NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt sophomore wide receiver C.J. Bolar has hauled in two touchdown receptions during his young career as a Commodore.
As he returns to his home state this weekend, could a third be coming soon?
“I’m going in with the mindset to win. If a touchdown will help that, then, that’s what I’ll try to do,” he said this week. “The mindset is to go in and win – and it’d be nice to get a win in the home state.”
Bolar grew up in Purvis, Mississippi, just outside of Hattiesburg – home to Southern Mississippi. His mother actually attended Southern Mississippi, so Bolar said he never really had any prior allegiance to Vandy’s SEC rivals Ole Miss or Mississippi State.
And just like him, Bolar said the 15 (likely more) friends and family coming to cheer him on this weekend won’t be tested in which team to root for when the Commodores (1-3, 0-2 SEC) and Rebels (2-3, 1-1 SEC) meet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on the SEC Network.
“If they’re there, they’re in black and gold,” Bolar said. “They have to be.”
Bolar has a reception in every game this season and actually has a catch in 15 consecutive games. His first career touchdown came Oct. 20 at Kentucky and his second, of course, came against Ole Miss on Nov. 17 in Nashville.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound graduate of Purvis High School has six receptions for 42 yards through four games this fall. Now he gets to continue his impactful play back home in the Magnolia State.
“I’m excited. Excited to go back home and play in front a lot of my family,” Bolar said. “They don’t get to make it many games just because of where they are.
“Excited to play against (Ole Miss).”
