The Dores don full pads tomorrow, and Coach Franklin says that’s when “some guys will show up” and “some guys will disappear.” That didn’t stop him from assessing the progress of players so far.
Here are some players he highlighted at the end of Tuesday’s practice:
• R-JR TE Austin Monahan is healthy for the first time in three years, but Franklin said it’ll take preseason camp for him to build confidence in his repaired knee. Franklin’s fully aware that Monahan started ahead of Barden back in the day and he seems excited about using both of them in formations.
• R-FR WR Chris Boyd has done “some nice things” and is a candidate to join sophomores Jordan Matthews and Jonathan Krause in the starting lineup, but Franklin lists the receivers, particularly depth, as a “position of concern of mine” and said the lack of playmakers there could “limit what we’d like to do offensively.” “We need some guys to step up,” he said.
• R-JR Josh Jelesky is adjusting well to his move to the offensive line from defensive tackle. Franklin said he wasn’t sure how much Jelesky would help the offensive line but that he is “fighting for a starting job right now.” I’d be really surprised if Jelesky goes from a third-string defensive tackle to a starting offensive linemen in the SEC in less than a month, but we’ll see.
• FR DT Barron Dixon is performing well so far, and likely helped coaches decide to move Jelesky to offensive line.
• R-FR DT Vince Taylor “has matured significantly since spring.” Franklin said he’s still learning but he’s a “very talented guy” who “looks like he’s 255 but he’s 295 and carries it well.”
• FR DE/LB Darien Bryant has “intrigued” Franklin and his staff. He’s “a long, angular, athletic kid who can really run.” Primarily evaluated as a tight end by recruiting services, Bryant looks stouter than his listed 6-foot-4, 220 pounds.
• FR S Andrew Williamson has emerged as the most impressive and game-ready of the four or five true freshmen defensive backs. He was a two-star recruit who’s been an afterthought so far in any discussions about freshman contributors, but Franklin said he’s “further ahead” than three-star safeties Larry Franklin and Jahmel McIntosh and hotshot cornerback Derek King, the Brentwood product who had an offer from Auburn and who Franklin says “doesn’t look like a freshman.”
• Speaking of freshmen coming from nowhere, Spencer Pulley is the most impressive of the true freshmen offensive linemen so far despite being overshadowed by James Lewis, Jake Bernstein and even Jose Valedon. Franklin said he’s like to redshirt Pulley if he could but that he might be pressed into duty sometime during the season, which is what happened to Logan Stewart last year. Pulley got two stars from Scout and ESPN, while Lewis and Bernstein were consensus three star guys.
• FR OL Jake Bernstein is the other offensive lineman who has the best chance of seeing action as a true freshman, Franklin said. Meanwhile, James Lewis, who looks massive, is hobbled on the sideline with an injured foot.
But get ready for new names and faces after the hitting starts tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Vanderbilt converts another end to offensive line
Coach James Franklin said after yesterday’s practice that redshirt junior defensive tackle Josh Jelesky is moving to the offensive line.
When a reporter asked if this was a further sign of lack of depth on the O-line, Franklin replied that he was making the move to “give him an opportunity to lengthen his career.” Don’t read that to mean Jelesky has a shot at the NFL, but that Jelesky is being given a shot to return to Vandy next year for a fifth year.
Franklin explained that Jelesky was deep in the rotation at defensive line (behind Greenstone, Lohr, Nichter, Morse, Taylor and probably even freshman Barron Dixon) but may have a chance to eventually start on the offensive line. He’s listed at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds.
Jelesky came to Nashville as a defensive end. As is evident in our current recruiting class, it’s a lot easier for Vandy to recruit defensive ends than other positions, which is why so many of our starting offensive linemen – Ryan Seymour and Jabo Burrow this year and guys like Reilly Lauer in years past — start their college careers as defensive ends.
This is not the same old Vandy, however. For one thing, Franklin is now recruiting defensive ends like Josh Dawson and Caleb Azubike who have SEC athleticism and can quickly compete for a starting job on defense. (Dawson, by the way, is slated to join LB Jacob Sealand as an early enrollee in January.)
