Vanderbilt Football

It has been four years since the Vanderbilt Commodores have had a winning season and 30 years since they've won at least eight games. The Commodores have been the doormat of the SEC for a number of reasons but none more significant than the team's inability to match up with rivals like Tennessee at recruiting.

Since James Franklin was named the team's head coach in December 2010, things have been turning around in Nashville, with the team improving its win total by four games and earning an invitation to the Liberty Bowl.

But what really has Commodores fans excited is the complete turnaround in recruiting under Coach Franklin.

Under previous head coaches Bobby Johnson and Robbie Caldwell, the Commodores failed to get a foothold in chasing the top recruits in the nation.

According to Rivals.com, the Commodores' recruiting class never topped 61st in the nation during the coaches' time, even falling out of the top 100 recruiting classes for the 2004 season. 

Franklin immediately made his presence known on the recruiting circuit, assembling the 29th-ranked recruiting class in the country in his first year, including 4-star recruits Caleb Azubike, Andrew Jelks and Brian Kimbrow.

Franklin is headlong into his second recruiting season, and with the announcement per Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel that Florida wide receiver Dominic Walker has committed to Vandy, Franklin currently has the 15th-best recruiting class in the nation. 

Franklin's newest class, topped by 4-star quarterback Johnathon McCrary, linebacker Nigel Bowden and wide receiver Carlos Burse is notable not only for the stark increase in talent amongst the recruits but also where that talent is coming from.

Each of the three best player's in last year's recruiting class were Tennesseans, and not a single recruit came from outside of the south. The three 4-star recruits in this year's class were all poached from Georgia, and though the class is still made up primarily of southerners, Franklin has extended his reach into Illinois and California.

Franklin still has a lot of work ahead of him in turning Vanderbilt into a steady recruiting powerhouse.

Though Vanderbilt has commitments from three 4-star recruits and a dozen 3-star recruits, they have yet to recruit any truly elite players from this year's class. ESPN.com ranks their top player in Vanderbilt's class, Dominic Walker, as the 222nd best player in the nation; Rivals.com lists quarterback Johnathon McCrary tops at 100.

James Franklin made a name for himself as a skilled recruiter while a coach at the University of Maryland, and his talent for the job is evident.

But any coach's ability to convince recruits to come to his school will only work for so long; he must show recruits that his team is capable of winning. If Franklin is able to turn Vanderbilt into a credible SEC opponent instead of the conference's favorite homecoming opponent, Vanderbilt will begin to assemble some recruiting classes that could permanently raise the level of Commodores football.  

The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30, at the start of the college football regular season.

87. Jordan Rodgers, No. 11, Vanderbilt Quarterback

2011 stats: 108-for 216 for 1,524 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions; 117 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns

Strengths

Rodgers emerged as the top option at quarterback for the Commodores midway through the 2011 season, starting the final seven games of the season en route to a Liberty Bowl appearance. He is underrated as a dual-threat quarterback, and proved last season that he is capable of handling the responsibility of calling the shots in the SEC.

Weaknesses

He needs to work on his consistency as a passer. He completed 50 percent of his attempts last season, and threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (9). If Vanderbilt wants to take the next step and be more than a lower-tier bowl team, Rodgers will have to improve on those numbers.

2012 Prediction

Rodgers is still in a battle with Wyoming transfer Austyn Carta-Samuels for the starting quarterback job, although all indications are that Rodgers is the clear leader heading into fall camp.

Assuming he wins the job at some point, Rodgers should put together a solid season through the air and on the ground for the Commodores. If he's more consistent, Vanderbilt will jump up a notch or two on the SEC's bowl pecking order.

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If you have not seen the James Franklin, head coach at Vanderbilt, quotes that heated up the media, we'll do a quick rehash session for you. While Franklin was talking to Clay Travis on 104.5 The Zone he had this to say about hiring assistant coaches:

"I've been saying it for a long time, I will not hire an assistant until I see his wife. If she looks the part and she's a D1 recruit, then you got a chance to get hired. That's part of the deal. There's a very strong correlation between having the confidence, going up and talking to a woman, and being quick on your feet and having some personality and confidence and being articulate and confident, than it is walking into a high school and recruiting a kid and selling him."

