“Since he stepped foot on campus, one thing that stood out about him was his football IQ. He’s a very smart football player.” — Junior Zac Stacy
He’s done more than simply fill in, and Coach Franklin bristles at the notion that Seymour’s reps have been used to spell Stacy. Instead, he sees the freshman as a key part of Vanderbilt’s offense and has been pleased with his performance, whether or not Seymour’s number is called for a particular play. “The thing I’ve been most impressed with him, not only has he been effective as a runner, but for a true freshman he’s blocked well,” Franklin said. “He has had very few mental mistakes, as well, so he’s probably way ahead in terms of where most freshman are, especially at that position.” Getting thrown into the fire in your first season of Southeastern Conference football is no easy task, as Stacy and Norman can both attest. In 2009, that duo shared the Commodore backfield as true freshmen. “Any time you come into the SEC and make a huge contribution like he’s doing now, that’s rare as a freshman,” Stacy said. “Since he stepped foot on campus, one thing that stood out about him was his football IQ. He’s a very smart football player. He’s done a great job, and he’s gonna keep building and getting better as a player.” Franklin credits Stacy and Norman with helping Seymour adjust to the college game quickly. “Zac Stacy and Warren Norman are both two really, really mature, class-act, sharp kids,” Franklin said. “They’ve taken him under their wing since he arrived on campus. They’ve done a really good job, those two guys.” Seymour is quick to echo his coach’s sentiments. “I’m like their little brother,” Seymour said. “They help me with everything. Any time I have a miscue in practice, they’re there to correct me, teach me up and make sure I’m doing the right things. On and off the field, I look at them as role models.” The example that Stacy has put in front of Seymour this season has certainly been an inspiring one. The junior rushed for 579 in the Commodores’ first seven games, including a 198-yard, three-touchdown performance against Army. But even with the gaudy stats, Stacy credits the game plan with putting both him and Seymour in the right situations, and he says he would choose the success of the team over individual accomplishments. “[The coaches] do a great job of subbing us in and out, keeping us fresh,” Stacy said. “Whenever Jerron goes in, he does a great job of making plays, as well. If he has five touchdowns and I have zero, as long as we get the ‘W,’ that’s all I’m worried about.” That team-first attitude has pervaded Vanderbilt’s entire roster and is already paying dividends. The Commodores also know that their coach is their biggest champion and has the best interest of the team as a whole in mind. None more so than 19-year-old Seymour. “The difference with Coach Franklin,” Seymour said, “He doesn’t care about the size of the player, just the heart and what you can bring to the team.” To alter a phrase: It’s not the size, or height, of the ’Dore in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the ’Dore. n
JOHN RUSSELL
Tailback Jerron Seymour, a native of Hialeah, Fla., scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half of his true freshman season.
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