Khari Blasingame appeared to be off to a solid start as a linebacker at Vanderbilt.

He played in 11 games, making one start, as a redshirt freshman, recording 13 tackles and providing valuable contributions on special teams. Not All-SEC material, but not bad for a freshman.

The Commodores coaches, however, had other plans. They saw a big body in the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Blasingame and the potential of using that size in the backfield.

According to Adam Sparks of The Tennesseean, head coach Derek Mason and running backs coach Jeff Genyk plan to use Blasingame at both fullback and tailback as a complement to junior RB Ralph Webb.

“You are trying to create depth at both fullback and tailback, so you can use multiple sets and be a little more injury proof,” Genyk said. “If you lose a guy for a couple of weeks, you can still maintain yourself at that position.”

Mason used Blasingame’s own highlight tape from high school, when he rushed for 966 yards and 10 touchdowns, to help convince him to move back to offense.

“I went back and showed him his high school tape. I mean the dude was good,” Mason said. “Linebacker or running back, we try to recruit versatile athletes that you can line up at different spots and fill out the needs of this football team.”

By the end of spring practice, Blasingame had begun to feel comfortable on offense. Grenyk recently got the confirmation he needed in VU’s opening practice of fall camp.

“I was walking down the hall, and I said, ‘Are you having any fun?’” Genyk recalled to Sparks. “(Blasingame) said, ‘Coach, I love playing running back.’ ”