Chris Klenakis Talks Offensive Line Play: "We're on the right track to get to where we want to be"
Vanderbilt’s offensive line performed much better last season than a lot of fans and members of the media expected. The trenches have always been an issue for Vanderbilt, but last season the Commodores not only didn’t get pushed around, often times they were the ones doing the pushing. While it is a players’ game, new offensive line coach Chris Klenakis was a large part of that success creating chemistry between current players on the roster and a talented transfer portal class. He has a simliar job ahead of him this year, replacing 4 key contributors across the O-Line.
Vanderbilt did their job in the transfer portal, bringing in talent to replace what they lost. Can Chris Klenakis work his magic again in 2025? Klenakis was made available to media after day 11 of Fall camp and was immediately asked where the o-line is at compared to where he wants it to be.
“Well, it’s never where you want it to be because our expectation level’s very high and our demands are very high and our standards are very high. We’re on the right track to get where we want to be.”
Speaking of offensive line turnover, Coach Klenakis was next asked about this group compared to last season with a lot of new faces in the room.
“That’s one of the deals is there are a lot of new faces. We had to blend in some new faces last summer, but we’ve got more new faces to blend in, but we’ve also got more competition than we did a year ago and that creates for good things because it keeps people hungry, keeps people working.”
One of those key new faces is South Dakota transfer Bryce Henderson. A mountain of a man standing at 6’8″ 325lbs, Klenakis was asked how Henderson has adjusted to playing against P4 competition.
“He has adjusted very well. I’m very pleased with Bryce. This is where he needs to be playing and I’ve been very happy with his progress.”
The second (or first) most key transfer is former Liberty G/C Jordan White. Klenakis was next asked about what he has thought about Jordan White’s performance throughout camp thus far.
“Jordan White’s play has been good because Jordan is a great leader. He’s a very cerebral kid. He’s the kid you want at center. He’s a high energy kid. He’s very motivated, his leadership skills and his what we call “FBI”, his football intelligence, just make him a super asset to us.”
Klenakis was then asked about returning pieces of the Offensive Line in Cade McConnell and Chase Mitchell, Jordan White and Chase Mitchell being reunited, his unique “strong/quick tackle and guard”, and more – see full media availability below.
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