With the SEC season just a few months away, here’s a look at the potential impact freshmen for each team. Recruiting rankings are based on the 247Sports Composite, which calculate the average of all four major recruiting websites (247Sports, Rivals, ESPN and Scout.)
Today we’ll take a look at Vanderbilt.
2015 Record:
4-8 (2-6 SEC), Fourth in SEC East
2016 Team Ranking:
National Rank No. 54
SEC Rank: No. 14
Class Breakdown:
5-star: 0
4-star: 1
3-star: 17
Top Incoming Prospects:
- CB Joejuan Williams – 4-star, Hendersonville (Hendersonville, TN), No. 18 CB, No. 212 overall
- OC Sean Auwae – 3-star, Kapolei (Kapolei, HI), No. 5 OC, No. 526 overall
- Safety Zaire Jones – 3-star, Meridian (Meridian, MS), No. 31 Safety, No. 528 overall
- PRO Deuce Wallace – 3-star, Sevier County (Sevierville, TN), No. 24 PRO, No. 570 overall
- OT Devin Cochran – 3-star, Greater Atlanta Christian School (Norcross, GA), No. 58 OT, No. 645 overall
Class Overview:
Vanderbilt has never been a hotbed for the nation’s top recruits. During James Franklin’s tenure, the Commodores did sway a few of the Volunteer State’s top prospects away from rival Tennessee, but even still, it was more notable because of the program’s lack of success on the recruiting trail prior.
So naturally, things haven’t improved with the team coming off back-to-back losing seasons, even though last year’s team showed signs of improvement from Derek Mason’s first team in 2014. The Commodores ranked 54th nationally and last among SEC teams. They have only one four-star recruit and 17 three-stars.
That shouldn’t bring much optimism, but what can you really expect from Vanderbilt in its current situation? Few will credit how much improvement was made on defense in 2015 and instead focus on the Commodores’ disappointing records and inability to earn a bowl game appearance.
Vanderbilt ranked sixth among SEC teams in both scoring and total defense, trailing the likes of Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Also, for the first time in Mason’s tenure, the Commodores will return the majority of their starters on both sides of the football rather than force underclassmen into starting roles.
Realistically, Joejuan Williams is the only prospect who ould demand playing time early based on his four-star rating, and he could see time at safety following the departures of Andrew Williamson and Jahmel McIntosh. Williams would need to beat out juniors Ryan White or Oren Burks to start at either safety position, which isn’t impossible. But he should see some playing time regardless with the Commodores thin on depth at both safety spots.
Center Toleafoa “Sean” Auwae could also benefit from a lack of depth at his position following the departure of former starter Spencer Pulley. Auwae ranked as the No. 5 center for the 2016 signing class and was the Commodores’ second-highest rated prospect.
Many expect Auwae to be rushed into Vanderbilt’s rotation with the team lacking experience at center. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound lineman would benefit from adding weight, but — aside from Williams — is one of the few players qualified to make a quick transition to the college level.
Vanderbilt’s class lacks the star power of most SEC teams but could prove to exceed expectations if the team continues to show steady improvement in its rebuilding project.
The Commodores won’t rely on the 2016 class to play immediately, but should hope to see it exceed expectations in the future.
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