This is the second week of the contact period, and the dead period begins on Monday. Vanderbilt’s coaching staff has been on the road meeting with commits, meeting with targets, and trying to find hidden gems.
Vanderbilt currently has 13 commitments:
Deuce Wallace, Sevier Co. (Tenn.) (Early Enrollee)
Sam Brodner, Glenbard West (Ill.)
Donaven Tennyson, Benedictine School (Va.) (Early Enrollee)
Turner Cockrell, Allatoona (Ga.)
Devin Cochran, Greater Atlanta Christian (Ga.)
Braden Kopp, Houston Christian (Tex.)
Cameron Tidd, Center Grove (Ind.)
Drew Birchmeier, Cosby (Va.)
Brandon Adams, Brentwood Academy (Tenn.)
Austin Quillen, Jenks (Okla.)
Zaire Jones, Meridian (Miss.) (Early Enrollee)
Frank Coppet, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)
Sam Loy, San Margarita Catholic (Calif.)
Five of these commitments have won state championships including Sam Brodner, Austin Quillen, Cameron Tidd, Donaven Tennyson, and Brandon Adams.
With a little less than two months from signing day, it looks like Vanderbilt is going to sign somewhere around 19. That number could increase if Vanderbilt suffers a little attrition, but the Commodores’ focus seems to be on wide receiver, offensive lineman, and defensive lineman to finish out the class. Here are the main targets left in this class.
Cornerback:
Joejuan Williams, Hendersonville (Tenn.) (Early Enrollee)
Nick McCloud, South Pointe (S.C.)
Main Points:
JoeJuan Williams is the top target in this class, and he would make an instate impact for Vanderbilt. It wouldn’t only help on the field, but it would likely help Vanderbilt’s recruiting efforts especially in-state. He was to decide on December 6th, but he pushed back that date due to not officially visiting LSU yet. He plans to officially visit LSU this weekend, and he will make his decision afterward. This is believed to be down to LSU and Vanderbilt, and most believe that Vanderbilt currently leads. Williams is an early enrollee. Recent article with us (11/23)
Nick McCloud recently told VandySports.com that he has a top five of Vanderbilt, North Carolina State, East Carolina, West Virginia, and Appalachian State. The 6-foot-2 corner doesn’t plan to make a decision until after he takes his official visits. We believe that he will be a take if Vanderbilt misses out on JoeJuan Williams. Recent article with us (11/30)
Defensive Line:
Thomas Schaffer, Lake Forest Academy (Ill.)
Kelvin Lucky, Edgewood Academy (Ala.) (could play either DE or OLB)
Prince Sammons, Hills Christian Academy (Ohio)
Main Points:
Defensive linemen Thomas Schaffer and Prince Sammons are both considering taking official visits to Vanderbilt in January. Many believe that 4-star DE Sammons is leaning toward Duke. Schaffer has already officially visited Oregon, Stanford, and Wisconsin. As you can see with Schaffer, he wants to play defensive line in a 3-4 system.
Kelvin Lucky is another prospect that told VandySports.com that he plans to officially visit Vanderbilt in January. Vanderbilt was the first Power-5 school to offer Lucky, and Texas, Cal, and UCLA followed suit. Most of those schools want Lucky at tight end, but Derek Mason sees his talent on the defensive side of the ball. The 6-foot-6 athlete could project as either a defensive end or outside linebacker.
Linebacker:
Dru Mathis, Buena (Calif.) (ILB)
Cameron Goode, Klein Collins (Tex.) (OLB) - Cal commit
Main Points:
California linebacker Dru Mathis told VandySports.com that he plans to officially visit Vanderbilt on the weekend of January 29th. Mathis is seen as an inside linebacker by the Commodore staff, and he is intrigued by the opportunity to play in the SEC. He’s developed a good relationship with Vanderbilt linebacker coach Thompson. Recent article with us (11/17)
Vanderbilt extended some new offers to linebacker Cameron Goode and Keith Simms. Goode is an outside linebacker committed to Cal, but he is considered soft commit. Simms was offered a month ago, and Vanderbilt has been trying to get him to visit.
Running back:
Jamauri Wakefield, Providence School (Fla.)
Main Points:
At running back, Jamauri Wakefield is a good possibility if Vanderbilt decides to take a RB in this class. He was a long time Wake Forest commit, and he is a high academic prospect that has put up huge numbers in high school. Recent Article with us (11/29)
Wide Receiver:
Nate Johnson, Independence (Tenn.)
Jaquarius Bargnare, Dr. Phillips (Fla.) - UCF commit
Anthony Julmisse, South Plantation (Fla.) - Colorado commit
Main Points:
With wide receiver being such a big position of need, Vanderbilt offered Independence WR Nate Johnson a few weeks ago, and he quickly became a top priority. After a stellar senior season, the playmaker has added offers from Penn State, Tennessee, and South Carolina, and that likely won’t be the last major offer. Johnson set an official visit for Vanderbilt on the weekend of January 23rd (weekend of when all of the other commits come in). With Tennessee recently offering, many believe that they are the team to beat.
