July 31, 2013
Photos
NASHVILLE – While young Commodore players arrived in Music City Wednesday in cars filled with electronics and clothing, fifth-year senior defensive end Walker May only needed a single walk to carry all of his provisions into his new on-campus accommodations.
May entered the Branscomb Quad dorm holding only pillow and sheets, a thin assortment of clothes and a recommended book. While May and other Vanderbilt vets travelled lightly, some younger players burned a path between vehicles and rooms carrying their belongings. Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Adam Butler emptied a vehicle, carrying a flat-screen TV, boxes of gear among and much more. Moving temporarily from another dorm across campus, Butler also entered Branscomb with four goldfish in tow.
More than 100 Commodore football prospects will call Branscomb home for the next two weeks as Head Coach James Franklin opens his third preseason camp Thursday afternoon.
For Franklin, who has guided the Commodores to a 15-11 overall record and consecutive bowl appearances in his first two seasons on campus, the start of camp can’t get here soon enough.
“We are ready to go,” Franklin said. “Everybody within the program, the coaches, players and staff, is excited to get back on the field. Coach (Dwight) Galt said the guys had a great summer. We look completely different than when we came here.
“We have more depth than ever before, so I expect this to be an unbelievably competitive camp,” Franklin added.
The Commodores, coming off a 9-4 campaign and riding a seven-game win streak, return to the practice field Thursday afternoon, with daily sessions scheduled through Saturday.
Vanderbilt players echoed the sentiments of their head coach.
“This is my last camp and I’m just glad to be back,” May said. “I’ll cherish the time with my teammates and focusing on everybody getting better during camp.”
“As a team, we’ve all gotten stronger, faster, and more familiar with the playbook. It has been a great summer, so now it’s really time to get to work,” redshirt junior receiver Chris Boyd said.
The four-week camp will prepare the Commodores for their much-anticipated opener against Southeastern Conference Western Division rival Ole Miss. Kickoff for the opener, scheduled Thursday, Aug. 29, is 8:15 p.m.
Franklin returns more than 40 letter winners from the 2012 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl championship squad. On offense, seven starters are back, including Boyd, All-Southeastern Conference wide receiver Jordan Matthews, and offensive lineman Wesley Johnson. Eight defensive starters also are back, including All-SEC cornerback Andre Hal, linebacker Chase Garnham and safeties Kenny Ladler and Javon Marshall. All-Conference kicker Carey Spear and punt return specialist Jonathan Krause top the team’s returning specialists.