Another thing that’s new is that Franklin identifies kids who aren’t going to play and gives them a chance at another position. In the spring, with Dexter Daniels lost in the log jam of redshirt junior linebackers, Franklin moved Daniels to defensive end. Meanwhile, he moved redshirt junior Al Owens from safety, where he clearly was never going to play, to outside linebacker.
This sends two signals: (1) We believe in you and like having you on campus and want to give you an opportunity to play, but (2) don’t be surprised if we don’t invite you back to use your fifth year of eligibility.
So moves like this are either a new beginning or the beginning of the end. This is the latest I can remember a Commodore moving from defensive end to offensive line. Seymour made the switch during his first year on the team, while Burrow switched during his second year. Jelesky is starting his fourth year on campus.
Jelesky’s move may pave the way for true freshman Joe Townsend to move to defensive line. That’s just a hunch. Vandy’s having trouble as always recruiting true SEC defensive tackles and will be losing T.J. Greenstone next year and Rob Lohr and Colt Nichter the following year. Townsend appears to be in the mold of those guys – a tough, overachieving kid with a pretty good motor.
As the Commodores prepare for their first day of practice in full pads, let’s take a look at some players who stood out yesterday:
• Wide receiver: SO Jordan Matthews made two spectacular catches and looks like the star receiver we’ve long been lacking.
• Quarterbacks: R-SR Larry Smith and R-JR Jordan Rodgers appear to be settling into a nice quarterback competition. At the least, Rodgers is going to sharpen Smith.
• Offensive linemen: Returning starters R-SR Kyle Fischer, R-JR Ryan Seymour and R-SO Wesley Johnson continue to show progress. James Franklin says Seymour is bigger, faster and stronger, as evidenced by the fact that the preseason factbook is pushing him as an all-star candidate. R-SO Mylon Brown, one of Vandy’s biggest linemen at 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, is stronger and looks more athletic and ready to compete for playing time.
• Linebackers: Franklin says R-JR Archibald Barnes has improved physically and will definitely challenge for a starting position, while adding that outside linebacker is still remains a concern for the team. Barnes is battling R-JR Tristan Strong and SO Chase Garnham. Oh, somebody named Chris Marve appears to have emerged as a potential starter amidst this new competitive environment.
• Defensive backs: SO CB Andre Hal, who’s overshadowed by senior Casey Hayward and juniors Trey Wilson and Eddie Foster, made an interception in practice. He could see some starting time before the season’s over. Also, R-SO S Javon Marshall is proving himself to be a big hitter.
When a reporter asked if this was a further sign of lack of depth on the O-line, Franklin replied that he was making the move to “give him an opportunity to lengthen his career.” Don’t read that to mean Jelesky has a shot at the NFL, but that Jelesky is being given a shot to return to Vandy next year for a fifth year.
Franklin explained that Jelesky was deep in the rotation at defensive line (behind Greenstone, Lohr, Nichter, Morse, Taylor and probably even freshman Barron Dixon) but may have a chance to eventually start on the offensive line. He’s listed at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds.
Jelesky came to Nashville as a defensive end. As is evident in our current recruiting class, it’s a lot easier for Vandy to recruit defensive ends than other positions, which is why so many of our starting offensive linemen – Ryan Seymour and Jabo Burrow this year and guys like Reilly Lauer in years past — start their college careers as defensive ends.
This is not the same old Vandy, however. For one thing, Franklin is now recruiting defensive ends like Josh Dawson and Caleb Azubike who have SEC athleticism and can quickly compete for a starting job on defense. (Dawson, by the way, is slated to join LB Jacob Sealand as an early enrollee in January.)
Another thing that’s new is that Franklin identifies kids who aren’t going to play and gives them a chance at another position. In the spring, with Dexter Daniels lost in the log jam of redshirt junior linebackers, Franklin moved Daniels to defensive end. Meanwhile, he moved redshirt junior Al Owens from safety, where he clearly was never going to play, to outside linebacker.