Pretty straight forward, and as you can imagine in today's day and age of sensitivity and political correctness, this quote did not play well. Franklin would quickly apologize via his twitter account: 

My foot doesn't taste good, I hope I did not offend any1, I love & respect ALL,have a great day, enjoy the fam & don't forget 2 #AnchorDown

— James Franklin (@jamesfranklinvu) May 31, 2012

 

The Franklin situation was a mild media firestorm as his boss, vice chancellor of athletics David Williams, made sure to quell the complaining before it could grow from a mild storm into a full-blown ordeal. 

Here's the problem, missed in all of the sensitivity and worry about political correctness is the fact that James Franklin just gave everyone a quick lesson on a critical part of breaking into the college football coaching ranks: 

Confidence.

There's a reason you do not see a lot of mousy, squirrel-ish coaches on the sidelines leading young men. You can't even get your foot in the door if you do not come correct from day one. I'm not generally one for anecdotes, but here it only seems fair.

A friend of mine was applying for a graduate assistant position at a BCS school. Just a simple get coffee, make copies, shuttle recruits around, lead tours, hold cards up, run scout team type of job as a foot in the door to the coaching profession. Everyone does it and it is how they all start. That friend did not get the job.

Not because his football knowledge was insufficient. The kid knew his X's and O's. No, he did not get that job because of all of the things that Franklin referenced in his talk with Clay Travis; personality and confidence. Not to slam him, but he lacked a lot of both of those critical characteristics. 

While everyone got their jokes in about the looks of wives and took their time to laugh at the situation they missed the fact that James Franklin definitely dropped some knowledge.

Perhaps his bluntness and the idea that he likes to check out assistants' wives came across as crude, but the message remains. If a coach doesn't have the confidence to approach a good looking woman, why should anyone believe he has the stones to saunter up to a top-level recruit?

If the coach does not have the wares to pull a home run of a significant other for himself, why should anyone believe he has the ability to pull an elite high schooler for his employer?

Phrasing most certainly killed him, but look to the message folks, because James Franklin is spot on in his assessment of desirable qualities in a coach. Guys who know X's and O's are a dime a dozen.

Anyone can draw plays. It takes confidence and charisma to command a room; whether that's a living room during a recruiting visit or a film room during a position meeting. The same type of confidence and charisma it takes to approach the women that Franklin referenced.

If you want a job coaching under Vanderbilt football's head coach, you better make sure you marry an attractive woman first. 

I am thinking about having a Douche of the Week Award. If I do, it will be named after a man who inspired the idea: Vanderbilt's James Franklin. 

Matt Hinton of CBS Sports reports on the head coach who believes having a hot wife is directly correlated to success on the recruiting trail. 

Franklin went on the radio with Clay Travis on 104.5 The Zone recently and discussed his thoughts on new hires and what he looks for in a potential assistant coach. Franklin, in a relaxed mood near the beach, explained:

"I've been saying it for a long time, I will not hire an assistant coach until I've seen his wife. If she looks the part, and she's a D-1 recruit, then you got a chance to get hired. That's part of the deal.

"There's a very strong correlation between having the confidence, going up and talking to a women and being quick on your feet and having some personality and confidence and being fun and articulate, than it is walking into a high school and recruiting a kid and selling him."

Oh boy. 

Let's be as scientific as we can when discussing one bro who wants all his colleagues' wives to be smoking hot. 

Franklin, in his head, is drawing upon the assumption that a man is more confident if he bags himself a babe in a manner most commonly seen at a bar. This same assumption would have us believe that a man talking a good game is the only way humans begin to date.  

Sorry Mr. Franklin, but that's stupid. 

Any person who has been alive on this planet for more than 10 minutes will realize we come in all shapes and sizes. 

