The Vanderbilt Commodores and the Louisiana State University Tigers will meet Saturday inside Vanderbilt Stadium for the first time since 2010. The Tigers beat the ‘Dores in that meeting 27-3. Since 1991, the Tigers have beaten the ‘Dores seven straight times. The Commodores last win over LSU was a 24-21 decision in Nashville in 1990. LSU leads the all-time series 22-7-1.
Offensively
LSU is led by senior quarterback Joe Burrow. The Ohio State transfer is entering his second year as the starter for the Tigers program. In his first season he became the first player in LSU history to throw for over 2,500 yards and rush for at least 350 yards in a single season. Through three games in the 2019 campaign, Burrow has already thrown for 1122 yards and eleven touchdowns. To put these numbers in context, in the entire 2018 campaign Burrow had a total of sixteen touchdown tosses with 2894 yards. The Commodore defense will have to get pressure on Burrow early and often in order to remain competitive in this game. A facet of the game that Vanderbilt should be able to slow down is the Tigers rushing attack. Junior Clyde Edwards-Helaire has only carried the ball thirty-seven times for a total of 187 yards through three games, but has added four touchdowns. The next leading rusher on the Tigers squad is the aforementioned Burrow, with seventy yards, then senior Lanard Fournette, who has recorded 45 yards on just twelve carries with two scores. In the passing game, LSU has two key threats to keeps secondaries honest for sixty minutes. Junior Justin Jefferson has caught nineteen balls for 374 yards and four touchdowns. His counterpart on the other side is sophomore Terrance Marshall Jr., who has been on the receiving end of sixteen receptions for 229 yards and six scores. The Vanderbilt secondary will be busy all afternoon trying to keep these receivers in check.
Defensively
On defense, LSU is led by junior linebacker and Nashville native Jacob Phillips. The hometown boy will look to make it a happy homecoming and also add to his 25 (twelve solo, thirteen assisted) tackle total. Vanderbilt will also have to protect the football around him as the defensive stalwart has already forced a fumble this season. Along the defensive line, the Tigers have the 6’3” 346 pound nose tackle Tyler Shelvin. The sophomore has recorded eleven (four solo, seven assisted) tackles. Anchoring the secondary for LSU is junior safety JaCoby Stevens. Stevens has recorded a total of seventeen (eleven solo, six assisted) tackles along with one sack. In three contests, the LSU defense has not recorded an interception, however they have forced three fumbles, recovering four.
Special Teams
LSU uses two place-kickers. Sophomore Avery Atkins handles all the kickoff duties and freshman Cade York is tasked with field goal kicking duties. York is a perfect six for six on field goals with his longest coming from 48. Junior Zach Von Rosenberg handles all the punting duties for the Tigers. Vanderbilt will want to keep him on the field as much as possible Saturday afternoon. On kick off returns, the aforementioned Clyde Edwards-Helaire has returned three for 76 yards. On punt returns, freshman defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. has returned eight for 117 yards, but freshman wide receiver Trey Palmer has returned one for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Offensively
LSU is led by senior quarterback Joe Burrow. The Ohio State transfer is entering his second year as the starter for the Tigers program. In his first season he became the first player in LSU history to throw for over 2,500 yards and rush for at least 350 yards in a single season. Through three games in the 2019 campaign, Burrow has already thrown for 1122 yards and eleven touchdowns. To put these numbers in context, in the entire 2018 campaign Burrow had a total of sixteen touchdown tosses with 2894 yards. The Commodore defense will have to get pressure on Burrow early and often in order to remain competitive in this game. A facet of the game that Vanderbilt should be able to slow down is the Tigers rushing attack. Junior Clyde Edwards-Helaire has only carried the ball thirty-seven times for a total of 187 yards through three games, but has added four touchdowns. The next leading rusher on the Tigers squad is the aforementioned Burrow, with seventy yards, then senior Lanard Fournette, who has recorded 45 yards on just twelve carries with two scores. In the passing game, LSU has two key threats to keeps secondaries honest for sixty minutes. Junior Justin Jefferson has caught nineteen balls for 374 yards and four touchdowns. His counterpart on the other side is sophomore Terrance Marshall Jr., who has been on the receiving end of sixteen receptions for 229 yards and six scores. The Vanderbilt secondary will be busy all afternoon trying to keep these receivers in check.
Defensively
On defense, LSU is led by junior linebacker and Nashville native Jacob Phillips. The hometown boy will look to make it a happy homecoming and also add to his 25 (twelve solo, thirteen assisted) tackle total. Vanderbilt will also have to protect the football around him as the defensive stalwart has already forced a fumble this season. Along the defensive line, the Tigers have the 6’3” 346 pound nose tackle Tyler Shelvin. The sophomore has recorded eleven (four solo, seven assisted) tackles. Anchoring the secondary for LSU is junior safety JaCoby Stevens. Stevens has recorded a total of seventeen (eleven solo, six assisted) tackles along with one sack. In three contests, the LSU defense has not recorded an interception, however they have forced three fumbles, recovering four.
Special Teams
LSU uses two place-kickers. Sophomore Avery Atkins handles all the kickoff duties and freshman Cade York is tasked with field goal kicking duties. York is a perfect six for six on field goals with his longest coming from 48. Junior Zach Von Rosenberg handles all the punting duties for the Tigers. Vanderbilt will want to keep him on the field as much as possible Saturday afternoon. On kick off returns, the aforementioned Clyde Edwards-Helaire has returned three for 76 yards. On punt returns, freshman defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. has returned eight for 117 yards, but freshman wide receiver Trey Palmer has returned one for 54 yards and a touchdown.
