The Vanderbilt Commodores (2-5) captured their second win of the season with a 21-20 victory over Charleston Southern on Saturday. Though the Commodores’ slim margin over an FCS team left little optimism, C.J. Duncan emerged as a true No. 1 option in Vanderbilt’s passing attack.

Duncan saw a season-best 119 yards on seven catches. The redshirt freshman scored his second touchdown of the season on a 65-yard pass from Johnny McCrary in the second quarter. Duncan leads Vanderbilt with 322 yards and 20 receptions for the season.

Saturday’s game was the first 100-yard performance for Duncan. His previous season-best came in Week 3 against Massachusetts in Vanderbilt’s only other win. Duncan’s only other touchdown came against South Carolina the following week.

It’s been a long road traveled for Duncan, who has less than a year of experience at wide receiver. The 5-foot-11, former star quarterback at St. James School in Montgomery, Ala., arrived on campus as an athlete in former head coach James Franklin’s 2013 signing class. He spent his redshirt season at quarterback and running back as a member of the scout team before being switched to receiver late in the year.

“I started taking some snaps at receiver and some Wildcat-type things,” Duncan told the Tennessean in August. “I just kind of had a natural thing going with receiver. I think the old staff realized that, and I like it as well, so once the new staff came I think they saw some of the same qualities.”

Duncan leads a young offense that has seen several changes through the season. However, the redshirt freshman has provided one of the few consistent performances on offense.

While Vanderbilt struggles to replace several key positions, no departure has been greater than all-time leading receiver Jordan Matthews. Though Duncan hasn’t put up the career statistics of Matthews, he’s provided the Commodores with a solid option at wideout. Duncan looks to continue his progression early in his career and remain Vanderbilt’s No. 1 option at wide receiver.