 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores Preview With only 11 starters returning to a team that loses its career leading receiver, its leading tackler, an NFL-caliber offensive tackle and every one of his linemates from last season, it is unlikely that Vanderbilt will duplicate last year's record of 5-7. VANDERBILT COMMODORES
HEAD COACH- BOBBY JOHNSON
2007 Record- 5-7 (2-6 SEC)
2007 REVIEW
Vandy opened the season with a 41-17 win over Richmond but fell by two touchdowns to Nick Saban's Alabama team the next week. While they posted a losing season, the Commodores also claimed SEC wins against Ole Miss and South Carolina, the latter coming on the road, no less. Vandy's offense finished in the bottom-20 (327 yards per game; 103rd, nationally) but, surprisingly, its defense finished in the top 20 (325 yards per game; 16th, nationally). The passing defense allowed fewer than 200 yards per game (197), good for a final national-ranking of 18.
TEAM MVP
Cornerback D.J. Moore (5-10, 182; Jr.). On a team that returns only 11 starters from a season that failed to produce six wins, the four returning starters to the defensive backfield could be critical to success in 2008. As a sophomore, Moore produced six interceptions (returning one for a score against Eastern Michigan) and broke up ten other passes to go along with a sack and 83 tackles. A 2007 1st team All-SEC selection, Moore will bear a lot of weight in 2008.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Mackenzi Adams (6-2, 212; Jr.) and Chris Nickson (6-1, 210; Sr.) have rotated starts in the past and assure the team of experienced depth. However, with a combined 1,806 passing yards and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 15/11, along with a completion rate below 56%, they clearly have some work to do before opponents start to fear their air game. It bears noting, though, that Adams and Nickson are both legitimate ground threats with a combined 466 rushing yards and five scores.
Redshirt freshman Larry Smith (6-2, 205) drew a lot of praise this offseason and could see plenty of snaps in 2008. Coaches complimented his scout-team performances all year in 2007, praise which was consistent with the Alabama Mr. Football Award he won after leading Prattville High School to the state championship his senior season.
Running Back
Senior Jeff Jennings (6-1, 215) started a lot of games in 2004 and 2005 but he missed 2006 with a knee injury. He led the team in rushing after the first two games of 2007 but an ankle injury limited his performance the rest of the season. He still finished as the second-leading rusher, though (346 yards; two touchdowns), and is the leading candidate to replace the graduated Cassan Jackson-Garrison (594 yards; five scores).
Jared Hawkins (5-10, 200; Jr.) will push Jennings for snaps in 2008. For his career, Hawkins has played in 23 games and recorded 565 yards and three touchdowns off of 103 carries.
Jennings and Hawkins may not be gamebreakers but they certainly keep their momentum moving forward. Out of 156 carries, combined, last season, the duo lost a mere 29 yards.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Earl Bennett is gone and that's a problem. His 236 catches in three years set an SEC record and he turned those touches into 2,852 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Last season Bennett caught 75 passes while George Smith, the team's 2nd-leading receiver, notched only 32 (for 397 yards). Only two other receivers had a double-digit number of catches (Sean Walker [20] and Justin Wheeler [10]).
Fortunately, Smith, Walker and Wheeler return, as does Alex Washington, who had nine catches for 120 yards. Smith (6-3, 202; Sr.) is a team leader whose tall frame is well-complimented by an explosive leaping ability. He posted a career-best 22'2" long jump in high school.
Udom Umoh (6-0, 172; RFr.) should be an impact newcomer. He was named the Scout Team MVP at season's end. A speedster, Umoh posted a 21.7 second 200-meter dash in high school.
Offensive Line
Only three starters return to Vanderbilt's offense this year and, unfortunately, not one of those three is a lineman. In fact, the Commodores had no lost starts due to injury which means their graduating line surrendered very few snaps to underclassmen. To say next season's line will be green is like describing hurricanes as moist.
The most painful loss was that of tackle Chris Williams and it appears that junior Thomas Welch (6-7, 300) will be his replacement. Welch has no career starts but has played in 18 games in the past two seasons.
Eric Hensley (6-6, 310; Jr.) backed-up Williams last season but was suspended for the last eight games of the season for violating team rules. He has returned from suspension and should occupy the right tackle spot opposite of Welch.
At center, Vandy will probably start another junior, Bradley Vierling (6-3, 292). Vierling did not start last season but played at right guard or center in, literally, every game last year. He averaged nearly 30 plays in each of those games.
Junior guard Ryan Custer (6-3, 295) played in nine games last season but started in three others two seasons ago.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Only defensive-end Steven Stone (6-5, 260; Jr.) returns as a starter from last-year's unit. Stone's four sacks were bested by the six posted by back-up Broderick Stewart (6-5, 228; Jr.). They will probably start as bookends in 2008.
Both tackles graduated and it appears as though Greg Billinger (6-3, 290; Jr.) and Adam Smotherman (6-4, 275; So.) will take over the interior in 2008. T.J. Greenstone (6-3, 275; RFr.) had some impressive plays inside this spring and could rotate in to provide depth.
Linebackers
Jonathan Goff had 113 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions last year. Having led the team in tackles, Goff leaves a deep hole in the middle. The Commodores also lost Marcus Buggs, whose 76 tackles (12.5 for a loss), were third on the team in 2007.
As a mere sophomore last season, Patrick Benoist (6-0, 218) played in only nine games. However, as Goff's periodic relief, Benoist posted 33 tackles and four sacks suggesting he could be very productive once given the full reigns to the position.
Brandon Bryant (6-1, 228; Jr.) struggled with an arm and a leg injury in 2007. Still, he started the first three games of the season before missing the next four and seeing few snaps in the final three games of the season. He made 30 tackles and a sack in that limited action and should improve on those numbers if healthy this season. Nathan Campbell (6-3, 228; So.) will push Bryant for snaps on the weakside this year.
Secondary
Every starter returns to this unit making it easily the strongest and most experienced unit on the team. Junior cornerbacks D.J. Moore (5-10, 182) and Myron Lewis (6-2, 202) have good size and combined for 22 broken-up passes last season. Moore's six interceptions led the team serving as much of the reason he was named All-SEC at the end of the year.
Reshard Langford (6-2, 208) is the only senior in the backfield and returns to start his third-consecutive season. The strong-safety hopes to improve on last year's numbers in which he collected 66 tackles (4.5 for a loss) to go with eight broken-up passes and two picks.
Free safety Ryan Hamilton (6-2, 210; Jr.) made 68 tackles and broke up five passes last year. Like Langford, Hamilton will start his third consecutive season.
Special Teams
Brett Upson will handle punts for the third year in a row. Twenty-two of his 61 punts were downed inside the 20-yard line last year. True freshman Ryan Fowler will be given a chance to push last year's starting kicker, Bryant Hahnfeldt. Moore finished as the nation's 34th-ranked kick returner last season and should handle those duties again in 2008.
2008 Outlook
With only 11 starters returning to a team that loses its career leading receiver, its leading tackler, an NFL-caliber offensive tackle and every one of his linemates from last season, it is unlikely that Vanderbilt will duplicate last year's record of 5-7. It is difficult to see a conference win in the schedule and non-conference road games against Duke and Wake Forest are likely additional losses. It would not be surprising for Vandy to finish 2008 with two wins in what is very clearly a rebuilding year.
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