This sends two signals: (1) We believe in you and like having you on campus and want to give you an opportunity to play, but (2) don’t be surprised if we don’t invite you back to use your fifth year of eligibility.
So moves like this are either a new beginning or the beginning of the end. This is the latest I can remember a Commodore moving from defensive end to offensive line. Seymour made the switch during his first year on the team, while Burrow switched during his second year. Jelesky is starting his fourth year on campus.
Jelesky’s move may pave the way for true freshman Joe Townsend to move to defensive line. That’s just a hunch. Vandy’s having trouble as always recruiting true SEC defensive tackles and will be losing T.J. Greenstone next year and Rob Lohr and Colt Nichter the following year. Townsend appears to be in the mold of those guys – a tough, overachieving kid with a pretty good motor.
As the Commodores prepare for their first day of practice in full pads, let’s take a look at some players who stood out yesterday:
• Wide receiver: SO Jordan Matthews made two spectacular catches and looks like the star receiver we’ve long been lacking.
• Quarterbacks: R-SR Larry Smith and R-JR Jordan Rodgers appear to be settling into a nice quarterback competition. At the least, Rodgers is going to sharpen Smith.
• Offensive linemen: Returning starters R-SR Kyle Fischer, R-JR Ryan Seymour and R-SO Wesley Johnson continue to show progress. James Franklin says Seymour is bigger, faster and stronger, as evidenced by the fact that the preseason factbook is pushing him as an all-star candidate. R-SO Mylon Brown, one of Vandy’s biggest linemen at 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, is stronger and looks more athletic and ready to compete for playing time.
• Linebackers: Franklin says R-JR Archibald Barnes has improved physically and will definitely challenge for a starting position, while adding that outside linebacker is still remains a concern for the team. Barnes is battling R-JR Tristan Strong and SO Chase Garnham. Oh, somebody named Chris Marve appears to have emerged as a potential starter amidst this new competitive environment.
• Defensive backs: SO CB Andre Hal, who’s overshadowed by senior Casey Hayward and juniors Trey Wilson and Eddie Foster, made an interception in practice. He could see some starting time before the season’s over. Also, R-SO S Javon Marshall is proving himself to be a big hitter.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Which Vandy players got a jump on second day of camp
Here are some guys singled out for praise after yesterday’s practice, the second of preseason camp:
• No surprise: Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Matthews, senior cornerback Casey Hayward, junior running back Zac Stacy, redshirt junior offensive tackle Ryan Seymour, redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Wesley Johnson.
• Making a strong case to start: Redshirt senior quarterback Larry Smith, junior cornerback Eddie Foster, redshirt senior defensive tackle T.J. Greenstone, redshirt junior defensive tackle Rob Lohr, redshirt senior offensive guard Kyle Fischer.
• Making a case for playing time: Redshirt junior quarterback Jordan Rodgers, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Mylon Brown, redshirt sophomore safety Javon Marshall.
• Impressive newcomers: True freshman running backs Jerron Seymour and Mitchell Hester.
• No surprise: Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Matthews, senior cornerback Casey Hayward, junior running back Zac Stacy, redshirt junior offensive tackle Ryan Seymour, redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Wesley Johnson.
• Making a strong case to start: Redshirt senior quarterback Larry Smith, junior cornerback Eddie Foster, redshirt senior defensive tackle T.J. Greenstone, redshirt junior defensive tackle Rob Lohr, redshirt senior offensive guard Kyle Fischer.
• Making a case for playing time: Redshirt junior quarterback Jordan Rodgers, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Mylon Brown, redshirt sophomore safety Javon Marshall.
• Impressive newcomers: True freshman running backs Jerron Seymour and Mitchell Hester.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
True freshmen could play a role for Vandy at tight end
Big surprise that voters in the MV! Significant Playing Time Poll think that Brandon Barden has the best change of getting significant playing time at tight end (or fullback or H-back) this season. I guess a bigger surprise is that somebody out there thinks Barden WON'T get significant playing time this season. We'd like to hear from that person to get your reasoning. Are you clairvoyant and foresee him getting injured in preseason camp or something?