Other wide receivers currently on the radar are committed to other programs in Colorado commit Anthony Julmisse and Central Florida Jaquarius Bargnare. Even though he recently committed to Central Florida, he still plans to take other visits. Anthony Julmisse has been on the Vanderbilt radar for awhile, and the feeling is that Vanderbilt could land him if they choose to make a move for him. Vanderbilt is evaluating several other wide receiver prospects, and we believe Miami’s Jordan Robinson is one to keep an eye on.
Offensive line:
Sean Auwae, Kapeoli (Hawai’i) (interior option, guard or center)
Coy Cronk, Central Catholic (Ind.)
Grayson Stover, Hudson (Fla.)
Main points:
Sean Auwae officially visited Vanderbilt on the weekend of the Kentucky game along with Deuce Wallace, JoeJuan Williams, and Zaire Jones. Auwae was impressed on his visit, and there is a good feeling that the interior offensive lineman could end up in Nashville. The former UCLA commit does plan to take all of his official visits, and he likely won’t make a decision until around signing day.
Grayson Stover would like to early enroll, but he doesn’t have that option at Vanderbilt. He has a top four of Indiana, Vanderbilt, Maryland, and South Florida. He plans to officially visit Maryland and South Florida next month.
With Coy Cronk, he recently told us that he officially visited Indiana this past weekend and plans to officially visit Illinois this upcoming weekend. He hasn't set up an official visit to Vanderbilt, but it would be a positive for Vanderbilt if he makes it through the next official without committing somewhere. An official visit to Vanderbilt could go a long way next month. Recent article with us (12/6)
Grant Hermanns is name to watch. The former Iowa State commit recently reopened his recruitment, and his 6-foot-6 frame fits what Vanderbilt is looking for at offensive tackle.
Another scenario to watch is the recruiting situation brewing between Florida and current Vanderbilt offensive tackle commit Braden Kopp. After committing to the Commodores, the Houston native took an unofficial visit to Gainesville when the Gators were hosting Vanderbilt in SEC play back on November 7th. He also recently had an in-home visit with Florida associate head coach Randy Shannon. If the Gators do extend an offer to Kopp, there is a possibility that he could flip his commitment.
Vanderbilt currently has 13 commitments:
Deuce Wallace, Sevier Co. (Tenn.) (Early Enrollee)
Sam Brodner, Glenbard West (Ill.)
Donaven Tennyson, Benedictine School (Va.) (Early Enrollee)
Turner Cockrell, Allatoona (Ga.)
Devin Cochran, Greater Atlanta Christian (Ga.)
Braden Kopp, Houston Christian (Tex.)
Cameron Tidd, Center Grove (Ind.)
Drew Birchmeier, Cosby (Va.)
Brandon Adams, Brentwood Academy (Tenn.)
Austin Quillen, Jenks (Okla.)
Zaire Jones, Meridian (Miss.) (Early Enrollee)
Frank Coppet, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)
Sam Loy, San Margarita Catholic (Calif.)
Five of these commitments have won state championships including Sam Brodner, Austin Quillen, Cameron Tidd, Donaven Tennyson, and Brandon Adams.
With a little less than two months from signing day, it looks like Vanderbilt is going to sign somewhere around 19. That number could increase if Vanderbilt suffers a little attrition, but the Commodores’ focus seems to be on wide receiver, offensive lineman, and defensive lineman to finish out the class. Here are the main targets left in this class.
Cornerback:
Joejuan Williams, Hendersonville (Tenn.) (Early Enrollee)
Nick McCloud, South Pointe (S.C.)
Main Points:
JoeJuan Williams is the top target in this class, and he would make an instate impact for Vanderbilt. It wouldn’t only help on the field, but it would likely help Vanderbilt’s recruiting efforts especially in-state. He was to decide on December 6th, but he pushed back that date due to not officially visiting LSU yet. He plans to officially visit LSU this weekend, and he will make his decision afterward. This is believed to be down to LSU and Vanderbilt, and most believe that Vanderbilt currently leads. Williams is an early enrollee. Recent article with us (11/23)
Nick McCloud recently told VandySports.com that he has a top five of Vanderbilt, North Carolina State, East Carolina, West Virginia, and Appalachian State. The 6-foot-2 corner doesn’t plan to make a decision until after he takes his official visits. We believe that he will be a take if Vanderbilt misses out on JoeJuan Williams. Recent article with us (11/30)
Defensive Line:
Thomas Schaffer, Lake Forest Academy (Ill.)
