July 26, 2016
With seven letter winners returning from a year ago, the Vanderbilt defensive line appears to be one of the team’s deepest position groupings.
Among the returnees that first-year line coach C.J. Ah You will welcome next week are three interior tackles and two defensive ends who earned multiple starting assignments a year ago.
The Commodores feature Nifae Lealao (Jr.) and Jay Woods (R-Jr.) at the nose of their 3-4 defense. Lealao continued to develop his skills during Spring Ball after totaling 18 tackles and concluding the 2015 season with four straight starts. Woods, who topped all Vanderbilt defensive line returnees with 24 tackles and two forced fumbles as a five-game starter in 2015, missed much of spring drills with injury but is expected to make a full recovery this fall.
The defensive coaches believe redshirt freshman Darion DeBrossard can join Lealao and Woods as a valuable contributor in the interior of Vanderbilt’s line.
Fifth-year seniors Torey Agee and Adam Butler also are proven performers who have the versatility to handle all three defensive line responsibilities. Agee had his best year as a Commodore in 2015, contributing a pair of quarterback sacks among 17 tackles. Butler, who has 20.5 tackles for loss in a career that includes 22 starts, registered three sacks and 18 tackles as a junior.
At end, the Commodores can match Jonathan Wynn (R-Jr.) and Nehemiah Mitchell (Sr.) with Agee and Butler. After playing outside linebacker in 2014, Wynn contributed 21 tackles and added three tackles for loss as a four-game starter at end last year. Mitchell moved to end during spring drills after registering 24 tackles in 2015 as a run-stopping outside linebacker.
Two young Commodores who flashed in Spring Ball, sophomore Dare Odeyingbo and junior Riley Tindol, could develop valuable roles with impressive preseason camps.
Recent signees Drew Birchmeier, Josiah Sa’o and Cameron Tidd also will be plenty of repetitions in August to evaluate their readiness for the upcoming season.
Season ticket packages available
Vanderbilt will open the regular season by hosting Southeastern Conference East opponent South Carolina on Thursday, Sept. 1 in Vanderbilt Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT. Besides South Carolina, the Commodores also host Middle Tennessee on Sept. 10, Florida on Oct. 1, Tennessee State for homecoming on Oct. 22, Ole Miss on Nov. 19, and Tennessee on Nov. 26.
Season tickets are available for the Commodore home slate starting at $135 for end-zone locations and only $250 for premium sideline seats in Vanderbilt Stadium.
Tickets can be purchased online or via the phone at (615) 322-GOLD (4653). The Vanderbilt Ticket Office also is open during regular hours on weekends in McGugin Athletics Center, 2601 Jess Neely Drive, Nashville.