Friday, June 26, 2009

Vanderbilt football lands "best" recruit yet


Is Bobby Johnson on a roll or what? Remember how he predicted that the Music City Bowl victory would give a greater boost to the recruiting class of 2010 than the class of 2009? And remember how we told you earlier this week that he's already gotten verbal commitments from 10 players, by far his most ever in June?

Well, it's still June and he just got another verbal, this time from Davis Dudchock, a 6-4, 225-pound tight end from Birmingham whose father played at Auburn for Pat Dye.

Dudchock is on ESPN's 150 Watch List, which makes him the highest rated player to commit to Vandy so far this season. He got three stars from scout.com and appears to still be unrated by rivals.com. He had offers from Florida State, Tennessee and Auburn.

Expect the players to keep rolling in over the next month or so. It's a battle all the way, but Johnson appears to be turning the ship around at Vanderbilt — and without the Commodores leaving the SEC.

I'll never forget sitting behind the Vandy bench in Columbia, S.C., in 2007 and noticing how big and athletic-looking the players were, even the players who weren't playing. It was a far cry from the Watson Brown years. And sure, Woody had some stallions on his defenses, but not as many as I saw on that day — they were everywhere.

Of course, Vanderbilt upset South Carolina and Steve Spurrier that day. Last season and the last week's recruiting news are further evidence that the Gamecock victory was only the start.

I'm not predicting SEC championships or BCS bids or anything like that. But I am saying we've got the athletes and coaches and support system and overall program — and especially the athletes — to compete.

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