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SEC Football: Most important newcomers for each team in 2021

By Dante Pryor

A welcome message for the new University of Tennessee football coach, Josh Heupel on a billboard on Alcoa Highway in Knoxville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Coach Josh Heupel 2021 125333
A welcome message for the new University of Tennessee football coach, Josh Heupel on a billboard on Alcoa Highway in Knoxville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Coach Josh Heupel 2021 125333 /
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Vanderbilt Football Head Coach Clark Lea watches over Ken Seals’s throws during spring practice at McGugin Athletic Complex in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 17, 2021.Vanderbilt Clarklea_16
Vanderbilt Football Head Coach Clark Lea watches over Ken Seals’s throws during spring practice at McGugin Athletic Complex in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 17, 2021.Vanderbilt Clarklea_16 /

12. Vanderbilt Commodores

The Vanderbilt Commodores are the third team on this list with a new head coach. Derek Mason was fired after seven seasons in Nashville. Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea replaces Mason. Lea, a Vanderbilt alum and Nashville native, brings in another Nashville native, former director of scouting for 247Sports, Barton Simmons as director of player personnel.

Both Lea and Simmons have a tall task ahead of them. Though the Commodores return a lot of production, the returning production did not win many games. Though the Commodores have players, they need an infusion of talent. Here are three players that can help.

  • Marcus Bradley, DT: The Vanderbilt Commodores finished 91st in rush defense last season. The defense finished 121st in total defense. The Commodores were not physical last season and got pushed around at the point of attack on both sides of the ball. Bradley makes the list for two reasons. First, the Gaithersburg, Maryland native is one of the highest-rated recruits in the school’s history. Second, that means he is a plug-and-play contributor on day one.
  • Xavier Castillo, OG: Castillo is a large young man. Opposing defenses pushed the offensive line around as badly as the defensive line finishing 113th in rush offense and 59th in sacks. Castillo might be too raw to start right away but could take someone’s job sooner rather than later. At 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, Castillo is simply too big to ignore.
  • Re’Mahn Davis (transfer), RB: Davis transfers from Temple, where he was a freshman All-American after 1117 yards from scrimmage and ten touchdowns. The Commodores like sophomore Keyon-Henry Brooks, but Davis could add some much-needed depth. Davis might have to sit out a year pending the one-time transfer rule. Either Davis will be an asset for the Commodores this season or next.
  • Junior Uzebu (transfer), OT: Before Uzebu decided to transfer to Vanderbilt, he’d won the starting left tackle job at West Virginia from redshirt-freshman Brandon Yates. Yates won the job back, and Uzebu decided to enter the portal. Uzebu gives the Commodores some desperately needed talent and depth along the offensive line. Also, Uzebu has three years of eligibility which gives him time to develop.
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