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Athlon Sports
Vanderbilt Football: 2024 Commodores Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
24 days ago
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea made necessary changes by ousting much of his coaching staff, overhauling schemes on both sides of the ball and bringing in experience from the transfer portal. Those decisions should position the Commodores better than in 2023, but a more difficult schedule means that bowl eligibility will be a stretch.
After Vanderbilt massively underachieved on offense in 2023, head coach Clark Lea fired former coordinator Joey Lynch and brought in New Mexico State’s Tim Beck to revamp the unit. The result will be a highly unusual scheme for the FBS level.
Transfer quarterbacks Nate Johnson and Diego Pavia will battle for the chance to lead an option-heavy attack as the Commodores try to revive their run game (3.3 yards per carry in 2023). In part with the goal of juicing that rushing attack, Vanderbilt will rotate its tackles and guards by denoting a “strong-side” and “weak-side” combination so that it can run behind its best duo regardless of where the ball is on the field. Theoretically, this could also leave Vandy’s less athletic tackles less exposed in pass protection. This approach is nearly unheard-of in modern college football.
Vanderbilt lost its top four receivers to the NCAA transfer portal. Beck will need to get more out of the Commodores’ tight ends, led by the talented but oft-injured Cole Spence.
If Vandy can coax improved play out of its offensive line, then its funky offense could irritate opponents. If not, it will be another long season.
Lea, the former defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, will take over this unit in addition to his duties as head coach. Vanderbilt has improved its talent level and experience, suggesting that improved coaching could yield a quality unit for the first time in Lea’s tenure.
A nonexistent pass rush and timid cornerback play have combined to make Vanderbilt’s pass defense a nightmare over the past three years (109th in yards per attempt allowed in 2023). An increased emphasis on the transfer portal, however, could help there. Cornerbacks Marlon Jones Jr. and Kolbey Taylor figure to play major snaps, as will defensive linemen Khordae Sydnor and Zaylin Wood.
Middle linebacker Langston Patterson and safety CJ Taylor starred last season and will return, this time with more depth and talent around them. The return of safety De'Rickey Wright from the portal was a huge post-spring development. TCU transfer linebacker/safety Randon Fontenette and true freshman safety Dontae Carter bring the type of coverage skills that the Commodores have lacked in the past, allowing Lea to be more aggressive.
Ohio State transfer Jesse Mirco gives Vanderbilt a rock-solid punter, but kicking could be a concern with sophomore Brock Taylor never having attempted a field goal or extra point at the college level.
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