Vaughn caps season with electric performance in Texas Bowl

HOUSTON – Vanderbilt fans spent much of the 2018 season in awe of Ke’Shawn Vaughn’s breakaway ability in the backfield.
 
But in the Texas Bowl against Baylor, Vaughn took things up a notch.
 
Vaughn, a redshirt junior running back who capped his first season as a starter with the Commodores in Thursday’s 45-38 loss to the Bears, stole the show with a stat-stuffing performance in Houston. Vaughn scampered for a Vanderbilt bowl record and Texas Bowl record 243 yards on 13 carries (18.7 yards per carry). He also ran for touchdowns of 68 yards and 69 yards on the night.
 
Unfortunately for Vanderbilt, Vaughn’s performance wasn’t enough to secure a bowl victory. But the Nashville native managed to solidify his place as a game-changing running back on a national stage, with much of ESPN’s audience getting their first glimpse of Vaughn’s ankle-breaking skillset.
 
“Ke’Shawn Vaughn – special player,” Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason said. “Obviously, he had a banner day.”
 
Vaughn started his evening with a 68-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, which gave Vanderbilt an early 14-10 lead over Baylor. He added to his day with a 69-yard scoring scamper in the second quarter that helped send the Dores to halftime leading 21-17. In the final period, Vaughn broke free for a 66-yard rush that was stopped on the Baylor 1-yard line. But that run led to a Khari Blasingame touchdown on the very next play.

He. Could. Go. All. The. Way. AGAIN!!

Can’t stop Ke’Shawn Vaughn. ? pic.twitter.com/aKC8lTmV3Q

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 28, 2018

 
In all, Vaughn’s 68- and 69-yard touchdown runs finished as the second- and third-longest scoring runs in Texas Bowl history. Per the SEC Network, Vaughn’s 243 yards stood as the most by an SEC player in a game this season, and his 18.7 yards-per-carry average was the most by any player in a bowl game in the last 15 seasons.
 
“He’s got that big-play ability you just can’t teach,” Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur said. “You guys saw it — he had some huge runs that kept us in the game. He’s got that inherit ability that makes him special.”
 
Vaughn finished the season with 1,244 rushing yards, second-most in a single season in program history behind Ralph Webb (1,283), the Commodores’ all-time leading rusher. Vaughn is just the sixth 1,000-yard rusher in Vanderbilt history, and he ended his season with 10 runs of 40 or more yards; no other SEC player has more than four.
 
An electric bowl game behind him, Vaughn now must make a decision concerning his NFL future. One season of eligibility remains for the redshirt junior if he chooses to return to Vanderbilt. Vaughn announced no such decision after the Texas Bowl, but Mason said his running back’s performance against Baylor – no matter how prolific – will not be the determining factor.
 
“I think Ke’Shawn will get the information from the NFL and really respond to that information accordingly,” Mason said. “The reality is, he’s always been a good back. I mean, I don’t think that’s changed. I think he’s an elite back … But I’ve always said he’s special. That’s why I wanted Ke’Shawn back here at Vanderbilt and I’m glad to have him, and as of now he’s a Commodore.”
 
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.