NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While watching the No. 18/20 Vanderbilt football team this season, you may see a flash of long blond hair flying across the field—something resembling a snake perhaps. This “sea snake,” a nickname he earned in his first collegiate game, is none other than one of the Commodores’ newest safeties, CJ Heard.
A sophomore transfer from Florida Atlantic, Heard has made himself stand out on Vandy’s roster for more reasons than his easily spotted hairdo. In his first game as a Commodore, Heard picked off a pass from Charleston Southern’s quarterback, his first career interception. He followed up that performance with five tackles, one for loss, and a sack at Virginia Tech.
CJ Heard with the pick! pic.twitter.com/QmUh5sYSmT
— #18 Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) August 30, 2025
Consistency and trust in the process powered his immediate impact on this Commodore team. The summer before coming to Nashville, Heard and his trainer, TJ, spent time developing his range on the field. The tackling was there, but mobility was an area of focus. Heard’s offseason work has earned him a starting spot in each of Vandy’s first four games.
“He does a good with his process with studying and taking care of his body,” assistant coach Melvin Rice said of Heard. “He shows up where he needs to be every time. You can always count on him to be one of the first people in the building.”
Both Heard and Rice highlighted his tackling ability as an on-field strength. It was one of the first things Rice noticed about Heard when he entered the transfer portal.
“He runs to the football,” Rice said. “He tackles the football really well.”
Heard made a statement in his first SEC matchup, making a team-high 12 tackles at No. 11/10 South Carolina, one short of his career high. So far this season, he leads the Dores with 21 tackles. For his performance in Columbia, Heard was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week.
“It was fast,” Heard said of the transition from the American Conference to the SEC.
“I felt like the AAC prepared me well,” he continued. “I felt like I was up to speed when I got here. It was just more communication, and I had to get used to that.”
Heard’s effort and tenacity were intangibles that also stuck out to Rice in the recruiting process.
“Coach Lea tells us that it’s always bigger than football,” Heard said. “I play the game like it’s all I got. Every time on the field, you’re going to see me flying around. My plays might not be beautiful, but every time you’re going to see me flying around.”
In high school, Heard had committed to play at Florida State but suffered an injury and decommitted late in the recruiting process. He ended up playing his freshman season at Florida Atlantic where he garnered third-team all-conference honors and led the Owls with 82 tackles.
“That’s my why,” Heard said. “They told me I couldn’t play that level and stuff like that, so every day I’m just grinding.”
This season, Heard has found himself as a key contributor on a 4-0 Vanderbilt football team, currently ranked in the top 20 of both the Associated Press and AFCA coaches’ polls.
“I feel like it fits me,” he said about Vanderbilt’s underdog mentality. “That’s why I came here. I’ve been an underdog my whole life in everything I do. I felt like it was only right I came to Vandy.”
As far as his goals for the season, Heard is focused on being the best player he can be and has his sights set on All-SEC honors.
“I want to be the best player I can be for this team,” Heard said. “I want to win the national championship. I want to be an All-SEC safety to show I can do it and be the best player I can be.”
Heard and the nationally-ranked Vanderbilt football team wrap up nonconference play on Saturday when the Commodores host Utah State in FirstBank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11:45 a.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network and 102.5 The Game.
