48 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
VANDERBILT
HEAD COACH: Clark Lea OC: Joey Lynch DC: Nick Howell
Nashville, TN
2022 RECORD: 5-7 (2-6) FOUNDED: 1873 STADIUM: Vanderbilt (40,550)
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
The Vanderbilt offense made huge strides last season, though there was really nowhere to go but up. The Commodores averaged 4.3 yards a carry and gave up only 15 sacks. But defenses never respected any big-play threat and held Vanderbilt to just 36.8 percent on third down. A.J. Swann will have the keys to the offense from the outset and he’s a quality passer, but he’s no threat to break down the defense with his legs. Swann has an exceptional target in Will Sheppard who had 60 catches for 776 yards a year ago in a conservative attack. Jayden McGowan (44 catches, 452 yards) and Quincy Skinner Jr. (17, 238) also return, giving Swann an experienced group of receivers. Running back Ray Davis transferred to Kentucky, so the lead back will be Sedrick Alexander, a true freshman. The line will be pretty good; center Julian Hernandez is a hoss.
There isn’t much good to say about the Vanderbilt defense last season. Gave up 36 points a game, 5.2 yards per carry, 8.7 yards per pass, managed only 17 sacks and forced just 16 turnovers. There was no noticeable pass rush, which left a talented secondary struggling to keep up. But the addition of linebackers Aeneas DiCosmo from Stanford and Prince Kollie from Notre Dame gives the Commodores’ defense a chance to consistently get pressure on quarterbacks. Yilanan Ouattara and Christian James both hold up well inside, but there isn’t much depth for a reliable rotation. Linebacker CJ Taylor is a playmaker and Kane Patterson is reliable in the middle. The secondary is the most talented and experienced unit on the team. De’Rickey Wright is tough and plays with an attitude. Both Tyson Russell and BJ Anderson can be solid corners if there’s a decent pass rush.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 5 28 14 3 6 16 55 64 62 50 77
PLAYER POS AJ Swann QB Sedrick Alexander RB Will Sheppard WR Quincy Skinner Jr. WR Jayden McGowan WR Cole Spence TE Gunnar Hansen LT Delfin Xavier Castillo LG Julian Hernandez C Bradley Ashmore RG Junior Uzebu RT
HT 6-3 5-9 6-3 6-2 5-8 6-7 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-6 6-6
WT 228 199 200 205 177 245 317 361 315 303 330
CLASS SO FR SR JR SO SO JR JR SR SR SR
NO 11 5 99 0 10 19 1 8 26 2 23
PLAYER POS Darren Agu DE Yilanan Ouattara NT Devin Lee DT Aeneas DiCosmo LB Langston Patterson LB Kane Patterson LB CJ Taylor LB Tyson Russell CB BJ Anderson CB De’Rickey Wright S Jaylen Mahoney S
HT 6-6 6-7 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-1 6-4 5-11
WT 242 308 285 245 228 221 201 187 200 217 200
CLASS SO SO JR SR SO SR JR JR SR SR SR
8 13 17 83 85 84 57 52 76 71 70
Ken Seals QB Chase Gillespie RB Gamarion Carter WR London Humphreys WR Junior Sherrill WR Justin Ball TE Leyton Nelson LT Kevo Wesley LG Grayson Morgan C Gage Pitchford RG David Siegel RT
6-3 5-10 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-6 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-6
225 200 190 186 177 246 308 319 280 319 293
SR SO JR FR FR SR SO SR SO JR SO
15 91 9 20 22 32 33 30 34 7 21
Nate Clifton DE Christian James NT Daevion Davis DT Prince Kollie LB Bryce Cowan LB Ethan Barr LB BJ Diakite LB Trudell Berry CB Quantaves Gaskins CB Marlen Sewell S Savion Riley S
6-5 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-2
280 290 285 221 225 245 222 182 187 195 200
SR SR SR JR SO SR SO SO SO JR SO
38 45
Will Faris Matthew Hayball
160 182
JR SR
6 14
Jayden McGowan Will Sheppard
177 200
SO SR
SPECIAL TEAMS K P
6-1 6-1
2023 SCHEDULE A.26 ..............................Hawaii
O.7 ...........................at Florida
S.2 ..................Alabama A&M
O.14 .......................... Georgia
S.9 ................. at Wake Forest
O.28 .....................at Ole Miss
S.16 ........................... at UNLV
N.4 .............................. Auburn
S.23 .........................Kentucky
N.11 ........at South Carolina
S.30 .......................... Missouri
N.25 .................at Tennessee
SPECIAL TEAMS KR PR
5-8 6-3
NEWCOMERS Prince Kollie, LB — The transfer from Notre Dame is expected to bolster the pass rush. Sedrick Alexander, RB — With the dearth of running backs on the roster, the starting job is Alexander’s to lose. But it’s not like he’s not worthy. He is a legit SEC talent. Martel Hight, CB — Hight may be the most talented corner entering Vanderbilt in a while. He will get his feet wet this year and be ready to star in the future. Aeneas DiCosmo, LB — The transfer from Stanford will help the woeful pass rush and contribute as an every down player.
