Vandy hosts bunch of commitments and prospects on Jan. 20

Some Vandy fans are freaking out over news that big-shot schools are trying to steal our verbal commitments. This is a good thing, people. It means that we’ve recruited really good players who could play anywhere.

One fan on a Vandy chat board actually wondered why things have turned so bad over the past few weeks. Hello! Things are great!

This time last year, we had zero commitments from four-star players, and then we stole two of them on signing day.

This year, we have commitments from six players with a four-star rating from either Rivals, Scout or ESPN. Not sure who we’re going to steal from other schools this year, but we know Franklin’s capable of it.

It’ll still be a nerve-wracking two weeks. Three of our most prized recruits – OT Andrew Jelks, DE Josh Dawson and WR Andre McDonald – were reportedly visiting campuses in their home states this past weekend, with Jelks to Tennessee, Dawson to Georgia and McDonald to Minnesota. Jelks is scheduled to visit Ole Miss on Jan. 27.

But all three are scheduled to visit Vandy next weekend, according to Scout and Rivals. Here’s at least a partial guest list:

Current Verbal Commitments:
• 4-star ATH Brian Kimbrow (Memphis, Tenn.)
• 4-star DE Caleb Azubike (Nashville, Tenn.)
• 4-star DE Stephen Weatherly (Atlanta, Ga.)
• 4-star LB Jacob Sealand (Tucker, Ga.)
• 4-star DE Josh Dawson (Tucker, Ga.)
• 4-star WR Andre McDonald (Minnetonka, Minn.)
• 3-star OT Andrew Jelks (Paris, Tenn.)
• 3-star CB Torren McGaster (Daphne, Ala.)
• 3-star OT Will Holden (Green Cove Springs, Fla.)
• 3-star OG Adam Butler (Duncanville, Texas)
• 3-star DE Torey Agee (Opelika, Ala.)
• 3-star ATH Brandon Banks (Brandywine, Md.)
• 3-star ATH Jaborian McKenzie (Natchez, Miss.)
• 3-star WR Cory Batey (Nashville, Tenn.)
• 3-star DT Ladarius Banks (Dallas, Ga.)
• 3-star OT Barrett Gouger (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Players who’ve already enrolled in school and are locked in:
• 4-star LB Darreon Herring (Stone Mountain, Ga.)
• 3-star QB Patton Robinette (Maryville, Tenn.)

Prospects:
• 4-star ATH Will Redmond (Memphis, Tenn.); teammate of Brian Kimbrow, verbal commitment to Mississippi State
• 3-star OT Kevin McCoy (Seffner, Fla.)
• 3-star ATH Chris Moody (McDonough, Ga.)
• 3-star ATH Herbert Waters (Homestead, Fla.); soft commitment to Miami
• 3-star LB Harding Harper (Montgomery, Ala.)

Note: The following VU commitments have already visited campus and may not be present this upcoming weekend:
• 3-star OT Blake Fromang (Orlando, Fla.)
• 3-star K Colby Cooke (Goochland, Va.)
• 3-star DB Paris Head (Buford, Ga.)

The following prospects are scheduled to visit campus on Jan. 27:
• 4-star WR Gabriel Marks (Los Angeles, Calif.); recently committed to Washington State and may not visit
• 3-star WR Jeremy Glinton (Oakland Park, Fla.); visits Jan. 27

A look at Vanderbilt's starting lineup... for 2013

Folks on chat boards excited by Coach Franklin's recruiting efforts are saying they can't wait for this season to start. I can. Sure, I'm curious to see who Franklin puts on the field and what plays he calls for them, but I'm really interested to see what happens after he puts a couple more classes together, say in 2013.

