Prep linebackers choosing Vandy before they get left behind

We’ve established that Vanderbilt needs linebackers, especially outside guys, in the worst way, and the Commodores have certainly extended scholarship offers to a bunch of them.

But until this week, we had only one verbal commitment, from DE Tre Griffin of Kennessaw, Ga.

That didn’t mean kids weren’t interested. Lots of good student athletes, particularly in the Atlanta area, are interested in Vanderbilt. But like any kid, they’re also interested in getting lots of offers from big football schools so even if they choose Vandy they can say they chose the Dores over Georgia or Auburn or whatever.

So the conventional wisdom is that you sit back with your Vandy offer, see what else you can get, and then make a decision. Because the Vandy offer will always be there, right?

Wrong.

On Sunday, Jacob Sealand, a great-looking outside backer from Tucker, Ga., with offers from Miss State, UNC, South Carolina and Virginia Tech, chose the Commodores and then the next day rejected an offer from Miami. (OT Barrett Gouger from Chattanooga also committed.)

That opened the floodgates.

Yesterday, Darreon Herring, an outside backer from Stone Mountain with offers from Nebraska and Clemson, committed to Vandy, and so did Stephen Weatherly, another outside guy from Atlanta with offers from Ole Miss and Illinois.

And DE Ladarius Banks from Dallas, Ga., also chose the Dores.

Oh, and did we mention that Sealand, Herring and Weatherly are all on ESPN's 150 Watch list?

If you're a linebacker or defensive end prospect, your Vandy offer suddenly isn't such a sure thing. Because at some point we're gonna check linebacker off our list and begin stockpiling at other positions.

These guys told the AJC that Coach Franklin has them pumped up to turn the Vandy program around.

Word’s getting out. If you’re a great student-athlete and you want to be part of the biggest turnaround in college football history, you’d better get on board fast.