NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Three Vanderbilt football players were named preseason All-SEC by Athlon. CJ Taylor and Langston Patterson were named third team, while De’Rickey Wright was chosen to the fourth team.
For Taylor and Patterson, it’s the second preseason selection of the season after both were named all-conference by Phil Steele.
Taylor was named a fourth-team All-SEC selection by Steele last fall after making 55 tackles, 7.5 for loss and two interceptions. He was fourth among SEC linebackers with a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 80.2 and will transition to safety this season.
The McMinnville, Tennessee, native had interceptions against Georgia and Florida last season, while contributing 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in the effort at Wake Forest.
Patterson led the Commodores in tackles last season, including a team-high in tackles against Tennessee, South Carolina, Auburn and Ole Miss. Against the Rebels, he recorded his first career sack, forced a fumble and had an interception while making nine tackles to earn a spot on the Pro Football Focus Defensive Team of the Week.
The Nashville native has played in all but one game over his first two seasons with Vandy. He’s made 79 career tackles, 8.0 for loss, along with one sack and one interception.
Wright is entering is fifth season with the Commodores and has made 131 tackles in 35 career games with 26 career starts. In 2023, Wright made 10 starts and 46 tackles, including 10 at Wake Forest. He made two interceptions in the opener against Hawai’i, earning Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week.
The Gadsden, Alabama, native was also named a Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award nominee after struggling through losing his mother shortly after his freshman season at Vanderbilt.
Taylor, Patterson, Wright and the Commodores open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Virginia Tech. Kickoff at FirstBank Stadium is set for 11 a.m. and the game will air on ESPN and 102.5 The Game.
Ticket information is available here. Premium seating for the 2024 season is sold out, but fans can still place deposits on new premium seating options which debut in 2025.
