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Derek Mason’s efforts to build Vanderbilt’s football program into the Stanford of the South is respectable but hasn’t materialized like he probably hoped by now. Vanderbilt gets solid recruits and will be tough and competitive, but it will be another class without a true centerpiece prospect to build around.
Here’s a review of Vanderbilt’s signing class with just eight days remaining before signing day on Feb. 3 and a few predictions on where the Commodores could end up in February. We use 247Sports composite team and player rankings:
CURRENT STANDING
National recruiting rank: 49
SEC recruiting rank: 13
No. of signees or commits in class: 17
NOTABLE COMMITS
Joejuan Williams, CB, Hendersonville, Tenn. (four stars)
Sea Auwae, OL, Kapolei, Hawaii (three stars)
Zaire Jones, S, Meridian, Miss. (three stars)
Deuce Wallace, QB, Sevierville, Tenn. (three stars)
REMAINING PRIMARY TARGETS
Patrick Kasl, OT, Forest Lake, Minn. (four stars, no official scheduled)
Cameron Goode, LB, Spring, Texas (three stars, official on Jan. 15, California commit)
Kelvin Lucky, OLB/DE, Elmore, Ala. (three stars, official on Jan. 22)
Bradlee Anae, LB, Kahuku, Hawaii (three stars, official on Jan. 15)
Andre Mintze, LB, Philadelphia (two stars, official on Jan. 25)
How I look? #AnchorDown ⚓️ pic.twitter.com/0Ebi8QO19f
— Andre Mintze (@dremintze) January 25, 2016
SIGNING DAY PREDICTION
It’s hard to get a grasp on Vanderbilt’s recruiting because some new needs have popped up in the past few days. The Commodores still need pass rushers and outside linebackers and have cast a wide net in hopes of landing two with Lucky and Mintze being the most likely commits. Vanderbilt needs an interior defensive lineman after losing the commitment of Brandon Adams to Georgia Tech. The class will stay in the top 50 but the program needed a class in the top 25-30.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
