NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If Vanderbilt makes big strides in 2023, in both the win column and in offensive production, it may have no further to look than up front.
Vandy returns a wealth of experience and talent in the trenches. That’s been apparent this spring when watching the first-team offense operate with five offensive linemen who were all starters for the Commodores at some point during the 2022 campaign.
“It’s amazing. Just being able to play with the same guys that I rolled with from (games against) Kentucky and Florida, whether it’s being down two touchdowns or up a touchdown, that’s something that you can’t really replicate,” senior Junior Uzebu said. “Being with the same guys it’s also like a brotherhood, understanding how they think, how they process things, you can just tell whether their head’s down or their body language how they’re feeling. Being able to read each other is like a true brotherhood.”
Uzebu, at right tackle has been among that group of linemen this spring playing with the No. 1 offense. Opposite of him at left tackle has been Gunnar Hansen, Delfin Xavier Castillo at left guard, Julian Hernandez at center and Bradley Ashmore at right guard.
That quintet combined for 38 starts and 40 appearances in 2022.
“I think we’ve got seven guys coming back for us who have started football games. I think it creates competition. So that makes us better now,” Vandy offensive line coach AJ Blazek said. “A guy who has maybe played a year in Hansen, good player, can’t go to practice and say, ‘Oh it was just a bad day.’ Because there is someone on his heels.
“The healthy part of our room is it’s competitive. They are, in a good way, helping each other grow. But the competition has made the room better. And our young guys have caught up to the standard pretty fast.”
Providing some of that competition behind the first include junior Gage Pitchford, who played in 11 games last season, senior Kevo Wesley, who has played on both sides of the ball during his three-year career, and sophomore David Siegel. There are also a handful of sophomore who used the 2022 slate as a redshirt season which allowed them to grow both on the field and in the weight room.
Vanderbilt signed five offensive linemen in December, giving the program even more depth when fall camp begins in August. But for now Blazek has been pleased with the familiar group he has.
“I think in the offseason they worked really hard,” Blazek said. “(Director of strength and conditioning Brandon) Hourigan and his crew and the strength staff, they bought into some of the little detailed things we were really focusing on. They came to spring ball with a little bit of a hungry attitude. It’s been fun to watch.
“They got to work every day. It’s who we are. Whether it’s a good day or a bad day, when that next day shows up they start from scratch. They know it’s not going to be linear, but we’re moving in the right direction right now.”
Working the Wideouts
Will Sheppard’s name is on the marquee, but the Vandy senior wide receiver has plenty around him for a supporting cast.
The Commodores have their top-four receivers back from 2022 giving the Vanderbilt offense hope it will be able to stretch the field in more ways than one in 2023.
“Chemistry is one of the biggest things that we’re pinpointing this year, having chemistry with the quarterback and guys who have been in the offense continuing to keep growing within the offense,” junior Quincy Skinner said. “It’ll make a big impact.”
Skinner made 17 grabs for 238 yards and hauled in two touchdowns in nine games last season. Sophomore Jayden McGowan had 44 receptions for 453 yards and three scores during his debut campaign and Gamarion Carter had six catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.
But the main target in the Vandy passing game was Sheppard. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Louisianian is 617 yards away from 2,000 for his career.
“I think now being the oldest in the room I have to take on more of a leadership role,” Sheppard said about 2023. “Before I was behind Cam (Johnson), Chris (Pierce), Amir (Abdur-Rahman)—all those guys. Now I’m the oldest.”
A few of the aforementioned Commodores on the current roster have been limited this spring due to minor injuries. That has allowed some of the younger wideouts to get valuable reps with the first and second offensive units.
Vandy has three incoming freshmen expected to join the program this summer as well.
“For me as a coach, obviously it’s your job to develop the room,” Vanderbilt wide receivers coach Alex Bailey said. “When you have guys that aren’t available, that just allows for other guys to step up and get those opportunities. Specifically for us, we got a group of young guys in our room that can benefit from that.
“That’s been exciting to see them actually get out there and get those reps. It’s been good to see.”
Stiegelmeier on Campus
Former South Dakota State head coach John Stiegelmeier came to the McGugin Center this week to watch the Commodores in action.
Stiegelmeier retired in January after leading the Jackrabbits to their first Football Championship Subdivision national title Jan. 8. The 26-season veteran won 199 games.
Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea was Stiegelmeier’s linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2007-08, Lea’s first full-time coaching job of his career.
Scrimmage Again
Vanderbilt will again scrimmage at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Ensworth’s First campus. That will be the second of three spring scrimmages for the Commodores, the third of which is the program’s annual spring game at 5 p.m. April 8.
Saturday’s scrimmage is scheduled to last approximately two hours and is open to the public.
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
