Matchup Breakdown: Nigel Bowden vs. Charleston Southern's triple option
The Vanderbilt Commodores (1-5) will host Charleston Southern (5-0) in Nashville this weekend. The Commodores look to snap a three-game losing streak. Saturday’s game marks the first FBS meeting for the Buccaneers this season, who rank No. 23 overall in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Charleston Southern uses a triple option offense led by dual-threat quarterback Austin Brown and tailback Christian Reyes. The Buccaneers rank No. 21 in rushing offense in the FCS, averaging 215.2 yards. Reyes leads with 350 yards and four touchdowns on 77 carries, while Brown has added 123 yards and three touchdowns on 38 attempts.
The mobile quarterback is also responsible for 859 yards and eight touchdowns on 56-of-87 passing attempts. Brown enters with a 64.4 completion percentage and is averaging 171.8 yards per game. But the Commodores are not changing their defensive scheme, as head coach Derek Mason told the Tennessean this week.
“It’s still the same structure, so you don’t change what you do,” Mason said. “It’s still the same configuration in terms of the inside guys playing the inside. … It’s the same scheme, same dynamic, except now it’s all run versus the possible pass component (in a spread).”
Vanderbilt will need a strong performance from middle linebacker Nigel Bowden. Bowden leads Vanderbilt with 44 total tackles and is averaging 7.3 per game. The redshirt freshman also has two tackles for loss and a sack.
Bowden has been a tackling machine during his first season as the Commodores’ starting linebacker. He will need to show maturity and leadership facing a talented offense. For the first time in several weeks, Vanderbilt is heavily favored entering its matchup. The Commodores should hold the advantage in talent level, despite Charleston Southern’s undefeated record.