Speaking of which, here's a projected starting lineup for 2013, which is cause for excitement but also highlights our needs in recruiting (WR, OL, DL, K, P):

QUARTERBACK
1 - Lafonte Thourogood, JR
2 - Josh Grady, R-SO

RUNNING BACK
1 - Wesley Tate, R-SR
1 - Brian Kimbrow, SO
2 - Jerron Seymour, JR
2 - Mitchell Hester, R-SO

WIDE RECEIVER
1 - Jonathan Krause, SR
1 - Jordan Matthews, SR
1 - Jaydrick Declouet, SO
2 - Chris Boyd, R-JR
2 - Cory Batey, SO
2 - Trent Pruitt, R-JR

TIGHT END
1 - Darrien Bryant, R-SO
2 - Steven Scheu, R-SO

OFFENSIVE LINE
1 - Wesley Johnson, R-SR
1 - Logan Stewart, SR
1 - James Lewis, JR
1 - Jake Bernstein, JR
1 - Dillon van der Wal, R-SO
2 - Barrett Gouger, SO
2 - Andrew Bridges, R-JR
2 - Grant Ramsay, R-JR
2 - Jose Valedon, R-SO
2 - Spencer Pulley, R-SO

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1 - Vince Taylor, R-JR
1 - Barron Dixon, JR
2 - Jared Morse, SR
2 - Ladarius Banks R-FR

DEFENSIVE END
1 - Kyle Woestmann, R-JR
1 - Josh Dawson, SO
2 - Conner Hart, R-SO
2 - Thomas Ryan, R-JR

LINEBACKER
1 - Jacob Sealand, SO
1 - Darreon Herring, SO
1 - Stephen Weatherly, SO
2 - Chase Garnham, SR
2 - Jahmel McIntosh, JR
2 - Jimmy Stewart, R-SO

CORNERBACK
1 - Derrick King, JR
1 - Jacquese Kirk, JR
2 - Andre Hal, SR
2 - Paris Head, SO

SAFETY
1 - Kenny Ladler, SR
1 - Larry Franklin, JR
2 - Andre Simmons, SR
2 - Karl Butler, SR

KICKER
1 - Carey Spear, SR
2 -

PUNTER
1 - Fitz Lassing, SR
2 -

What do you think?

Here we go: Vandy picks up two wide receivers in a day

After yesterday’s recruiting trifecta, the Commodores got another verbal commitment, from wide receiver Jaydrick Declouet of Louisiana.

Two receivers in a day. That’s big for the Dores, who badly need receivers. It’s our biggest weakness as far as depth goes.

Oh, and I bet Brian Kimbrow can play a little wide receiver too.

Sure we need offensive linemen, but we’ve got a bunch of large- framed kids in Nashville right now eating six meals a day and lifting weights and pushing trucks and whatever Dwight Galt has them doing.

And we need outside linebackers, but we’ve got a bunch of good-looking freshmen and sophomore safeties (Franklin, McIntosh, Williamson, Butler, Simmons) who could eventually move up to outside backer, not to mention three four-star recruits (Herring, Sealand, Weatherly) slated to arrive next year.

No, receiver was our biggest need. We’ve got Krause and Matthews returning, and Boyd looks like he’s developing, but after that what do we have?

Now we’ve got Declouet and Cory Batey, who commited yesterday.

Declouet is 5-10, 175 and runs a 4.4 40. ESPN ranks him as the 52nd best wide receiver in the nation and says he’s one of the best route runners coming out of high school, is both fast and quick, and can play outside or slot.

He doesn’t have any other SEC offers as far as we can tell, but he’s still probably our best receiver recruit at least on paper since Earl Bennett. (Jonathan Krause could fall into the same category; Jordan Matthews flew under the radar.)

UPDATE: A look at Vandy's recruiting class after Brian Kimbrow, Caleb Azubike and Cory Batey commit

Maybe you heard that three high school football players from Tennessee called a press conference and committed to Vandy.

One of them, Brian Kimbrow of Memphis (pictured here), runs a 4.2 40, is commonly regarded as the fastest man in high school football, and is the nation’s second-ranked all-purpose back. No kidding.

