Dixon’s Bio 
| East’s Bio | Taylor’s Bio
Townsend’s Bio | Woestmann’s Bio
April 30, 2015
For five former Vanderbilt standouts hoping to further their careers in the National Football League, this weekend needs to bring opportunity.
The NFL Draft has finally arrived for the Commodore seniors — defensive linemen Barron Dixon and Vince Taylor, snapper Andrew East, center Joe Townsend and outside linebacker-defensive end Kyle Woestmann. The seven-round draft starts Thursday night, and continues Friday and Saturday from Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre.
The 2015 draft is not expected to be as friendly to the Commodores as the 2014 edition, when three former Vanderbilt players were selected: receiver Jordan Matthews, by Philadelphia in the second round; offensive lineman Wesley Johnson, by Pittsburgh in the fifth round; and cornerback Andre Hal, by Houston in the seventh round.
The draft is just the initial NFL route for the five Commodores. When it ends late Saturday, franchises scour the nation signing top rookie free agents. Two Commodores from a year ago, safety Kenny Ladler (Buffalo) and receiver Jonathan Krause (New England), realized their pro dreams after signing free agent deals.
Most draft analysts expect Taylor, a 6-2, 315-pound nose tackle who enjoyed his best year as a Commodore in 2014, with the best chance to get picked. He is likely to be coveted in the later rounds.
Taylor, who is confident in his chances to get selected, doesn’t plan to sit in front of a television through the weekend. He’ll be hanging out with friends and other draft-eligible training playersin Hattiesburg, Miss., where he’s been working out since Vanderbilt’s season concluded.
“I feel good about my chances and I think I’ve shown several teams that I’d be a good draft pick, but I’m really not worrying about it because there’s nothing I can do now,” Taylor said. “I’ll stay close to the phone and hope a team calls.”
East, regarded among the nation’s elite snap specialists, is traveling to Chicago on Saturday, but not to visit the draft proceedings. Instead, East plans to join family members and friends at Wrigley Field for a Cubs-Brewers afternoon game. Afterward, he plans to watch the Kentucky Derby and Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao boxing match.
East will join a select company if he’s picked. Only four true snappers have ever been drafted, the last being Tyler Schmitt by Seattle in 2008.
Woestmann and Townsend, both multiple-year starters and co-captains for the Commodores, will follow the draft from their family residences in Marietta, Ga., and Hendersonville, Tenn., respectively. Dixon also will be with family and friends just north of Atlanta.
Vanderbilt-NFL Draft Facts
· Since the draft was reduced to its current seven-round format in 1994, the most Vanderbilt players selected came in 2001 when four Commodores were taken: LB Jamie Winborn (2nd round), LB Matt Stewart (4rd round), PK John Markham (5th round), and DB Jimmy Williams (6th round).
· Six Commodores have been selected twice, in 1956 and 1959, when the draft extended beyond 30 rounds.
· 2011 was the last year no Vanderbilt players were picked.
· The only Commodore taken No. 1 overall was quarterback Bill Wade by the Los Angeles Rams in 1952. Wade eventually guided the Chicago Bears to a NFL world championship.
· Wade is one of nine all-time Commodores selected in the first round. The others are OL Chris Williams (No. 14 by Chicago, 2008), QB Jay Cutler (No. 11 by Denver, 2005), OL Will Wolford (No. 20 by Buffalo, 1986), CB Leonard Coleman (No. 8 by Baltimore Colts, 1984), RB Tom Moore (No. 5 by Green Bay, 1960), RB Phil King (No. 12 by N.Y. Giants, 1958), RB Charley Horton (No. 11 by Los Angeles Rams, 1956) and RB Jack Jenkins (No. 10 by Washington, 1943).