Vanderbilt Commodores (2-5)
South Carolina Gamecocks (3-5)
Nov. 2, 2019 • 6:30 p.m. CT
Williams-Brice Stadium • 80,250
Columbia, S.C.
VUCommodores.com
Twitter • @VandyFootball
Instagram • @VandyFootball
Facebook • VanderbiltAthletics
In-Game Notes • @VandyNotes
SEC Network
Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline analyst)
WLAC 1510 AM / WNRQ FM 98.3
Joe Fisher (play-by-play), Norman Jordan (analyst), Mitch Light (sideline)
• The Commodores return off a bye week this Saturday to face South Carolina in Columbia. The Commodores are seeking their second straight victory in conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT in Williams-Brice Stadium.
• Vanderbilt is looking for their fifth victory against South Carolina. The Gamecocks have won the last 10 meetings after Vanderbilt notched back-to-back wins in 2007 and 2008.
• In just 19 appearances, Ke’Shawn Vaughn (R-Sr., RB) has entered Vanderbilt’s all-time top 10 for rushing touchdowns, rushing yards and 100+ rushing games. Vaughn accumulated 176 all-purpose yards, including 96 rushing yards, and scored two touchdowns against Missouri. He ranks tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (18), tied for fourth in 100+ rushing games (8) and 10th in rushing yards (1,947). Vaughn’s 926 all-purpose yards tops all SEC backs, ranks second among all SEC players, and is 19th in the nation.
• The Commodores are looking for post back-to-back SEC wins for the first time since concluding the 2018 regular season with victories over Ole Miss and Tennessee.
• Vanderbilt tops the SEC — and ranks fifth nationally — with only two fumbles lost. The team’s seven turnovers lost is second in the conference and 12th in the NCAA.
• Mo Hasan became the first Commodore signal caller to earn a win in his first career start since Kyle Shurmur did so against Missouri in 2015. Hasan is the first Commodore quarterback to defeat a ranked opponent in his first start since Mackenzi Adams guided the 2007 Commodores to a win at No. 6 South Carolina. Hasan was efficient against Missouri, passing for 120 yards and a touchdown (7-of-11) and rushing for 34 yards on nine carries.
• The Vanderbilt defense ranks third in the SEC — and 12th in the NCAA — with three defensive touchdowns.
• Against No. 22 Missouri, the Commodore defense registered season bests in points allowed (14), total yards allowed (293), yards per play (4.4 yards) and yards per pass (5.4 yards). It was the fewest total yards allowed Vanderbilt defense since the unit allowed just 242 yards in a 38-13 victory over Tennessee (Nov. 24, 2018).
• In the last four games, the Vanderbilt defense has limited opponents to just 29% success on third downs (16-of-55).
• Vanderbilt’s starting defensive unit did not feature a senior against Missouri. The starters included five juniors, three sophomores and three redshirt freshmen.
• Of Vanderbilt’s top 13 tacklers, only three — Tae Daley (S), Dimitri Moore (LB) and Dayo Odeyingbo (DL) — started at least six games a year ago. Linebacker Caleb Peart is the only senior among Vanderbilt’s top dozen tacklers.
• Harrison Smith (R-Fr.) earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after the Missouri outing. He averaged 43.1 yards on eight punts, with six punts of 40+ punts. He also had three efforts land inside the Missouri 20-yard line. Smith is averaging 44.3 yards this season, with 18 of 46 punts landing inside the 20. He has 12 punts of more than 50 yards.
• Kickers Ryley Guay (Sr.) and Javan Rice (R-Fr.) have been nearly perfect hitting through the uprights this season, converting on eight of nine field goal attempts and all 10 extra point attempts.
• Fourteen student-athletes have earned their first collegiate starts this season: BJ Anderson (R-Fr., CB), Daveion Davis (Fr., DT), Dan Dawkins (R-Fr., OG), Brendon Harris (R-Fr., safety), Mo Hasan (R-Jr., QB), Randall Haynie (R-So., CB), Kenny Hebert (R-Jr., OLB), Dashaun Jerkins (R-Fr., safety), Cam Johnson (R-Fr., WR), Sean McMoore (R-Jr., C), Grant Miller (R-So., C), Harrison Smith (R-Fr., punter), Tyler Steen (R-Fr., OT) and Jonathan Stewart (R-So., OT). Three others were first-time starters in a Vanderbilt uniform: Riley Neal (Gr., QB), Cam Watkins (Gr., CB) and DC Williams, (Jr., CB).
• Two Commodores hail from South Carolina — Brandon Maddox (Jr., DE) and Jaylen Mahoney (Fr., DB). While Maddox has missed much of the season due to injury, Mahoney has become a valuable member of Vanderbilt’s secondary in his first year on campus.
