May 27, 2013
Nashville-based Athlon Sports is offering a custom Vanderbilt cover for its 2013 Southeastern Conference College Football annual.
The Vanderbilt-themed cover, entitled “Franklin & the #FlyBoyz,” features Head Coach James Franklin and Commodore wide receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd.
The 216-page Athlon SEC edition, considered one of the most in-depth and respected publications of college football’s busy preview season, is expected to be available later this week in select Nashville bookstores, including the Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt University on West End Avenue.
The magazine also is available online at shop.athlonsports.com.
Athlon editors are predicting a third consecutive bowl appearance for the Commodores, coming off a 9-4 2012 campaign capped with a 38-24 victory over NC State in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. The magazine predicts a second straight 8-4 regular season record for the Commodores, and a postseason trip to theGator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.
Athlon does not feature Vanderbilt in its preseason Top 25, despite the fact the Commodores finished 2012 ranked No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 23 in the Associated Press Poll.
Vanderbilt is ranked No. 28 in the Athlon ballot.
Several Vanderbilt players, including wide receiver Jordan Matthews, cornerback Andre Hal, placekicker Carey Spear, offensive lineman Wesley Johnson, safety Kenny Ladler, punt returner Jonathan Krause and defensive end Walker May, are recognized in the magazine.
Matthews, coming off a remarkable season when he amassed 94 catches and 1,343-receiving yards, was listed as a Second Team All-America wide receiver. Hal, an All-SEC pick last year, was named as a Second Team All-America cornerback.
Matthews, Hal and Spear are listed on Athlon’s First Team All-SEC squad. Johnson, Ladler and Krause are named Second Team All-SEC, with May garnering third team recognition.
The magazine sees Vanderbilt to go 4-4 in its SEC games, resulting in a fourth place finish in the SEC Eastern Division.
