Vanderbilt Commodores (2-7, 1-5)
Kentucky Wildcats (4-5, 2-5)
Nov. 16, 2019 • 2:30 p.m. CT
Vanderbilt Stadium • 40,350
Nashville, Tenn.
VUCommodores.com
Twitter • @VandyFootball
Instagram • @VandyFootball
Facebook • VanderbiltAthletics
In-Game Notes • @VandyNotes
SEC Network
Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
WLAC 1510 AM / WNRQ FM 98.3
Joe Fisher (play-by-play), Norman Jordan (analyst), Mitch Light (sideline)
• Vanderbilt returns to campus this Saturday to face Kentucky looking for their second straight SEC home win. The Commodores and Wildcats will kick off at 2:30 p.m. in Vanderbilt Stadium.
• Vanderbilt has played only two other schools — Tennessee and Ole Miss — more than Kentucky. This marks the 92nd meeting between the Commodores and Wildcats, with Kentucky holding a slim 45-42-4 series advantage. Vanderbilt is looking for its first victory in the rivalry since 2015.
• Vanderbilt is seeking its sixth November win against an SEC opponent since 2015 when Kentucky visits campus. In the last three years, the Commodores have defeated Ole Miss (2016, 2018) and Tennessee (2016-18) in the month of November.
• Vanderbilt Athletics will honor members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Middle Tennessee first responders with Salute to Service activities at the Kentucky game. Scheduled pregame activities include a military flyover from personnel at Fort Campbell, located in Clarksville, and arrival of the game ball from Army Golden Knights paratroopers. The Nashville Firefighter Pipe and Drum Corps will perform the national anthem, with soldiers from Fort Campbell joining Vanderbilt ROTC students and family members of fallen soldiers holding a large American flag on the field. Some 5,000 t-shirts honoring 21 fallen soldiers through the Memories of Honor organization will be distributed at stadium entrances.
• Seventeen student-athletes have earned their first collegiate starts for the Commodores this season: BJ Anderson (R-Fr., CB), Ben Bresnahan (R-Fr., TE), Daevion Davis (Fr., DT), Dan Dawkins (R-Fr., OG), Mo Hasan (R-Jr., QB), Brendon Harris (R-Fr., safety), Randall Haynie (R-So., CB), Kenny Hebert (R-Jr., OLB), Dashaun Jerkins (R-Fr., safety), Cam Johnson (R-Fr., WR), Jaylen Mahoney (Fr., CB), Sean McMoore (R-Jr., C), Grant Miller (R-So., C), Harrison Smith (R-Fr., punter), Tyler Steen (R-Fr., OT), Jonathan Stewart (R-So., OT) and Deuce Wallace (R-Jr., QB). Four more were first-time starters in a Vanderbilt uniform: Riley Neal (Gr., QB), Justice Shelton-Mosley (Gr., WR), Cam Watkins (Gr., CB) and DC Williams (Jr., CB).
• Twenty-two student-athletes have logged their first action as Commodores this season: Ben Bresnahan (R-Fr., TE), Keyon Brooks (Fr., RB), Camden Coleman (R-Fr., S), Pierson Cooke (So., K), Daevion Davis (Fr., DT), Tre Douglas (R-Fr., CB), Rowan Godwin (Gr., OL), Justin Harris (Fr., S), Gabe Jeudy (Fr., CB), Brandon Maddox (Jr., DT), Jaylen Mahoney (Fr., CB), Salua Masina (R-Fr., LB), Elijah McAllister (R-Fr., OLB), Scott Meyer (Gr., LS), Riley Neal (Gr., QB), Anferee Orji (Fr., S), Leshawn Paulino-Bell (R-So., OLB), Mitchell Pryor (So., RB), Javan Rice (R-Fr., K), Justice Shelton-Mosley (Gr., WR/PR), Cam Watkins (Gr., CB) and DC Williams (Jr., CB).
• Ke’Shawn Vaughn (R-Sr., RB) has entered Vanderbilt’s all-time top 10 for rushing touchdowns, rushing yards and 100-yard rushing games in just 21 appearances. He ranks tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (18), tied for fourth in 100-yard rushing games (8) and ninth in rushing yards (2,034). Vaughn is averaging 90.9 yards/game, third among SEC running backs. He ranks 13th among active NCAA backs with 3,086 career rushing yards. At Florida, Vaughn was limited to 28 rushing yards on 15 carries.
• One year after the graduation of 43-game starting quarterback Kyle Shurmur, the Commodores have faced a revolving door at the position. Due to a string of injuries, three quarterbacks have earned starts this season: Riley Neal (Gr.), Mo Hasan (R-Jr.) and Deuce Wallace (R-Jr.). A fourth quarterback, Allan Walters (R-So.) also has played this season.
• Vanderbilt’s starting defense against Florida did not include a senior. It marks the fourth consecutive game without a senior in the starting defensive unit. Against Florida, the defensive starters included four juniors, four sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and a true freshman.
• Saige Young (Sr., OL) is the only Commodore from Kentucky. Young has started 20 games at guard in his Vanderbilt career, including seven this season at left guard.
• Of Vanderbilt’s top 16 tacklers, only three — Tae Daley (S), Dimitri Moore (LB) and Dayo Odeyingbo (DL) — started more than five games a year ago. Linebacker Caleb Peart is the only senior among Vanderbilt’s top dozen tacklers.
• Vanderbilt has faced four ranked opponents this season: No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 LSU, No. 22 Missouri and No. 10 Florida. The Commodores are 1-3 in those games.
