Vanderbilt football: Derek Mason attempting to break slump in 2020
Commodores looking for starters at key skill positions
Last season, the Commodores had one of the worst offenses in the SEC and the nation. The Commodores were ranked 125th in the nation in points scored per game (16.5), 111th in the rushing yards per game, 115th in passing yards per game (13th in the SEC) and 123rd in total yards per game (299.3).
The Commodores were ranked last in the SEC in scoring, rushing offense and total offense. They converted only 28 percent of their third downs (48-of-166).
Derek Mason decided that a new coordinator needed to be brought in to create some spark for an offense that has talented and explosive players. The big problem now for the Commodores this upcoming season is that they will be without five of their top skilled players from last season. They return only five starters on the offensive side of the ball with three of them coming from the offensive line.
Athlon Sports has each of the Commodores’ offensive position groups ranked last in the SEC.
Vanderbilt is expected to start a true freshman at the quarterback position in Ken Seals, who is a three-star pro-style quarterback. He was ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Commodores’ 2020 signing class as he has a high-power arm and is dangerous while scrambling. The Commodores expect some competition for the starting quarterback position with JUCO transfer Jeremy Moussa coming in.
Seals has the advantage due to his potential and the time he has already put in with the new offensive scheme installment.
The Commodores have utilized their running backs very well going back to 2009. They relied on the star playmaking abilities of Zac Stacy (2009-12), Ralph Webb (2014-17) and most recently Ke’Shawn Vaughn (2018-19). They will now turn their rushing game in charge to sophomore Keyon Brooks and redshirt senior Jamauri Wakefield. The latter played in 25 career games with the Commodores while starting two games in 2018. He suffered a season-ending injury in he Week 1 of the season in 2019.
Last season as a freshman, Brooks rushed for 252 yards and one touchdown on 56 carries while backing up Vaughn.
The Commodores will be looking to replace the impact of three of their top receiving playmakers after losing wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb, Vaughn and tight end Jared Pinkney. Their top returning receiver from last season is redshirt sophomore Cam Johnson, who caught 30 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns.
There is going to be some shuffling around in the other starting wide receiver position in sophomore Amir Abdur-Rahman and senior Chris Pierce. Both players are projected to make a big impact with the passing game as there could be three starting deep-threat receivers. Junior James Bostic is looking to make a big impact at the slot receiver and sophomore Ben Bresnahan is looking to make his full-season start at tight end after starting two games last season.
The offensive line was one of the most inconsistent lines this past season in the SEC. They allowed 28 sacks this past season to their quarterbacks as they could not fully keep the pocket clean.
Sophomore Tyler Sheen started all 12 games last season at right tackle as he was one of the most consistent offensive linemen. He will likely start at left tackle for his quarterback’s blindside. Junior Grant Miller and senior Cole Clemmens are projected to get back their starting spots at the center and right guard, respectively. Sophomore Dan Hawkins played 12 games last season and looks to start at left guard. Junior Jonathan Stewart played 10 games with three starts at offensive tackle as he could start day one at the right tackle position.