Next weekend is huge for Vanderbilt football, notably for Derek Mason’s future thanks to incoming talent in Nashville.

The Commodores are expected to host 12 verbal commits on their official visits, hoping to strengthen each player’s stance on the program to further influence their looming decisions on signing day.

Linebacker Josh Smith, one of two four-star commits, won’t be in attendance. He’s waiting to take his official visit to Vanderbilt on Jan. 30 and will be in Norman, Okla., chatting with Bob Stoops next weekend. He’s a key piece of this season’s 15-member class, a prospect the Commodores can’t afford the Sooners to flip.

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Smith has already visited Kentucky and reports indicate Ole Miss has entered the picture. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native has been committed to Vanderbilt since July and would be the ideal fit in Mason’s linebacker-heavy defensive scheme.