NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt is hoping its group of wide receivers, a mix of proven veterans and talented youngsters, can be a strength of the offense in 2021.
Vandy returns all four of its top wideouts from 2020 giving the team’s passing game some cautious optimism about the ability to make plays down the field come September.
“We’re bringing back a lot of dudes,” Vanderbilt sophomore quarterback Ken Seals said. “I really like them and really enjoy playing with them and have all the confidence in the world in them. I’m going to them I trust them, third down, whatever the situation is , whoever it is I’m throwing to they have my full confidence.”
The familiar quartet of Cam Johnson, Amir Abdur-Rahman, Chris Pierce and Will Sheppard, who combined for 110 catches for 1,352 yards and nine touchdowns a season ago, give the Commodores a solid foundation in the wide receiver room. Veteran Tyrell Alexander also played in all nine games for the Dores in 2020 and figures to be among those earning valuable reps in 2021.
Logan Kyle, Quincy Skinner, Gamarion Carter and Devin Boddie are waiting in the wings for their opportunity to make an impression.
“I think the competition has been great,” Johnson said. “We got so many different receivers that bring so many different and special gifts to the room that it has definitely made the competition go up and made guys go harder. Right now we’re just trying to figure out how to practice, how to go hard every rep and the guys who do that are going to be the guys that rise to the top.
“That’s the culture we’re trying to set within our room and I think the different gifts that we have are also going to show at the same time.”
Johnson will be counted on to lead the group as he begins his fourth season with the program. The Brentwood Academy product is 10 receptions short of 100 for his career and 94 yards shy of 1,000.
Alongside Pierce and Abdur-Rahman, Johnson figures to be among the starting wide receivers come Sept. 4 at Vanderbilt Stadium against East Tennessee State. But Sheppard had a standout spring and has been impressive through five days of fall camp in challenging for a starting job.
Sheppard caught 24 touchdowns and racked up more than 1,200 receiving yards as a senior at Mandeville (Louisiana) High School. He caught touchdown passes of 62, 24 and 6 yards during the spring game in April.
The emergence of Sheppard and the depth provided by the talented corps of youngsters could give the Commodores a very strong unit at wide receiver.
“That group has a chance,” Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said. “We have some good players with experience, but they need to learn that leadership piece and really pull the young aspect of that group with them.”
Vanderbilt is scheduled to resume preseason practice at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the team sixth practice of the fall in first in full pads.
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