I have seen both handsome and unattractive men with good-looking women. To be sure, some of these males are incredible D-bags while others are likable gentleman.

Oh, and unattractive women, like unattractive men, enjoy charm and confidence as much as the next person.  

The report reminds us of the maxim made in the movie Moneyball that states, "ugly girlfriend means no confidence at the plate." 

That's a rather bro way of describing life and one that comes from the same sport that brought us the wonders of slump busting. 

The fact is, having a hot wife means next to nothing in how a man will perform as an assistant coach. I don't care if James Franklin has a hot wife himself—his comments are downright creepy.

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The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on August 30 and the start of the college football regular season.

No. 130: Warren Norman, No. 5, Running Back, Vanderbilt

2011 Stats: Did not play

Strengths

Norman has proven that he has what it takes to be a star in the SEC. As a freshman in 2009, he was named SEC freshman of the year after rushing for 783 yards and three touchdowns. During that season, he broke the SEC freshman record for all-purpose (1,941 yards/162 YPG) and kickoff return yards (1,050).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3BNNPeGObA

Weaknesses

Norman missed all of last season while recovering from right knee surgery. He practiced at full speed for the first time late in spring practice, but only got a few practices in before spring practice ended.

2012 Prediction

Zac Stacy is the unquestioned No. 1 running back at Vanderbilt, but if Norman is healthy, he can still be a productive player for the Commodores. He won't get No. 1 carries, but he will still make a big impact as a changeup back and on special teams.

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With Zac Stacy back for another year and Warren Norman—the 2009 SEC Freshman of the Year—coming back healthy, the running back position isn't going to be an issue for Vanderbilt.

All eyes were on the quarterbacks, and returning starter Jordan Rodgers stole the show at the Black & Gold Spring Game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udi2I8JhJkg

Rodgers completed 14-of-29 passes for 126 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, leading Team Black to a 33-0 win over Team Gold.

While Rodgers is the leader in the clubhouse, he is getting a battle from Wyoming transfer Austyn Carta-Samuels for the starting quarterback job. Carta-Samuels was 6-of-12 for 47 yards and one interception for Team Gold. 

Head coach James Franklin confirmed in the postgame press conference that the battle will continue into summer workouts.

I'm interested to see how this quarterback thing is going to play out once Austyn Carta-Samuels has got a better feel and he can compete come summer camp. Jordan's doing some really nice things. I thought it was interesting, we're putting an emphasis this spring on the passing game (because) we're a little dependent on running the ball. There are going to be times (in the SEC) where you're not going to be able to run the ball and you're going to have to be able to throw the ball for a higher percentage. For me, that's something you can work on during the summer.

Junior Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt's leading returning receiver, caught seven passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. No matter who is taking the snaps, Matthews is set to be one of the SEC's top receivers in 2012.

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Casey Hayward is a play making cornerback from Vanderbilt University.  At the combine in February, he measured in at 5’ 11-3/8” and 192 pounds.  Hayward is a ball hawk who had six interceptions as a junior and seven as a senior.  He is a player that can be extremely valuable at the corner position in the NFL.

I talked to Hayward after his pro day workout about his time at college and his future in the NFL.  We talked about the SEC and the challenges that playing in the SEC presented for a cornerback.

“It was great to play in the SEC, to get to go against the top competition every week.  You are going get to go against a potential national championship winner.”

He went on to tell me some of the names he faced playing in the SEC.

“It's just some of the top guys, like, that's in the NFL right now.  I went against A. J. Green, Alshon Jeffery, Reuben Randle, Mike Wallace.  I went against a lot of the top guys that [are] in the NFL right now.  So I just feel like it gives you a slight edge when it comes to NFL.”

We talked about playing at Vanderbilt as opposed to being a cornerback at LSU or Alabama.  He told me that LSU could have four secondary members drafted this year along with the guys that they have up front.  He told me that he didn’t have any of that at Vanderbilt, but was just as productive [as], if not more than, any other cornerback from the SEC.