The other two are Caleb Azubike of Nashville, whom Rivals ranks as the 21st-best weakside defensive end, and Cory Batey of Nashville, who runs a 4.4 40 and is a 3-star wide receiver according to Rivals.

There are rumors that others will be hot on their heels, even some guys from out of state, which certainly makes sense.

Some initial thoughts:

Is Vandy really getting the fastest kid in America? This is the kind of blue-chip recruit we’ve never gotten before, and his presence will likely trigger commitments from a bunch of other top-notch recruits currently considering Vanderbilt.

How do all these defensive ends stack up against each other? ESPN likes Weatherly the best and gives him 4 stars, followed by 3 stars for everybody else with Dawson ranked highest, followed by Griffin then Azubike then Banks. Rivals gives everybody 3 stars, with Weatherly as a linebacker and Banks as a tackle; Azubike as the best weakside end, followed by Dawson; and Griffin as a strongside end. Scout gives Dawson 4 stars, Azubike 3 stars and everybody else 2 stars.

How does Batey rate as a wide receiver? Not among the nation’s best. He gets three stars from Rivals, who gives lots of people 3 stars, but isn’t ranked at receiver by any of the services we mention. But he’s got speed and people who’ve seen him say he’s the real deal. Though he's probably our lowest rated recruit at this point, he’d also be an important one because we really, really need wide receivers. And remember that this time last year Jordan Matthews had only one 3-star rating, also from Rivals, and wasn’t ranked at receiver by anybody.


If you’re interested, here’s some more information on all the commitments, including the new guys:

1. BRIAN KIMBROW, RB/ATH
5-9, 165
ESPN: 4 stars, 80 rating, #20 athlete
Rivals: 4 stars, 5.9 rating, #2 all-purpose back
Scout: 4 stars, #20 running back

2. JACOB SEALAND, ILB/OLB
6-2, 220
ESPN: 4 stars, 79 rating, #15 inside linebacker
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.7 rating, #18 inside linebacker
Scout: 3 stars, #62 outside linebacker

3. JOSH DAWSON, DE
6-4, 225
ESPN: 3 stars, 79 rating, #43 defensive end
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.7 rating, #30 weakside defensive end
Scout: 4 stars, #27 defensive end

4. DARREON HERRING, OLB
6-2, 205
ESPN: 4 stars, 79 rating, #28 outside linebacker
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.7 rating, #42 outside linebacker
Scout: 3 stars, #72 outside linebacker

5. CALEB AZUBIKE, DE
6-5, 240
ESPN: 3 stars, 76 rating, #102 defensive end
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.7 rating, #21 weakside defensive end
Scout: 3 stars, unranked defensive end

6. STEPHEN WEATHERLY, DE/OLB
6-5, 197
ESPN: 4 stars, 79 rating, #23 defensive end
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.6 rating, unranked outside linebacker
Scout: 2 stars, unranked defensive end

7. BARRETT GOUGER, OT
6-5, 285
ESPN: 3 stars, 78 rating, #66 offensive tackle
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.6 rating, #76 offensive tackle
Scout: 3 stars, #86 offensive tackle

8. LADARIUS BANKS, DE/DT
6-2, 265
ESPN: 3 stars, 75 rating, #127 defensive end
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.5 rating, unranked defensive tackle
Scout: 2 stars, unranked defensive end

9. PARIS HEAD, CB/S
6-1, 170
ESPN: no stars, 45 rating, unrated cornerback
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.6 rating, #53 cornerback
Scout: 2 stars, unranked safety

10. TRE GRIFFIN, DE
6-2, 235
ESPN: 3 stars, 77 rating, #82 defensive end
Rivals: no stars, unrated, unranked strongside defensive end
Scout: 2 stars, unranked defensive end

11. CORY BATEY, WR
6-1, 184
ESPN: no stars, 45 rating, unranked wide receiver
Rivals: 3 stars, 5.5 rating, unranked wide receiver
Scout: 2 stars, unranked