July 21, 2017
Throughout the summer, VUCommodores.com is featuring Vanderbilt football returnees who are relentless, tough and intelligent.
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Much of Jonathan Wynn’s summer has taken place in the weight room at Vanderbilt’s McGugin Center, where the senior enters 2017 as a leader on the Commodores’ defense. But a few times a week, the Vanderbilt defensive lineman is sometimes spotted at another school: Nashville State Community College.
Wynn is nearing the end of a summer internship in the admissions office at Nashville State. There, the senior handles a variety of duties, all of which help cultivate a potential career path for Wynn.
“I really want to do something in education, working with student-athletes as a counselor or a peer advisor,” said Wynn, who majors in educational studies and history at Vanderbilt. “This internship has given me an experience close to that. It’s shown me what it’s like to work in higher education, especially in the administrative part.”
Within his Nashville State internship, Wynn helps with peer advising and clerical work such as sifting through transcriptions. Wynn even leads tours of campus as part of the school’s orientation. But perhaps most importantly, the Vanderbilt senior has been able to experience another side of higher education.
“I’ve gotten a chance to see a different viewpoint on college,” Wynn said. “Being here at Vanderbilt, my bubble has been in private school. But going to Nashville State has opened up my perspective.”
Wynn has learned plenty during his time at Vanderbilt. Much of that learning has taken place on the field, where Wynn will shoulder a bigger leadership role on the Dores’ defense this fall. The 6-5, 265-pound end returns up front after starting 10 games last season, when he set single-season career-highs in solo tackles (20) and total stops (28). Wynn was especially productive in Vanderbilt’s final two wins of the regular season, notching a sack vs. Ole Miss and recording a career-high five total tackles against Tennessee.
But Vanderbilt lost departed linemen Adam Butler and Torey Agee as it entered spring practice in 2017. Butler was one of the Dores’ most disruptive defenders in 2016, when he led the team with four sacks.
This spring, defensive line coach C.J. Ah You directed Wynn to fill the void vacated by Butler. That responsibility now lingers for the senior, on and off the field.
“Adam did a lot of tough work,” Wynn said. “But for me, it’s all about the mindset, about keeping the boys in control and getting these young linemen to step up, as well.”
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason said Wynn represents a key piece to the committee approach of the Dores’ defensive front.
“It’s what is going to happen up front,” Mason said. “You talk about Nifae Lealao. You talk about Jay Woods. You talk about Jonathan Wynn. Those guys play a lot of football in this conference. It’s 3-4 structure. Those guys’ jobs are to make sure they keep guys off those linebackers.”
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Wynn’s job, first and foremost, is to fortify Vanderbilt’s defensive front. The Commodores ranked last in the SEC with 15 sacks in 2016. Getting to the quarterback will be one of Wynn’s priorities, especially with Vanderbilt’s most veteran-laden defense in Mason’s tenure. That group loses All-American linebacker Zach Cunningham but brings back senior linebacker Oren Burks and a deep secondary headlined by senior safety Ryan White and senior cornerback Tre Herndon.
But veterans like Wynn strive for more than an eye-popping sheet. They hope to lead Vanderbilt to an SEC championship.
“We know that because we have a lot of seniors, we expect greatness,” Wynn said. “We want to do better than last year. For us seniors, this is our last go-round. We want to make our impact. We want to do something huge. We want to leave a legacy on this program.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics. Check out his story archive and follow him on Twitter here.
