Aug. 1, 2016
The Commodores return an athletic defensive secondary that features one of the Southeastern Conference’s leading cornerback duos.
The youthful secondary includes just one senior performer among 10 returnees who played significant minutes a year ago.
This year, Head Coach Derek Mason and secondary coach Marc Mattioli will look for the unit to create more turnovers. In 2015, the Commodores produced just six interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
The secondary is topped by senior Torren McGaster and junior Tre Herndon. They return after starting every game at cornerback last year.
McGaster, an all-conference caliber player, was one of the league’s most active defensive backs in 2015, registering 13 defensed passes and 41 solo tackles. Herndon impressed as a first-year starter last year, notching 35 solo tackles among 47 total stops.
Redshirt junior Taurean Ferguson is a seven-game career starter who could push McGaster and Herndon at cornerback. Ferguson has 43 tackles and a pair of interceptions during his career.
Three young cornerbacks – redshirt sophomore Bryce Lewis, sophomore Donovan Sheffield and freshman early enrollee Joejuan Williams – impressed during Spring Ball and will contend for substantial roles this year.
At safety, the Commodores lost a pair of starters, but return three veterans eager for expanded roles in redshirt junior and 2015 co-captain Ryan White, and juniors Arnold Tarpley and Emmanuel Smith. All three bring starting experience from a year ago to the safety position.
White enjoyed his finest year in 2015, providing excellent leadership while contributing 28 tackles, a forced fumble and interception. Tarpley contributed 36 total tackles as an eight-game starter. Smith also produced double-digit tackles from the secondary.
Redshirt junior Jalen Banks, sophomores LaDarius Wiley and Andrew Rector, and freshman early enrollee Zaire Jones will get plenty of opportunities this summer looking to break into the rotation.
Besides Williams and Jones, the Commodores’ 2016 signing class also includes cornerbacks Frank Coppet and Elijah Hamilton, and safety Austin Quillen.
Season tickets, individual tickets to three early games available
The Commodores open their regular season Thursday, Sept. 1, hosting SEC East opponent South Carolina in Vanderbilt Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
Besides South Carolina, the Vanderbilt home slate includes 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 remain available, starting at $135 for end-zone locations and only $250 for premium sideline seats in Vanderbilt Stadium.
Starting Monday, Aug. 1, fans can also purchase individual tickets to three games: South Carolina ($55), Middle Tennessee ($30) and Tennessee State ($30). Single-game tickets for the Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee games will go on sale at a later date.
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 in Nashville.