Anyway, we like to cut the voting off after 50 votes but we let the tight end poll ride a while and only got 42 votes, which means that folks aren't as excited about tight ends, fullbacks and H-backs as they are about, say, quarterbacks and running backs, so we went ahead and stopped voting. Can't wait to see how excited you are about offensive linemen, which is our new poll.
Here's how the voting shakes out:
1. Brandon Barden, R-SR: 97 percent
2. Austin Monahan, R-JR: 71 percent
3. Mason Johnston, R-SO: 35 percent
4. Dillon van der Wal, FR: 33 percent
5. Fitz Lassing, SO: 28 percent
6. (tie) Marc Panu, R-SO: 9 percent
6. (tie) Steven Scheu, R-SO: 9 percent
Why did we lump fullbacks and H-backs with tight ends? Well, because guys like Barden, Johnston and Lassing will be playing both this season, and we're not really sure how James Franklin plans to use these guys in the offense. You'll definitely see several of them on the field at the same time this season.
Barden has a chance to make All-SEC and/or be drafted as early as the second or third round.
Monahan has always been an impressive talent who's started ahead of Barden when he's been healthy and apparently has been given a sixth year of eligibility which means this is his junior year. If he's completely healed and can avoid injury, then he could be a huge weapon for us.
Johnston has always been more of a blocker than a receiver but is pretty athletic and could line up in the backfield.
Van der Wal, who's a nice prospect on both sides of the ball, could see significant time as a pass-catching target if Monahan struggles to return to SEC play or if big receiving targets like Chris Boyd and Brady Brown don't crack the lineup. He's got a huge upside as a prospect at defensive end or offensive line and would benefit from a redshirt if coaches think his future is at one of these positions.
Lassing is a brilliant local kid that coaches like to refer to as a warrior. He's not a star, but he could be a valuable role player as a blocker either on the line of scrimmage or in the backfield. He could crack the starting lineup up if Franklin opens the game with a fullback.
Panu, a 245-pound walk-on who was listed as a defensive end last season and played special teams, is a wild card at fullback. He's bigger than Lassing but lacks his ball skills.
Scheu looks like a clone of Barden and could surprise some people this season, especially if Monahan or Johnston struggle to make the tough catches. He's not as big a target as van der Wal, but has more experience catching ball.
Anyway, we like to cut the voting off after 50 votes but we let the tight end poll ride a while and only got 42 votes, which means that folks aren't as excited about tight ends, fullbacks and H-backs as they are about, say, quarterbacks and running backs, so we went ahead and stopped voting. Can't wait to see how excited you are about offensive linemen, which is our new poll.
Here's how the voting shakes out:
1. Brandon Barden, R-SR: 97 percent
2. Austin Monahan, R-JR: 71 percent
3. Mason Johnston, R-SO: 35 percent
4. Dillon van der Wal, FR: 33 percent
5. Fitz Lassing, SO: 28 percent
6. (tie) Marc Panu, R-SO: 9 percent
6. (tie) Steven Scheu, R-SO: 9 percent
Why did we lump fullbacks and H-backs with tight ends? Well, because guys like Barden, Johnston and Lassing will be playing both this season, and we're not really sure how James Franklin plans to use these guys in the offense. You'll definitely see several of them on the field at the same time this season.
Barden has a chance to make All-SEC and/or be drafted as early as the second or third round.
Monahan has always been an impressive talent who's started ahead of Barden when he's been healthy and apparently has been given a sixth year of eligibility which means this is his junior year. If he's completely healed and can avoid injury, then he could be a huge weapon for us.
Johnston has always been more of a blocker than a receiver but is pretty athletic and could line up in the backfield.
Van der Wal, who's a nice prospect on both sides of the ball, could see significant time as a pass-catching target if Monahan struggles to return to SEC play or if big receiving targets like Chris Boyd and Brady Brown don't crack the lineup. He's got a huge upside as a prospect at defensive end or offensive line and would benefit from a redshirt if coaches think his future is at one of these positions.
