NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Four Vanderbilt football players were named Preseason All-SEC by Athlon Sports in the publication’s 2023 college football preview.
Wide receiver Will Sheppard and safety CJ Taylor were selected for the third team, while offensive lineman Bradley Ashmore and punter Matthew Hayball made the fourth team.
Will Sheppard • Senior • WR
Sheppard led Vanderbilt with 60 catches for 776 yards and nine touchdowns last season, earning second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press. He caught the game-winning touchdown pass at Kentucky and had three games with two touchdown receptions.
CJ Taylor • Junior • S
Taylor played in all 12 games as a sophomore last season, making 59 tackles with 7.0 for loss, an interception and two fumble returns for touchdowns. He made a season-best 10 tackles in the victory over Florida and returned fumbles for scores against Missouri and Hawai’i.
Bradley Ashmore • Senior • OL
Ashmore started nine games last year, playing all 518 snaps at right guard before suffering a season-ending injury that caused him to miss a game for the first time in his collegiate career. He did not allow a sack in 2022 and was flagged for just three penalties. He posted the highest Pro Football Focus pass block grade by a Commodore on the season in the win over Hawai’i.
Matthew Hayball • Graduate • P
Hayball punted 59 times for an average of 45.36 yards last season, his first as a Commodore. His average ranked second in the SEC and 11th nationally, while also coming in as the fourth-best punting average in Vanderbilt history. His long kick came in at 65 yards, while he pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line on 21 occasions. The Ray Guy Watch List member also forced a fumble at Alabama.
Vanderbilt and third-year head coach Clark Lea open the 2023 season on Aug. 26 when Hawai’i visits FirstBank Stadium. Click here to purchase season tickets.
