NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt football program will honor 11 seniors Saturday during the Commodores’ final home game of the season.
Vandy will take on arch-rival Tennessee (2-6, 2-6 SEC) at 3 p.m. at Vanderbilt Stadium and will be going for a fourth win in five contests against the Volunteers. The Dores (0-8, 0-8 SEC) will be looking for their first win of the 2020 season.
Here’s a closer look at those who will be recognized prior to kickoff Saturday:
TYRELL ALEXANDER
Alexander chose to spend the 2020 season competing for Vanderbilt after a successful career at Oklahoma State. The wide receiver has made two catches for 11 yards in eight games, recorded a rushing attempt and made two tackles on special teams.
The Texas native aims to become a licensed professional counselor to make an impact on the lives of teenagers and is pursuing a graduate degree in learning, diversity and urban studies.
DREW BIRCHMEIER
Birchmeier has been a key contributor to the Vandy program since arriving in 2016. After redshirting that season, the Virginia native played in 31 games and made 54 tackles as a defensive lineman.
This season Birchmeier, moved to the offensive side of the ball, where he has played in six games as a lineman. Birchmeier, who has shifted back to the defensive side of the ball this week, is pursuing a master’s degree in marketing after earning an undergraduate degree in law, history and society.
BRAYDEN DEVAULT-SMITH
DeVault-Smith has totaled 45 tackles in his career on West End as a linebacker. The Pearl-Cohn High School graduate made 23 stops in 2019 before making 14 in six games this season.
A sociology major, DeVault-Smith redshirted in 2017 before playing in all 13 games during the 2018 slate.
ALLAN GEORGE
George, a cornerback from Andalusia, Alabama, has accounted for 42 tackles – 2.5 for a loss – and broken up a pass in eight games in 2020. He made 39 stops – 4.0 for a loss – in 2019 to go along with an interception, 2.0 sacks, five pass breakups and a 67-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Majoring in medicine, health and society, George totaled 33 tackles in 12 games in 2018 after redshirting in 2017.
SCOTT MEYER
A long snapper, Meyer earned his undergraduate degree at Alabama before arriving in Nashville in 2019. He played in all 12 games in 2019 before appearing in seven games this fall.
Meyer, an Alpharetta, Georgia product, is pursuing a graduate degree in leadership and organizational performance.
CONNOR MIGNONE
Mignone came to West End to help bolster the Vanderbilt offensive line. He has played in eight games this season after graduating from Central Connecticut State.
The Connecticut native is looking to earn a master’s degree in data science and begin a career in sports analytics.
GRANT MILLER
A Fort Lauderdale, Florida, product, Miller has started all eight games at center for the Commodores in 2020. Miller, a team captain, has played 30 career games going into Saturday’s contest.
The human and organizational development redshirted in 2017 before emerging as a team leader for Vanderbilt.
ANDRE MINTZE
Mintze has done as much off the field for the Commodores as he has done on it.
A native of Philadelphia, Mintze created the Dancing Dores fundraiser in conjunction with Vanderbilt University’s Dance Marathon and raised more than $21,000 in the program’s first year and more than $40,000 in its second year.
Mintze, a team captain and a linebacker, has 73 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks over his career. The linebacker graduated with degrees in cinema and media arts and medicine, health and society and is working toward a master’s degree in medicine, health and society.
CAMERON ROBINSON
Robinson, from Mobile, Alabama, helped launch the Black Student-Athlete Group at Vanderbilt this fall and was a driving force in registering Vanderbilt students to vote before Election Day.
A medicine, health and society major, Robinson has played defensive line for the Commodores.
KEITHIAN STARLING
Starling, a Nashville native and Nashville Christian graduate, is an engineering science major and has been a key part of the program’s scout and special teams throughout his career. This fall, he has stepped up to fill a variety of special teams roles.
The wide receiver made his college debut in 2019.
JAMAURI WAKEFIELD
After an injury ended Wakefield’s 2019 season, the Florida product has rushed for 123 yards on 38 carries in four games in 2020.
The running back had 468 yards rushing in his first two seasons with the Commodores and is working toward a graduate degree in marketing after earning an undergraduate degree in political science.
