Sept. 20, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With less than six minutes left in the second quarter of Vanderbilt’s game against Alabama A&M, the Commodores blocked a punt at the Bulldogs’ 47-yard line. Freshman defensive lineman Jalen Pinkney chased after the loose ball, nearly scooping up what would’ve been a sure-fire touchdown return. But Pinkney couldn’t wrap his hands around the ball, forcing the freshman to fall on it at the A&M 18-yard line.
Jared Pinkney, Jalen’s older brother and a third-year sophomore tight end at Vanderbilt, streaked down the sideline as he watched his brother flirt with a would-be touchdown. After the play, Jared soon realized how close Jalen came to reaching the end zone.
“I didn’t even realize it until someone said something,” the older Pinkney said. “I was the first one down there — I almost got a penalty for running on the field. Then someone said, ‘Dude, Jalen could have scored.’ That’s when I told him, ‘Yeah, you did mess up! C’mon man!'”
A scoop-and-score would have added to the Pinkney legacy at Vanderbilt, the majority of which thus far has been authored by the older brother. Jared Pinkney has evolved into a dangerous pass-catching threat for the Commodores. Last season, Pinkney paced Vanderbilt’s tight ends with 22 catches for 274 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He started six games and earned Freshman All-SEC honors at season’s end.
This fall, Pinkney has reprised his role as a sturdy target in the Dores’ offense. He has nine catches for 125 yards through three games and is currently second on the team with two touchdown catches. Both scoring grabs came in that 42-0 win over Alabama A&M on Sept. 9, which set a single-game career high. Pinkney then hauled in a career-high 38-yard catch in last Saturday’s 14-7 win over No. 18 Kansas State.
Pinkney’s play has helped Vanderbilt begin the season 3-0 for the first time since 2011.
“It’s a combination of us working hard in the offseason, as well as all the offensive players taking it upon themselves to get to better individually and as a group,” Pinkney said. “We’re just buying into Coach [Andy] Ludwig’s scheme.”
With Pinkney in tow, Vanderbilt’s passing game has flourished. Junior quarterback Kyle Shurmur leads the SEC with a 71.0 completion percentage and has thrown nine touchdowns and no interceptions. That experience has worked wonders for Pinkney, who adds an extra element to an already seasoned receiving corps. Senior Trent Sherfield averages 19.5 yards per catch thus far, and sophomore Kalija Lipscomb leads all players with three touchdown receptions.
But senior tight end Nathan Marcus said his teammate Pinkney is the full package at tight end.
“He can do everything,” Marcus said. “He’s an incredible pass-catcher. His strength, both with his hands and blocking, he can catch every ball thrown his way. And along the line of scrimmage, he can block anyone.”
Pinkney admits to studying some of the greats at his position — Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Gates, to name two – with hopes of improving his own game. Pinkney’s game has been an asset thus far for Vanderbilt, which hosts No. 1 Alabama on Saturday (2:30 p.m. on CBS). The Crimson Tide present the biggest challenge yet of the Dores’ young season.
But Pinkney, for one, has clear eyes as he focuses on Saturday.
“We don’t fear anybody,” Pinkney said. “We respect Alabama. They’re really good. Everything about them is really good. But we’re really good, too.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.
