Aug. 2, 2016
Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Mason has made substantial changes since the 2015 season intended to upgrade Commodore special teams.
The most significant move was to attract Jeff Genyk aboard to coordinate the units. Genyk, a former collegiate head coach who comes to Vanderbilt following successful stints at two Big Ten schools, will look to improve return and coverage squads that ranked low in the Southeastern Conference. Mason and Genyk focused attention to all aspects of special teams during Spring Ball.
One of Genyk’s priorities is to lessen the workload on junior Tommy Openshaw. Genyk plans to have Openshaw, a dual kicker-punter last year, concentrate on placekicking where he has All-SEC potential. As a sophomore, Openshaw made 12 of 19 field goals, including seven of 11 from 40 yards and beyond, but tired late in the season.
Junior walk-on Hayden Lekacz will compete with Openshaw for the kicking duties. Lekacz also brings experience as a kickoff specialist.
Junior Reid Nelson or freshman Sam Loyare likely candidates to handle the team’s punting responsibilities.
Seniors Jacob Schultz and Wilson Johnson are expected to handle the Commodores’ snap responsibilities. Schultz, who performed all snapping chores for much of the 2015 season, likely will snap for all conversions. Johnson is expected to be the team’s long snapper. Junior Davis Winkie will compete with Schultz and Johnson for the snapping roles.
Senior Darrius Sims, junior Dallas Rivers and junior Ralph Webb are expected to compete at kick returner, where the 2015 Commodores averaged less than 20 yards for the first time in seven years. Sims was one of the SEC’s most explosive returners earlier in his career, averaging 24.5 yards as a sophomore in 2014.
Three juniors – C.J. Duncan, Ryan White and Trey Ellis – are potential punt returners for the Commodores.
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.
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.