“They're going to put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks to throw the ball to them, even though I still have more interceptions than all of them.”

He told me that some other programs had guys that were products of a system or their environment.  He also told me that the perception that a kid was better because he went to LSU or Alabama was wrong.

“So I just feel like if you haven't watched me play, I think you couldn't really put judgment on where you think I am if you haven't really watched me play.”

I asked him about the combine and what the process was like for him this year. 

“It's a zoo.  I kind of enjoyed the process because, you know, everybody [doesn't] get to go through the process and I was one of the lucky guys that [got] to go through the process, so I just, I don't think you can just say ah, man, I dread it.

“But I think I enjoyed the process, but I think I just wanted to get teams to know me as a person and to prove people wrong about my speed.”

Hayward is a zone corner, a player who is at his best when he can sit back in space and read and react to jump routes.

“If you were to set me back in zone and let me see what the quarterback is doing, you are going to see me making a lot of plays.”

He was quick to tell me that he could play in any scheme and that he felt he could help any scheme out.

When we talked about scheme, we talked about some players in the NFL that fit the way he played.  He told me that if you mixed Asante Samuel and Brent Grimes together you would get him.

We talked about what it meant to him to be a professional football player and I asked him what he could offer to NFL teams.

“I feel like I can bring play-making ability, somebody that's going to compete, somebody that's going be able to come in and help them right then.  I feel like I'm one of the top corners in this draft and I feel like I'm going be a steal wherever I go.”

We talked about his size and some of the things he has shown on film that would be considered advantages for him.

“I feel like a lot of people don't give me the recognition I should get, but that's alright and I feel like teams watching a lot of film, they get to see me making a lot of plays, being very productive.”

We talked about where he could go in the draft and how high it could be.  He told me he felt that teams had him ranked higher than people that didn't actually watch him play did.

I asked him what he wanted the fans of the team that drafts him to know.

“I'd just tell them be ready for somebody that's going to bring a lot of excitement to the team, somebody that's going to make a lot of plays for them, somebody that's going [to] even the score for them.”

“I just feel like I'm just going bring an edge to a team that needs a playmaker.  If you need a playmaker, I think I'm that guy.”

Casey Hayward is a very good football player, a player that is going to make a difference for a team very quickly.  He has played under intense pressure his entire college career and has been very productive. 

He is the kind of player that can come in and make big plays for a defense in a priority position in today’s NFL.

Scott Bischoff is a Contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

James Franklin showed up in Nashville in December 2010 and seemed uninterested in joining in the sorrows of Vanderbilt football history.  He seemed wonderfully ignorant to the gloomy shadows that have hovered over the program for most of its history.

Coach Franklin didn't care what Vanderbilt football had been before his arrival, but he took great interest in what it was to become with himself now in control of the beautiful, old shipwreck that everyone loves to feel sorry for.  

At times, Franklin's post-game press conferences seemed more like a fed-up father scolding a group of spoiled children who had had been feeling sorry for themselves, and they were directed at the entire Vanderbilt community, not just his team.  

Under Franklin, the 2011 Commodores started the season strong, winning three in a row, including an SEC victory over Ole Miss.  A three-game skid brought the squad back to reality, but in their defense, the losses were at the hands of 12th-ranked South Carolina on the road, the eventual national champion Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa and the eventual SEC East champion Georgia Bulldogs in a game that came down to the wire.

Vanderbilt would split the rest of their season, winning three of their last six.  All three of those losses were decided by six points or less, including an overtime loss in Knoxville.  Their three final wins would all be by double-digit margins.  

Six wins on the season could have easily been closer to nine with a field goal here and a missed assignment there, but Vanderbilt would finish bowl eligible, something the program had only done twice before since 1982.  

James Franklin aimed to change the culture in Nashville, and he has gotten off to a fantastic start but unless the Commodores build upon last year's success this season, the 2011 run will be called a fluke.  

The question will linger until the Commodores compete on a consistent basis, and they must do so in the difficult SEC.  With his team's legitimacy in limbo, James Franklin will be up for the challenge.  

