2017 Vanderbilt Football Preview

SEC football is just days away. Before toe meets pigskin on August 31st, The Wheelhouse crew has compiled our preseason SEC power rankings and a preview of each team. As we release our team previews, we’ll release them in the order of which each team is ranked in our preseason rankings to help the days until kickoff go by quicker.
The Vanderbilt Commodores check in at №. 10 in our preseason SEC power rankings.
Head coach Derek Mason finally showed progress in year three, taking Vanderbilt to its first bowl game since 2013. The Commodores couldn’t have done so without a late season surge. Vanderbilt entered the final two weeks of the season with a 4–6 record, needing to beat Ole Miss and Tennessee in order to reach a bowl game.
The Commodores did just that, defeating Ole Miss, 38–17, and Tennessee, 45–34. Without the two wins, Mason would have been looking at yet another four-win season. Few teams needed those two wins more than Mason and the Commodores. The two wins sparked the team and despite losing the Independence Bowl to NC State, the Commodores carry a new sense of excitement and energy into 2017.
Offensive Preview:
On offense, it all starts with the running game. Ralph Webb leads the deepest position group on the team, a position that was a major concern heading into last season. Webb chose to forgo the NFL Draft and return for his senior season in Nashville after rushing for a school-record 1,283 yards and 13 touchdowns. In 2016, Webb rushed for 5.1 yards-per-carry, improving from his 4.2 yards-per-carry as a sophomore. The senior didn’t fumble once over the course of 250 carries last season.
Backup running back Khari Blasingame teams up with Webb to help form one of the best running back duos in the country. Blasingame burst on the scene last season, rushing for 449 yards. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig loves to use the Huntsville, Alabama native in short yardage scenarios, which is one of the reasons Blasingame rushed for 10 touchdowns on just 97 carries. Redshirt freshman Jamauri Wakefield has continued to turn heads in practice, while Dallas Rivers and Jamal Crawford will demand carries as well.
Vanderbilt had success last November in large part due to the emergence of Kyle Shurmur. As the first Vanderbilt quarterback to start every game since 2006, Shurmur threw for 2,409 yards. Consistency is key for the junior as he threw more interceptions (11) than he did touchdowns (10). In the first four SEC games of the season, Shurmur threw for just 405 yards without a single touchdown. Shurmur proceeded to torch Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee, throwing for 941 yards against.
Shurmur will be throwing to Trent Sherfield and Caleb Scott in 2017 as the two receivers developed into big targets over the course of last season. The duo along with Kalija Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney stepped up in November and began making plays to help their quarterback. Duncan led the team in receptions (44) and receiving yards (494) a season ago.
Up front, the Commodores must replace NFL-bound Will Holden and Barrett Gouger, but they return starters Justin Skule (Jr.), Ean Pfeifer (So.) and Bruno Reagan (Jr.). At offensive line, Vanderbilt has plenty of experience within the two-deep.
Defensive Preview:
Defense has never been a problem for the Commodores under Mason and the trend continued last season in large part, because of the play of Zach Cunningham, Oren Burks and Adam Butler. Unfortunately for Vanderbilt fans, Cunningham and Butler have moved on. While defense has never been a problem under Mason, there have never been more questions on the defensive side of the ball than there is this year.
Butler wrecked shop last season, leading the team in sacks, but with Butler graduating, senior nose tackle Nifae Lealao looks to step up and be the next nose tackle in Mason’s system. As one of the highest ranked recruits to ever sign with the Commodores, Lealao began to blossom into a force at the end of the season. Building around Lealao; Jay Woods, Jonathan Wynn and Dare Odeyingbo will look to help replace the production lost from Butler and Torey Agee.
Cunningham exits as one of the best defenders to ever play at Vanderbilt, but now it is Burks’ show, one of the unquestioned leaders on the entire team. Burks, a converted safety, has all of the tools for the Commodores to make a seamless transition from Cunningham to Burks. Emmanuel Smith, Josh Smith and Jordan Griffin will all be key contributors, helping form a talented linebacker core.
The secondary will be the strength of Vanderbilt’s defense. Five seniors help form the defensive backfield as Tre Herndon, Ryan White, Arnold Tarpley, Taurean Ferguson and LaDarius Wiley are all back for another season. Add sophomore Joejuan Williams in the mix and you’ve found one of the best secondaries in the conference.
Special Teams Preview:
Kicker Tommy Openshaw enters 2017 as one of the best kickers in the SEC after connecting on 15-of-19 field goals a season ago. At punter, Sam Loy impressed as a true freshman, punting 68 times for 41.7 yards per punt. The Commodores lose electric kick returner Darrius Sims who was one of the best in the country last season.
Newcomer to watch:
Coach Mason needs to thank Dare Odeyingbo for the addition of his little brother, Dayo Odyingbo, a three-star defensive end from Texas. The Commodores have a couple of guys who can play along the defensive line, but they’re still in need of some quality depth. Due to a lack of quality depth, Odeyingbo has a great chance to crack the two-deep. As a big physical defensive end, the incoming freshman will fit well into Mason’s system.
Schedule Breakdown:
Heading into the season, there’s one thing you can say about Vanderbilt that you haven’t been able to say in years past. Yes, even when Alabama comes to town on September 23rd.
Vanderbilt opens up on the road at Middle Tennessee State before hosting Alabama A&M and Kansas State. Starting off the season 3–0 is an obtainable goal for the ‘Dores and should be the expectation from fans. The schedule for Vanderbilt is very manageable.
Keys to a successful season:
1) The key to success in college football is good quarterback play. Kyle Shurmur has the ability to be a successful quarterback at this level, but he has to become more consistent. If Shurmur protects the football and is consistent from game-to-game, Vanderbilt will shock a lot of people this season.
2) On defense, Coach Mason’s №. 1 priority is and should be replacing the production lost from the departures of Zach Cunningham and Adam Butler. The secondary is loaded, so if playmakers emerge at defensive line and linebacker, Vanderbilt’s defense will once again be one of the best in the conference.
3) They did so towards the end of last season, but in 2017, the Vandy receivers have to step up and make plays. Whether it be Trent Sherfield or Caleb Scott, if this group steps up and makes plays Shurmur will have no problem with playing at a high level consistently.
Final say:
Vanderbilt is going to shock a lot of people this season. They’re better on offense and while they lose Zach Cunningham, the defense on west end will be one of the best in the conference. If things come together as they should, seven or eight wins is very possible. Especially in an eastern division that is up for grabs.
