Commodores
Class Analysis:
Top Impact
Player:
Underrated:
There always has to be someone at the bottom, and unfortunately for Vanderbilt, this year it’s them. After Coach James Franklin left for the Penn State job, Vanderbilt’s class temporarily imploded, but new head coach Derek Mason has made strides in making up for it. At one point the Commodores were down to just eight commitments.
The best offensive recruit in this Vanderbilt class is three star running back Dallas Rivers. Since losing Zac Stacy, the Commodores have struggled to find that dominant RB, and Rivers could be the guy. Coach Mason has also addressed the needs at QB and WR somewhat nicely, though it’ll be hard to replace a talented receiver like Jordan Matthews.
On the defense, Mason has recently been able to flip a few players from other schools to help recover from the losses a couple days into his tenure. The best recruits on this side of the ball would have to be in the secondary, and Vanderbilt has had a few recent standouts like Kenny Ladler at the position.
The biggest addition in this class was four star DE Nifae Lealao, who had been committed to Stanford until NSD. Lealao was a huge get for Coach Mason, as it gives him a defensive player who could be disruptive along the D-Line on day one.
oach Mason managed to flip Lealao from Stanford before NSD, and has gotten a player who will be a force on Vanderbilt’s D-line next season. Obviously one of Lealao’s strengths is that he has a body that is ready for college ball now, and he doesn’t really need much body development, and is said to possess a good bit of quickness off the line. By the time next season is over, Lealao should be one of the more disruptive linemen in the SEC East.
Dallas Rivers is a guy who could be very special for Coach Mason, and he went fairly unnoticed through the process. He has a good frame to play multiple positions, and could become the next Zac Stacy.