Assessing Vanderbilt's 2016 recruiting class entering this summer

It’s starting to feel like Derek Mason’s Vanderbilt may dissolve before it ever gets going.

Not that Vanderbilt ever registers on the national level in terms of recruiting, but the Commodores could be in store for a long and difficult year trying to convince decent prep talent to come to Nashville.

One year after coach James Franklin led Vandy to a combined 18 wins in two seasons, Mason’s ‘Dores labored to a 3-9 finish as the team failed to win a single SEC game for the first time since ’09. A wave of coaching changes later, Vandy also is contending with the retirement of projected starting quarterback Patton Robinette.

It’s not a sure thing that Mason will even remain as head coach following the ’15 season, though just two years would be an incredibly short leash for any SEC team, much less at low-expectations Vanderbilt. Still, there’s enough uncertainty there to make it challenging for the coaching staff, and the program is trending in the wrong direction.

With just three recruits as of Saturday, Vanderbilt ranks ahead of just three Power 5 schools in terms of 2016 commitments (Colorado, Indiana and Pitt each hold two).

The team has major needs along the offensive line, and needs to secure three or four players there in the 2016 class. But at least three-star quarterback Deuce Wallace gives the team another option at the position for 2016. (Likely ’15 redshirt and former four-star Kyle Shurmur and Wallace represent the team’s future at quarterback.) And three-star safety Austin Quillen marks the start of filling another huge ’16 class need: defensive back.

ASSESSING VANDERBILT’S 2016 CLASS

Current commits or enrollees: 3 (avg. star 3.0; last year: 3.1)
Current big-name targets: CB Joejuan Williams, OT Devin Cochran, CB Dante Vaughn
Biggest positions of need: OL, DB, QB
National/SEC rank: 83/14

NOTABLE COMMIT