Kelvin Lucky, Edgewood Academy (Ala.) (could play either DE or OLB)
Prince Sammons, Hills Christian Academy (Ohio)
Main Points:
Defensive linemen Thomas Schaffer and Prince Sammons are both considering taking official visits to Vanderbilt in January. Many believe that 4-star DE Sammons is leaning toward Duke. Schaffer has already officially visited Oregon, Stanford, and Wisconsin. As you can see with Schaffer, he wants to play defensive line in a 3-4 system.
Kelvin Lucky is another prospect that told VandySports.com that he plans to officially visit Vanderbilt in January. Vanderbilt was the first Power-5 school to offer Lucky, and Texas, Cal, and UCLA followed suit. Most of those schools want Lucky at tight end, but Derek Mason sees his talent on the defensive side of the ball. The 6-foot-6 athlete could project as either a defensive end or outside linebacker.
Linebacker:
Dru Mathis, Buena (Calif.) (ILB)
Cameron Goode, Klein Collins (Tex.) (OLB) - Cal commit
Main Points:
California linebacker Dru Mathis told VandySports.com that he plans to officially visit Vanderbilt on the weekend of January 29th. Mathis is seen as an inside linebacker by the Commodore staff, and he is intrigued by the opportunity to play in the SEC. He’s developed a good relationship with Vanderbilt linebacker coach Thompson. Recent article with us (11/17)
Vanderbilt extended some new offers to linebacker Cameron Goode and Keith Simms. Goode is an outside linebacker committed to Cal, but he is considered soft commit. Simms was offered a month ago, and Vanderbilt has been trying to get him to visit.
Running back:
Jamauri Wakefield, Providence School (Fla.)
Main Points:
At running back, Jamauri Wakefield is a good possibility if Vanderbilt decides to take a RB in this class. He was a long time Wake Forest commit, and he is a high academic prospect that has put up huge numbers in high school. Recent Article with us (11/29)
Wide Receiver:
Nate Johnson, Independence (Tenn.)
Jaquarius Bargnare, Dr. Phillips (Fla.) - UCF commit
Anthony Julmisse, South Plantation (Fla.) - Colorado commit
Main Points:
With wide receiver being such a big position of need, Vanderbilt offered Independence WR Nate Johnson a few weeks ago, and he quickly became a top priority. After a stellar senior season, the playmaker has added offers from Penn State, Tennessee, and South Carolina, and that likely won’t be the last major offer. Johnson set an official visit for Vanderbilt on the weekend of January 23rd (weekend of when all of the other commits come in). With Tennessee recently offering, many believe that they are the team to beat.
Other wide receivers currently on the radar are committed to other programs in Colorado commit Anthony Julmisse and Central Florida Jaquarius Bargnare. Even though he recently committed to Central Florida, he still plans to take other visits. Anthony Julmisse has been on the Vanderbilt radar for awhile, and the feeling is that Vanderbilt could land him if they choose to make a move for him. Vanderbilt is evaluating several other wide receiver prospects, and we believe Miami’s Jordan Robinson is one to keep an eye on.
Offensive line:
Sean Auwae, Kapeoli (Hawai’i) (interior option, guard or center)
Coy Cronk, Central Catholic (Ind.)
Grayson Stover, Hudson (Fla.)
Main points:
Sean Auwae officially visited Vanderbilt on the weekend of the Kentucky game along with Deuce Wallace, JoeJuan Williams, and Zaire Jones. Auwae was impressed on his visit, and there is a good feeling that the interior offensive lineman could end up in Nashville. The former UCLA commit does plan to take all of his official visits, and he likely won’t make a decision until around signing day.
Grayson Stover would like to early enroll, but he doesn’t have that option at Vanderbilt. He has a top four of Indiana, Vanderbilt, Maryland, and South Florida. He plans to officially visit Maryland and South Florida next month.
With Coy Cronk, he recently told us that he officially visited Indiana this past weekend and plans to officially visit Illinois this upcoming weekend. He hasn't set up an official visit to Vanderbilt, but it would be a positive for Vanderbilt if he makes it through the next official without committing somewhere. An official visit to Vanderbilt could go a long way next month. Recent article with us (12/6)
Grant Hermanns is name to watch. The former Iowa State commit recently reopened his recruitment, and his 6-foot-6 frame fits what Vanderbilt is looking for at offensive tackle.
Another scenario to watch is the recruiting situation brewing between Florida and current Vanderbilt offensive tackle commit Braden Kopp. After committing to the Commodores, the Houston native took an unofficial visit to Gainesville when the Gators were hosting Vanderbilt in SEC play back on November 7th. He also recently had an in-home visit with Florida associate head coach Randy Shannon. If the Gators do extend an offer to Kopp, there is a possibility that he could flip his commitment.