On Wednesday Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin gave Commodores fans arguably the best recruiting class the city of Nashville has signed in 20 years or more.

The discrepancy in recruiting services aside, even the most critical of Vanderbilt fans cannot argue about the tremendous amount of SEC-caliber talent Franklin signed to his 2012 recruiting class.

When National Signing Day finished the whirlwind of activities across the nation, Vanderbilt signed a class that included three 4-star prospects along with 18 3-star players including one 3-star prospect that will grayshirt this fall.

The biggest coups of the recruiting class may be linebackers Jakarri Thomas and Harding Harper, two prospects very high on SEC rival Arkansas.

Thomas was committed to the Hogs until Jan. 27 when he switched his verbal pledge from Arkansas to Vanderbilt after his official visit to Nashville.

Harper had been offered by Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia Tech and Arkansas. He is considered the 32nd-best linebacker in this year’s recruiting class by Scout.com.

Franklin filled a need at middle linebacker with Harper and Jacob Sealand. With Chris Marve departing due to graduation, Harper and Sealand will both get an opportunity to compete for time at middle linebacker during fall practices.

Three big in-state recruits helped add overall quality to Vandy’s class. Running back Brian Kimbrow from Memphis, defensive end Caleb Azubike, and Andrew Jelks from Henry County High School were all considered 4-star talents on Rivals.com.

Azubike has the frame, size, and tools to be an All-SEC performer. He is listed at 6’5”, 240 pounds and runs a reported 4.65 40-yard dash. He was offered scholarships by Miami, Kentucky and Boston College among others.

Offensive tackle Andrew Jelks is listed as the 31st best offensive tackle in the nation. His 6’6”, 260-pound frame will need to add some weight once he gets on campus if he is to remain an offensive tackle in the SEC but his footwork and hand quickness coming out his stance are great.

Brian Kimbrow from East High School in Memphis has the game-breaking speed that every coaching staff covets, including teams like Alabama and Auburn.

He has been clocked at 4.2 in the 40-yard dash. He is a little undersized at 5’9” and 165 pounds, but the addition of extra weight should not slow him down too much.

Because of Kimbrow’s speed, he will get opportunities to contribute on special teams next fall on return and coverage units. If he can show improvement with his pass-catching ability, he could make an impact as a third-down back as well.

A few surprises came Vanderbilt’s way on National Signing Day. Safety athlete Chris Moody from Henry County High School in Georgia signed with South Carolina instead of with the Commodores.

Perhaps the least surprising but the most upsetting loss was 4-star defensive end Josh Dawson to Georgia. The Tucker, GA product was rumored to be a candidate to flip to Georgia leading up to National Signing Day.

The Commodores may have found their quarterback of the future in Patton Robinette. With senior quarterback Larry Smith departing and 2011 starter Jordan Rodgers having only one more year of eligibility left, Robinette will have an opportunity to push Rodgers in practice while learning the game during the 2012 season.

One of the biggest needs for the Commodores in 2012 that has gone unsigned is at kicker. 3-star kicker Colby Cooke from Goochland, VA had been committed to the Commodores since August but remains unsigned and is expected to grayshirt this fall.

Cooke’s scholarship will count against Vanderbilt’s 2013 recruiting class.

Cooke is considered the eighth best kicker in the nation per Rivals.com. If he is able to translate his prep career abilities to the collegiate level, he could make an immediate impact for Vanderbilt.

Another perspective for Vanderbilt fans to appreciate is Franklin’s class ranking among other SEC teams. For the first time in the recruiting era, Vanderbilt is ranked ahead of teams like Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky and SEC newcomer Missouri.

Coming off a 2011 bowl berth and another great recruiting class, Vanderbilt fans have a lot to be excited about in the coming years.