Lassing is a brilliant local kid that coaches like to refer to as a warrior. He's not a star, but he could be a valuable role player as a blocker either on the line of scrimmage or in the backfield. He could crack the starting lineup up if Franklin opens the game with a fullback.
Panu, a 245-pound walk-on who was listed as a defensive end last season and played special teams, is a wild card at fullback. He's bigger than Lassing but lacks his ball skills.
Scheu looks like a clone of Barden and could surprise some people this season, especially if Monahan or Johnston struggle to make the tough catches. He's not as big a target as van der Wal, but has more experience catching ball.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Day 1: Larry Smith looks like the starting QB, Josh Grady doesn't look like a true freshman
Lots of good coverage of Vandy’s first day of practice over at the official VU site.
After practice, Coach James Franklin was asked about the quarterbacks and said:
• Redshirt senior Larry Smith “did some good things.”
• Redshirt junior Jordan Rodgers “made some mistakes I didn’t think he’d make.”
• True freshman Josh Grady was the “third best quarterback,” “just doesn’t seem to get rattled,” and “seems like he’s been here at least a year.”
• Fellow frosh Lafonte Thourogood made some mistakes and there were “some simple reads he missed.”
• Kris Kentera, the third true freshman QB, also made some rookie mistakes.
In addition to Grady, Franklin also singled out running back Jerron Seymour as a true freshman who stood out to him.
As for offensive linemen, he said he’s impressed with the progress made in the strength and conditioning program by redshirt junior Ryan Seymour, redshirt sophomore Wesley Johnson and redshirt freshman Andrew Bridges.
I noticed freshman tackle James Lewis, probably our top O-line prospect, was wearing a red jersey and standing on the sideline.
After practice, Coach James Franklin was asked about the quarterbacks and said:
• Redshirt senior Larry Smith “did some good things.”
• Redshirt junior Jordan Rodgers “made some mistakes I didn’t think he’d make.”
• True freshman Josh Grady was the “third best quarterback,” “just doesn’t seem to get rattled,” and “seems like he’s been here at least a year.”
• Fellow frosh Lafonte Thourogood made some mistakes and there were “some simple reads he missed.”
• Kris Kentera, the third true freshman QB, also made some rookie mistakes.
In addition to Grady, Franklin also singled out running back Jerron Seymour as a true freshman who stood out to him.
As for offensive linemen, he said he’s impressed with the progress made in the strength and conditioning program by redshirt junior Ryan Seymour, redshirt sophomore Wesley Johnson and redshirt freshman Andrew Bridges.
I noticed freshman tackle James Lewis, probably our top O-line prospect, was wearing a red jersey and standing on the sideline.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
James Franklin gets some more fast little guys
Vandy just got three more verbal commitments:
• Brandon Banks, a 5-11, 170-pound athlete from Maryland who can run a 4.3 40 and has offers from Cincinnati, UConn, Maryland, Michigan State and Pittsburgh. He’s a consensus 3-star recruit. He’s listed as a cornerback or athlete by most services but recruiting coordinator/freshman quarterback Josh Grady says he’ll play wide receiver. If Banks is a receiver, he’d rate slightly behind verbal commit Jaydrick Declouet and well ahead of Corey Batey in this year’s class and compared to the ratings of past recruits he’s comparable to sophomore receiver Jonathan Krause and sophomore cornerback Andre Hal.
• Jaborian McKenzie, a 5-9, 180-pound running back from Mississippi who’s run a sub-4.4 40 and switched to Vandy after making a verbal commitment to Southern Miss. Also has offers from Indiana, Kansas State and Memphis. Got 3 stars from Scout and Rivals and 2 from ESPN. Compared to past running back recruits, he’s on par with Warren Norman (who’s proving to be underrated) and Micah Powell (who’s proving to be overrated), ahead of Wesley Tate, and behind Zac Stacy and the two true freshmen, Mitchell Hester and Jerron Seymour. He could also play defensive back, where his rating stacks up to those of current junior cornerbacks Trey Wilson and Eddie Foster and is well ahead of fellow verbal commitment Paris Head.
