NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As the 2022 season-opener approaches, Vanderbilt is working to strengthen and piece together a defensive line that has been hindered somewhat by injuries this preseason.
When the Commodores take the field Aug. 27 there will still be some recognizable veterans on the field, but also some youngsters and newcomers that Vandy hopes can make an impact sooner than later.
“Those young guys? If I’m a young guy I am ready to roll,” Vanderbilt defensive line coach Larry Black said. “I preach that to my guys now I don’t want any drop off. I don’t care if you’re a freshman, fifth-year senior – if I got an injured guy I’m stepping up and I’m going to line up. Injuries are a part of the game, but that’s also an opportunity for young guys to step in and I feel like we got a really good group of young talent in our D-line so I’m exciting about them.”
During Vanderbilt’s Thursday morning practice, the 12th of fall camp for the Commodores, Malik Langham, Myles Cecil and Elijah McAllister were lining up with the first-team defense on the line of scrimmage. McAllister, a fifth-year senior, has 49 career stops while Langham has recorded 19 in two seasons with the Commodores after starting his career at Florida.
Cecil transferred into the program from California Polytechnic where he registered 43 tackles (6 1/2 for a loss), an interception and two sacks last season.
Behind that trio has been a secondary group getting plenty of repetitions with the first-team defense as well in Nate Clifton, Michael Owusu, Christian James and Kevo Wesley (a former offensive lineman).
“At first, I didn’t like the fire we were playing with, so I lit a little match under them,” Black said of his group. “These guys have been responding and I’ve been proud of the effort I’ve been seeing the past couple practices and the past week.
“We just got to keep stacking those good days. It goes back to our covenants and pride in everything we do. We have to have that daily.”
Vandy is currently without the services of Daevion Davis, Devin Lee or converted offensive lineman Brayden Bapst, all of whom are recovering from injury and likely won’t be available for the season’s first contest. Their absence has given youngsters like true freshmen Darren Agu, Bradley Mann, Yilanan Ouattara and BJ Diakite some opportunities to make plays.
Whether those youngsters make an impact Aug. 27 at Hawai’i remains to be seen – and now is not the time to be concerned with that yet, anyway.
“The guys are working hard. Guys are learning, guys are grinding and guys are getting better each day,” Vandy defensive ends coach Jovan Haye said. “It’s a marathon so we’re not going to look ahead. We’re going to be where our feet are.”
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt Athletics for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