Here’s a list of the 22 Vanderbilt signees:

QB Patton Robinette, 6’5”, 200 pounds, 3-star, Maryville, TN

RB Jaborian “Tip” McKenzie, 5’9”, 180 pounds, 3-star, Natchez, MS

RB Brian Kimbrow, 5’9”, 165 pounds, 4-star, Memphis, TN

WR Cory Batey, 5’11”, 180 pounds, 3-star, Nashville, TN

OT Andrew Jelks, 6’6”, 260 pounds, 4-star, Paris, TN

OT Will Holden, 6’6”, 271 pounds, 3-star, Green Cove Springs, FL

OT Blake Fromang, 6’8”, 280 pounds, 3-star, Orlando, FL

OT Barrett Gouger, 6’4”, 275 pounds, 3-star, Chattanooga, TN

OT Kevin McCoy, 6’5”, 275 pounds, 3-star, Seffner, FL

OG Adam Butler, 6’5”, 285 pounds, 3-star, Duncanville, TX

CB Torren McGaster, 6’0”, 180 pounds, 3-star, Daphne, AL

CB Brandon Banks, 5’11”. 170 pounds, 3-star, Brandywine, MD

SS Paris Head, 5’10”, 170 pounds, 3-star, Buford, GA

DE Ladarius Banks, 6’2”, 263 pounds, 3-star, Dallas, GA

DE Stephen Weatherly, 6’4”, 190 pounds, 3-star, Atlanta, GA

DE Caleb Azubike, 6’5”, 240 pounds, 4-star, Nashville, TN

DE Torey Agee, 6’4”, 250 pounds, 3-star, Opelika, AL

MLB Jakarri Thomas, 6’1”, 195 pounds, 3-star, Tallahassee, FL

MLB Harding Harper, 6’2”, 212 pounds, 3-star, Montgomery, AL

OLB Jacob Sealand, 6’1”, 220 pounds, 3-star, Tucker GA

OLB Darreon Herring, 6’2”, 195 pounds, 3-star, Stone Mountain, GA

*K Colby Cooke, 6’3”, 175 pounds, 3-star, Goochland, GA

* Denotes grayshirt

How the recruiting services ranked Vanderbilt’s class:

Scout.com No. 44

Rivals.com No. 29

247Sports.com No. 49

It's almost impossible to describe Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin in one word, but it's easy to say that Franklin is a hell of a coach.

If Franklin's confidence, intensity, and will to win do not prove that, then Vanderbilt's latest recruiting class does.  Simply put, Franklin has made his 2012 recruiting class the best in school history.

As of today (the day before National Signing Day), the Commodores have a total of 22 commitments, four of whom are considered to be four-star recruits by ESPN Insider.  Also, Vanderbilt is the No. 24 ranked 2012 recruiting class in the country according to ESPN.

The most notable commitment for Vanderbilt is Brian Kimbrow, a 5'9" 165 lb all-purpose running back from Memphis, Tennessee who committed in July.  Kimbrow is a four-star recruit and No. 138 in the 2012 ESPNU 150.

Kimbrow will have great potential to emerge as a star for the Commodores after running back Zac Stacy graduates following the 2012 season.

Vanderbilt also has three additional four-star recruits, one of which coming straight out of their own backyard.

Caleb Azubike, a four-star recruit from Nashville, will help the Commodores on the defensive front as the 15th ranked defensive end in the country.

Another defensive lineman, Josh Dawson out of Tucker, Georgia and offensive tackle Andrew Jelks from Paris, Tennessee round out the four-star recruits in Vanderbilt's latest recruiting class. 

Vanderbilt's entire 2012 recruiting class can be seen here.

The most recent commitment is Kevin McCoy, a 6'6" 280 lb three-star offensive lineman out of Seffner, Florida, who committed to Vanderbilt on January 30.

All of the above is proof James Franklin obviously has Vanderbilt on the right track.  The Commodores are finally getting the talent to compete with their peers in the Southeastern Conference as they look to build on their surprising 6-7 season in 2011.

With extremely close losses to premiere programs like Georgia, Arkansas and Florida in 2011, Vanderbilt is on the right track to turn these close losses into victories in the near future.