• Colby Cooke, a 6-3 punter/kicker from Virginia who’s listed as having no other offers, but it’s trickier getting rated and recruited as a kicker because so few scholarships are offered. Clearly he’ll be the heir apparent to Richard Kent, who’s a redshirt junior walk-on.
OK, we’re getting lots of fast little guys.
Here are the receivers, running backs and cornerbacks, counting the freshman class and the current verbal commitments, that Franklin has recruited:
• Jerron Seymour, 5-7, 190, RB, 4.3 40
• Brian Kimbrow, 5-9, 165, RB, 4.2 40
• Jaborian McKenzie, 5-9, 180, RB, 4.4 40
• Mitchell Hester, 5-9, 184, RB, 4.3 40
• Paris Head, 5-10, 170, CB, 4.5 40
• Jaydrick Declouet, 5-10, 175, WR, 4.4 40
• Brandon Banks, 5-11, 170, CB/WR, 4.3 40
• Corey Batey, 5-11, 180, WR, 4.4 40
• Derek King, 5-11, 195, CB, 4.4 40
• Jacquese Kirk, 6-0, 160, CB/WR, 4.4 40
Now let’s get some big linemen on both sides of the ball!
• Brandon Banks, a 5-11, 170-pound athlete from Maryland who can run a 4.3 40 and has offers from Cincinnati, UConn, Maryland, Michigan State and Pittsburgh. He’s a consensus 3-star recruit. He’s listed as a cornerback or athlete by most services but recruiting coordinator/freshman quarterback Josh Grady says he’ll play wide receiver. If Banks is a receiver, he’d rate slightly behind verbal commit Jaydrick Declouet and well ahead of Corey Batey in this year’s class and compared to the ratings of past recruits he’s comparable to sophomore receiver Jonathan Krause and sophomore cornerback Andre Hal.
• Jaborian McKenzie, a 5-9, 180-pound running back from Mississippi who’s run a sub-4.4 40 and switched to Vandy after making a verbal commitment to Southern Miss. Also has offers from Indiana, Kansas State and Memphis. Got 3 stars from Scout and Rivals and 2 from ESPN. Compared to past running back recruits, he’s on par with Warren Norman (who’s proving to be underrated) and Micah Powell (who’s proving to be overrated), ahead of Wesley Tate, and behind Zac Stacy and the two true freshmen, Mitchell Hester and Jerron Seymour. He could also play defensive back, where his rating stacks up to those of current junior cornerbacks Trey Wilson and Eddie Foster and is well ahead of fellow verbal commitment Paris Head.
• Colby Cooke, a 6-3 punter/kicker from Virginia who’s listed as having no other offers, but it’s trickier getting rated and recruited as a kicker because so few scholarships are offered. Clearly he’ll be the heir apparent to Richard Kent, who’s a redshirt junior walk-on.
OK, we’re getting lots of fast little guys.
Here are the receivers, running backs and cornerbacks, counting the freshman class and the current verbal commitments, that Franklin has recruited:
• Jerron Seymour, 5-7, 190, RB, 4.3 40
• Brian Kimbrow, 5-9, 165, RB, 4.2 40
• Jaborian McKenzie, 5-9, 180, RB, 4.4 40
• Mitchell Hester, 5-9, 184, RB, 4.3 40
• Paris Head, 5-10, 170, CB, 4.5 40
• Jaydrick Declouet, 5-10, 175, WR, 4.4 40
• Brandon Banks, 5-11, 170, CB/WR, 4.3 40
• Corey Batey, 5-11, 180, WR, 4.4 40
• Derek King, 5-11, 195, CB, 4.4 40
• Jacquese Kirk, 6-0, 160, CB/WR, 4.4 40
Now let’s get some big linemen on both sides of the ball!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Umoh and Cole booted from Vandy's starting receiving corps... according to the MV! playing-time poll
A lot of people think that our starting receivers this year, when we open the game with a 3-wideout set, will all hail from last year's signing class — sophomores Jonathan Krause and Jordan Matthews and redshirt freshman Chris Boyd.
