SEC Recruiting Grades After National Signing Day: Alabama, Tennessee on Top

Nov 29, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Derek Mason prior to the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Volunteers won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

14. Vanderbilt Commodores

Rivals Class Rank: No. 47

Honestly, getting a Top 50 class after the disastrous 2014 season was a huge deal for Derek Mason and the Vanderbilt Commodores. It is not as amazing as what James Franklin was able to pull off while there, but it is still enough to field a respectable team.

By national standards, this is a good class for Vanderbilt. By SEC standards, this is far and away the worst class in the conference, and it once again spells trouble going forward.

But the Commodores may have gotten exactly what they need. Nailing 4-Star quarterback Kyle Shurmur out of Pennsylvania was huge, given that was the biggest problem for Vandy last year. Josh Smith and Donovan Sheffield add depth to the defense, but the D was not terrible last year. The offense was, and finding a quarterback helps that a lot if Shurmur can pan out.

Still, winning in the SEC with this class will take great coaching, and Mason will have to show his ability to do that given the way things fell apart last year. If not, he could be out the door in this bloodbath of a conference.

Grade: C

Next: No. 13 Ranked SEC Recruiting Class