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Vanderbilt Football: Can Ke’Shawn Vaughn lead Commodores to bowl?

By John Scimeca

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Ke'Shawn Vaughn #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs the ball and stiff arms Kamren Curl #2 of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Ke'Shawn Vaughn #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs the ball and stiff arms Kamren Curl #2 of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Vanderbilt football is in a strange place entering 2019. The school’s career passing leader just left, but some serious talent returns.

Year six under head coach Derek Mason’s watch finds him with a tenuous hold as Vanderbilt football’s boss. He is 24-38 overall and has presided over five consecutive losing seasons. On the other side of the coin, however, he has beaten Tennessee three times in a row and has appeared in a bowl game in two of the past three years.

Former quarterback Kyle Shurmur graduated as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (8,865) and passing touchdowns (64). He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Last season, the Commodores had several one-possession setbacks, including an early 22-17 loss to Notre Dame and a 45-38 postseason loss to Baylor. Could one of Shurmur’s replacements, grad transfer Riley Neal or fourth-year junior Deuce Wallace, make the difference?

The fight to replace Shurmur is what could push the Commodores over the 6-6 hump and to a winning record this fall.

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