NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mike Wright is back in the saddle.
Vandy’s junior quarterback will be the starter at the position once again when the Commodores take the field at 11 a.m. CT Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky. Wright resumes the role he began the season with as freshman AJ Swann will be out this week due to injury.
Wright was named the team’s starting quarterback in the summer and was one of three Commodores to represent the program at SEC Media Days in Atlanta in July. He then led Vandy to a 2-0 start in wins over Hawai’i and Elon, respectively, by throwing for 391 yards, completing 62 percent of his passes, rushing for 247 yards and totaling 10 touchdowns while playing turnover-free football.
But after a 45-25 loss to Wake Forest on Sept. 10, Swann was inserted as the starting quarterback. Vandy (3-6, 0-5 SEC) has gone 1-5 since.
Wright has played the last four weeks, coming off the bench late in lopsided losses to Ole Miss and Georgia and then in relief of the injured Swann in games against Missouri and South Carolina. Wright rushed for 43 yards, threw for 101 yards and completed a touchdown against South Carolina.
“That was one thing I was really proud about on Saturday, he was really, really consistent,” Vandy offensive coordinator Joey Lynch said. “That was the most consistent he’s been being right with his decision to give the ball and pull the ball and ultimately that gives our offense the chance to have success and be more efficient and that’s what happened.”
For his career, Wright goes into Saturday’s game at Kentucky (6-3, 3-3 SEC) with 1,747 yards on 155-for-281 passing (55.1 percent) and has thrown 17 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. On the ground he has totaled 719 yards on 145 attempts (a 4.9 ypc average) and has found the end zone six times.
Wright will face the SEC’s third-best pass defense (181.8 yards per game allowed) and fifth-best run defense (120.7 yards per game allowed).
“They have to make a decision when Mike’s in there of who they want to keep the ball,” Lynch said of how Wright presents a challenge for opposing defenses. “I thought he did a really nice job (against South Carolina) of being consistent with his reads and giving the ball when it was a give, but also pulling it when it was a pull and getting on the edge. Of course he has the ability to make plays when he’s on the edge.”
Saturday’s contest will be a bit of a full-circle moment for Wright. As a true freshman in 2020, Wright and now fellow-junior Ken Seals, the backup quarterback this week, both played in a 38-35 loss at Kentucky. Wright scored his first career touchdown in that contest, a 2-yard run in the third quarter.
Almost exactly two years later to the day he will have the opportunity to lead Vanderbilt to its first SEC victory in a long, long time.
“I think he has just handled this season really well. He serves as a captain for a reason and he’s been consistent in his approach and does not let personal disappointment bleed into his ability to be a great teammate,” Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said Tuesday. “He has also prepared himself to be ready when his number is called. The last two games he’s been able to come in and make some plays and move the offense.
“He’s a guy that’s been a playmaker for us so we’re excited for him to have the opportunity to lead us on the road in the SEC.”
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
