Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Theron Kadri one of nine VU players, all defensive, to avoid a redshirt; Zac Stacy to break drought this season

With Bobby Johnson announcing that junior Theron Kadri has left the team for personal reasons, Vandy loses one of only nine players on the roster to avoid a redshirt season and play every season he's been on campus. The others are:

• Senior cornerback Myron Lewis
• Senior linebacker Patrick Benoist
• Senior defensive tackle Greg Billinger
• Senior linebacker Brent Trice
• Senior punter Brett Upson
• Junior linebacker John Stokes
• Sophomore safety Sean Richardson
• Sophomore cornerback Casey Hayward

Not a single offensive player in the bunch, though last season receiver John Cole played as a true freshman and tight end Austin Monahan played as a true sophomore before each suffered year-ending injuries and took redshirts.

This season, Vandy fans could actually see more offensive than defensive players take the field as true freshmen. Probably every true freshman to play on defense will be a defensive back — definitely Eric Samuels, probably Trey Wilson and maybe Eddie Foster and/or Javon Marshall. (Jay Fullam had a good shot too before injurying his hand and requiring surgery.)

On offense, running back Zac Stacy will almost certainly break the drought in the season opener, and fellow tailback Warren Norman could do it too. And who knows? If the injury bug bites, Wesley Tate may get a shot carrying the ball as well. Look for Brady Brown and maybe fellow Texan Collin Ashley to get a nod at receiver, especially if the other wideouts struggle to recover from injuries or, well, to catch passes. And if one of the tight ends goes down, Mason Johnston could get called into duty.

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