stanford, who had 26 tackles with the Cardinal, as well as 1.5 sacks too.
WHO’S GONE
Top tackler Anfernee Orji’s was drafted by the New Orleans saints, and Mike Wright – who was one of the team’s top rushers despite being a QB – is playing back-up at Mississippi State (more about that later).
Top rusher Ray Davis is off to Kentucky, too.
Apart from that, a lot of depth has left Nashville, but nothing amazing.
OFFENSE
Wright led the team to two major wins against Florida and Kentucky last season. Regardless of what the V-fans say, he’s going to be a pretty major miss. Particularly on the floor.
Speaking of the floor, Ray Davis, the team’s best rusher who had over 1,000 yards last year, has gone to Lexington, where he will presumably start with the losses that the Wildcats have had on that side of the ball.
A lot of eyes will be on QB AJ Swann, who threw for 1,274 yards with 10 TDs and 2 INTs but was injured in early November against South Carolina. He’ll need all the wide receiving help he can get in Davis and Wright’s absence.
Vanderbilt brings back four wide receivers, including Will Sheppard, Jayden McGowan, Quincy Skinner and tight end Ben Bresnahan, who’s expected to be a rock at TE this year.
DEFENSE
Vanderbilt’s defense last year was ATROCIOUS, ranking 125th out of 131 out of FBS schools as opponents dropped 36 points per game on them (it didn’t help that they gave up 55, 52 and 55 to Alabama, Ole Miss and Georgia in consecutive weeks), probably not helped by an medicore-to-poor offense (89th out of 131).
And with Orji gone, everyone will be looking to the 2 aforementioned transfers and CJ Taylor.
PREDICTIONS
Hawaii – W
Alabama A&M – W
at Wake Forest – W
at UNLV – W
Kentucky – L
Missouri – L
at Florida – L
Georgia – L
at Ole Miss – L
Auburn – L
at South Carolina – L
at Tennessee – L
We love the fact that Vanderbilt kicks off SEC play in Week 0 against Hawaii. The Commodores are doing a wee fundraiser for Maui at the game. They’ll be the SEC’s best team by the end of Week 1 (2-0 baby!)
But can anyone see beyond 3 or 4 wins, bearing in mind the amount of talent that’s gone from both sides of the ball? Unless AJ Swann and the wide receiving team prove to be the real deal and the offensive line continues to be good. Which we have absolutely no confidence about.