Vandy starts 10 different pass-catchers in first 3 games

With the release of the latest depth chart, we thought this would be a good time to point out how many different pass-catchers have started games for Vanderbilt.

In three games, we've started one quarterback (Larry Smith), one running back (Zac Stacy) and six offensive linemen (center Wesley Johnson, tackles Ryan Seymour and Kyle Fischer and guards Mylon Brown Jabo Burrow and Chase White, who replaced Burrow after a career-ending injury.

Though nobody doubts that James Franklin would pull a guy who's under performing, it also appears that he and his staff are trying to build continuity. Larry's struggled at times and Rodgers has gotten reps, but Larry's undoubtedly the starter. Zac was being stuffed repeatedly for no gain in the first three quarters against UConn while true freshman Jerron Seymour looked quicker and more effective but we've continued to play both and started Stacy against Ole Miss, and that turned out pretty good, huh?

As for the O-line, the only opening day starter not starting now is Burrow, whose playing days are over. Chase White started in his place against UConn and struggled a bit, but Franklin said he was sticking with him. Logan Stewart, who started the last half of last season at center, is returning from injury and played in mop-up duty Saturday but is not listed on the latest two-deep.

So Franklin and his staff have stuck with all the starters except the guys in pass-catching roles, where 10 different guys have filled the remaining four positions in the starting lineup.

ELON STARTERS
• WR: Jordan Matthews, 6-3, 202, So.
• WR: Udom Umoh, 6-0, 180, R-Sr.
• TE: Brandon Barden, 6-5, 246, R-Sr.
• TE: Austin Monahan, 6-6, 242, R-Jr.

UCONN STARTERS
• WR: Chris Boyd, 6-3, 208, R-Fr.
• WR: John Cole, 5-11, 184, R-Jr.
• FB: Fitz Lassing, 6-3, 240, So.
• TE: Brandon Barden, 6-5, 246, R-Sr.

OLE MISS STARTERS
• WR: Jordan Matthews, 6-3, 202, So.
• WR: Jonathan Krause, 5-11, 184, So.
• WR: Wesley Tate, 6-1, 224, R-So.
• TE: Mason Johnston, 6-4, 242, R-So.

Barden was replaced by Johnston in the starting lineup against Ole Miss because of injury, and is now listed as a co-starter on the South Carolina depth chart with Austin Monahan, who started with Barden in a two tight end set in the Elon game.

Fullback Fitz Lassing, who plays like an H-back and is also an effective tight end, started against UConn.

At wide receiver, Matthews, the rage of spring and preseason practice, started the first game and then was replaced by Chris Boyd, who was Elon's daddy. Meanwhile, Udom Umoh and John Cole, the veterans of many an offensive debacle, took turns starting in the first two games.

We waited until the Ole Miss game to start with a three wide receiver lineup, going with Matthews; Krause, who became a fixture last year as a starter and has already carried the ball seven times this season on reverses; and Wesley Tate, the converted running back with the Golden bloodlines who's shown flashes of brilliance while learning the ropes.

As far as substitutes go, Akeem Dunham is listed as a second team receiver, while Trent Pruitt has played in every game on special teams. Walk-on Jamison Sackey has played in two games. Cole is currently injured and is not listed on the depth chart. Other possibilities include true freshman Jacquese Kirk, who's listed as a DB/WR; third-string quarterback Josh Grady; and fourth- or fifth-string quarterback Lafonte Thourogood; as well as sophomore Brady Brown, who's now sporting a cool Jesus haircut but has been apparently injured since the summer. None of those guys has played yet.

True freshman tight end Dillon van der Wal and walk-on fullback Marc Panu have each played in two games, with van der Wal getting some significant playing time spelling Barden after he got injured against UConn. Two other possibilities who haven't played yet include two true freshmen, Steven Scheu, who hasn't played this season but is an exciting prospect and a clone of Barden, and Darien Bryant, a touted prospect at tight end who's been working mostly at defensive end.

This week's depth chart lists the following:

WR: Matthews or Boyd
WR: Krause (Umoh second team)
WR: Tate (Dunham second team)
TE: Barden or Monahan (Johnston second team)
FB: Lassing (Johnston second team)

Of course, we can't start all five of these guys, so it'll depend on what set we open with. Continue to see Matthews and Boyd sharing the featured X-receiver role, with Krause settling into the Y-position and Tate becoming a permanent fixture in the Z/slot. Now that we're in SEC play, we need a big strong receiver in the slot who can run after the catch. John Cole is a tough little guy but now that we're entering SEC play, it's likely he may never start again even if he does return from injury.

While we're talking starters, Vandy has started 12 guys on defense this year, swapping only Javon Marshall for Kenny Ladler against Ole Miss, but those guys have been listed as co-starters every game this season.