NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt run game coordinator and running backs coach Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford has been selected to participate in the AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute it was announced by the organization on Monday.
The institute, presented by Riddell InSite Analytics, is a prestigious program designed to identify and develop premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance. To be eligible, applicants must be 35 years old or younger on Jan. 1 of that year’s convention and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, a two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or an NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time assistant or head coach.
Muhammad-Lankford is in his second season on the Commodore staff working with the program’s running backs, with his efforts helping Vandy make back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since competing in three straight bowls from 2011-13. Under his direction, the junior duo of Sedrick Alexander and Makhilyn Young have combined to post 970 yards and 17 touchdowns this fall while averaging 6.6 yards per attempt. AJ Newberry has scored three touchdowns and Jamezell Lassiter has gained just under 16 yards per carry as well as the Dores are averaging 185.9 yards per contest on the ground, their highest figure since the 1994 campaign.
Individually, Alexander ranks fifth in the SEC with 11 rushing touchdowns and is ninth in scoring having reached the end zone 15 times this season. Last year, his first under Muhammad-Lankford’s guidance, he ran for 586 yards and had 23 receptions for 238 yards, all career-high totals.
Over the last two seasons, Commodore running backs have lost only three fumbles on 581 combined snaps to help Vanderbilt rank among the top two in the conference and top 20 in the country in the category both years. This fall, his efforts have helped the Dores lead the nation in yards per play as well as top the SEC in yards per rush and rushing touchdowns.
Muhammad-Lankford came to Vandy from New Mexico State, where he served as the Aggies’ running backs coach for two seasons. He has also been on staffs at Illinois State (2019-21), Southeast Missouri (2016-18), Missouri (2014-15) and Wyoming (2013) since earning his undergraduate degree from the latter school in 2013.
He and his wife, Taryn, have two children, Eliyaas and Mila.
Muhammad-Lankford and the Commodores accepted an invitation to the ReliaQuest Bowl Sunday and will play Iowa on Dec. 31.