And you, the MV! audience, agree. We're piecing together playing rotations position by position, and you liked Matthews best (86 percent of voters), followed closely by Krause (86 percent) and then Boyd (68 percent).
Where does that leave returning starters John Cole and Udom Umoh? Cole's your fourth receiver at 41 percent. The redshirt junior has started for most of two seasons since getting injured as a true freshmen in the opener against Miami-Ohio and redshirting.
Umoh is sixth receiver at 25 percent of the vote. The new media guide/fact book is eager to point out that Umoh, a redshirt senior, is a great blocker. That's like saying that a member of the homecoming court makes her own clothes. It's nice, but it's not going to get you the crown, or even a starting job.
Ahead of Umoh is true freshman Jacquese Kirk, who reports to camp on Wednesday, I think. Kirk weighs 160 pounds but is the kind of athlete who could bring some excitement to the Vandy offense, and can allegedly separate from defensive backs, something Cole and Umoh have struggled to do in their VU careers.
After Umoh is true frosh Lafonte Thourogood, who'll start out as a quarterback but is considered a fine wide receiver prospect and could see some time there. Not a sure thing, but a possibility. He got votes from 19 percent of you.
Then there's redshirt junior Akeem Dunham and redshirt frosh Trent Pruitt, both of whom tied with 15 percent apiece.
Bringing up the rear is redshirt sophomore Brady Brown, one of Vandy's highest rated receiving recruits in recent memory, but he's starting his third year on campus and hasn't caught a pass.
Here's a recap:
1. Jordan Matthews, SO: 88 percent
2. Jonathan Krause, SO: 86 percent
3. Chris Boyd, R-FR: 68 percent
4. John Cole, R-JR: 41 percent
5. Jacquese Kirk, FR: 33 percent
6. Udom Umoh, R-SR: 25 percent
7. Lafonte Thourogood, FR: 19 percent
8. Akeem Dunham, R-JR: 15 percent
8. Trent Pruitt, R-FR: 15 percent
10. Brady Brown, R-SO: 3 percent
Now it's time to vote for tight ends.
And you, the MV! audience, agree. We're piecing together playing rotations position by position, and you liked Matthews best (86 percent of voters), followed closely by Krause (86 percent) and then Boyd (68 percent).
Where does that leave returning starters John Cole and Udom Umoh? Cole's your fourth receiver at 41 percent. The redshirt junior has started for most of two seasons since getting injured as a true freshmen in the opener against Miami-Ohio and redshirting.
Umoh is sixth receiver at 25 percent of the vote. The new media guide/fact book is eager to point out that Umoh, a redshirt senior, is a great blocker. That's like saying that a member of the homecoming court makes her own clothes. It's nice, but it's not going to get you the crown, or even a starting job.
Ahead of Umoh is true freshman Jacquese Kirk, who reports to camp on Wednesday, I think. Kirk weighs 160 pounds but is the kind of athlete who could bring some excitement to the Vandy offense, and can allegedly separate from defensive backs, something Cole and Umoh have struggled to do in their VU careers.
After Umoh is true frosh Lafonte Thourogood, who'll start out as a quarterback but is considered a fine wide receiver prospect and could see some time there. Not a sure thing, but a possibility. He got votes from 19 percent of you.
Then there's redshirt junior Akeem Dunham and redshirt frosh Trent Pruitt, both of whom tied with 15 percent apiece.
Bringing up the rear is redshirt sophomore Brady Brown, one of Vandy's highest rated receiving recruits in recent memory, but he's starting his third year on campus and hasn't caught a pass.
Here's a recap:
1. Jordan Matthews, SO: 88 percent
2. Jonathan Krause, SO: 86 percent
3. Chris Boyd, R-FR: 68 percent
4. John Cole, R-JR: 41 percent
5. Jacquese Kirk, FR: 33 percent
6. Udom Umoh, R-SR: 25 percent
7. Lafonte Thourogood, FR: 19 percent
8. Akeem Dunham, R-JR: 15 percent
8. Trent Pruitt, R-FR: 15 percent
10. Brady Brown, R-SO: 3 percent
Now it's time to vote for tight ends.
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