What are the youngest positions for Vandy football?

You know how our roster has three true freshmen scholarship quarterbacks? Well, that has us wondering which of our positions are the youngest, and which are the oldest. And no, it’s not always a good thing to be old, as in the case of our linebacking corps. Our youngest position, safety, has nearly as much playing experience as our oldest, linebacker.

Anyway, here’s a ranking from youngest to oldest, with playing experience also listed:

1. SAFETY
Average age: Sophomore
Average years experience: 1.0
Average age of starters: Junior
Our youngest position with only two upperclassmen in a stable of nine players. And the talent is impressive, with four sophomores and three true freshmen with the ability to start in the SEC. Expect some of these guys to play some linebacker this season.

2. OFFENSIVE LINE
Average age: Sophomore
Average years experience: 0.75
Average age of starters: Redshirt junior
Of our 16 offensive linemen, half of them have never played in a college football game, and one redshirt junior has never played the position before.

3. QUARTERBACK
Average age: Sophomore
Average years experience: 0.6
Age of starter: Redshirt senior
Sure, Larry Smith is a redshirt senior, but after that, nobody’s ever played in a college game.

4. RUNNING BACK
Average age: Redshirt sophomore
Average years experience: 1.0
Average age of starters: Junior
Norman and Stacy are veterans, Powell’s played sparingly and then there’s the two true freshmen

5. DEFENSIVE END
Average age: Redshirt sophomore
Average years experience: 0.8
Average age of starters: Junior
A nice mix of youth and age, at least on paper, but next year the influx of 3-4 true freshmen will create some thinning of the herd here.

6. TIGHT END/FULLBACK
Average age: Redshirt sophomore
Average years experience: 1.2
Average age of starters: Redshirt junior
From Barden and Monahan to van der Wal and Scheu, a nice mix of experience and youth.


7. WIDE RECEIVER
Average age: Redshirt sophomore
Average years experience: 0.9
Average age of starters: Sophomore
Our shakiest players are the oldest and our most promising are just getting started.

8. CORNERBACK
Average age: Redshirt sophomore
Average years experience: 1.5
Average age of starters: Junior
Three upperclassmen and three underclassmen. Not a single redshirt in the bunch.

9. DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Average age: Redshirt sophomore
Average years experience: 1.1
Average age of starters: Redshirt junior
Four are upperclassmen and four are underclassmen.

10. LINEBACKER
Average age: Junior
Average years experience: 1.1
Average age of starters: Redshirt junior
By far our oldest position, but after Marve, also our shakiest. And the age is deceptive. Half of our linebackers are redshirt juniors, but they have one start among them. Next year, Marve’s loss will hurt, but the arrival of talented true freshmen will create an overall upgrade.