5 Things You Need to Know About the Vanderbilt Commodores

Don’t look now, but there is positive momentum surrounding Kentucky Football. Just a few weeks ago it seemed that things had hit rock bottom. The Wildcats fell to 2-5 overall and 0-5 in the Southeastern Conference as Tennessee connected on explosive play after explosive play at Kroger Field. With the stands nearly empty for the entirety of the fourth quarter it was easy to hear the “it is great to be a Tennessee Volunteer” chants. However, since then, Coach Stoops and company have rattled off three straight wins to improve to 5-5 overall and 2-5 in SEC play. Redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley appears to be the real deal. He is 54-73 (74.0%) for 565 yards and four touchdowns during the three game winning streak. A road test against the #14 Vanderbilt Commodores is up next.

The Commodores, who are coming off of a bye, have played a lot of close football games recently. They beat, at the time, #10 LSU 17-10 in Nashville followed by a 17-10 win over, at the time, #15 Missouri. Then, they began the month of November with a 34-31 loss at Texas before returning home and beating Auburn 45-38 in overtime. With Saturday afternoon’s contest against the ‘Cats and next week’s trip to Knoxville, Vanderbilt stands just two games away from the College Football Playoff. Kentucky will be looking to play the role of spoiler in front of a sellout crowd at FirstBank Stadium.

As always, Kentucky Sports Radio’s football experts Nick Roush and Adam Luckett have spent the week providing in-depth breakdowns of the Wildcats’ opponent. 11 Personnel and the KSR Football Podcast have you covered as well if you prefer preparing for Saturday’s game via audio. However, for those looking for a more surface level preview you have come to the right place. Here are five things you need to know about the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Vanderbilt Features a Top 10 Offense in College Football

This isn’t your parent’s Vanderbilt Commodores football team. Vandy is posting 38.3 points per game which is ninth in the country. Even in Southeastern Conference play that number has held up at 28.2 points per game. Their success rate of 50.3% is third nationally as is their 0.29 EPA per play. The Commodores have proven they can do it both through the air and on the ground as well. They rank 16th nationally with 8.41 yards per drop back. Meanwhile, their 6.21 yards per non-sack rush is eighth in the country. That adds up to a fourth place finish averaging 7.25 yards per play. Vanderbilt is going to move the football one way or another.

A big reason for the Commodore’s offensive success is how they have dominated situational football. They are one of the best teams in the country on third down converting at a 53.3% clip. That is fifth best in college football. Additionally, they are second in red zone touchdown conversion rate getting six points on the board 78.7% of the time. When you consistently move the chains and get six instead of three (or zero) it really helps your offense succeed. Vanderbilt has been able to mix in some explosive plays as well while only turning the ball over nine times. It is hard to find a weakness within this offense.

Heisman Trophy Candidate Diego Pavia

It didn’t long after arriving in Nashville for Diego Pavia to become one of the biggest names in college football. After passing for 4,423 yards in two seasons at New Mexico State the former junior college quarterback brought his talents to the SEC. He was very effective last season passing for 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns compared to only four interceptions. However, he has really taken another step forward this year. That is why he is in the Heisman race and the Vanderbilt Commodores are in contention for the College Football Playoff.

Pavia has already surpassed last season’s yardage throwing for 2,440 yards in 10 games. He’s already surpassed his touchdown number as well with 21 while still only throwing five interceptions. Pavia has also ran for 676 non-sack rushing yards and seven more scores. That dual-threat ability has made him one of the best football players in the country. Vanderbilt’s unprecedented success can be largely attributed to Diego Pavia. Containing him on Saturday afternoon, in his final home game, will be a chore for the Kentucky defense.

Excellent Rushing Attack Sets the Tone

Quarterback Diego Pavia leads the Vanderbilt Commodores rushing attack. His 676 non-sack rushing yards leads the team. However, there is a running back tandem that has also been very productive this season. Sedrick Alexander has been a three-year contributor as a do-it-all back for the Commodores. He was productive as a true freshman, but then broke out last season collecting 824 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns. The incredibly elusive back has rushed for 438 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He also has 12 catches for 119 yards and four more scores. Alexander will have the ball in his hands a lot one way or another.

New Mexico State transfer Makhilyn Young is an explosive playmaker that will get touches as well. He is rushing for an incredible 9.9 yards per attempt on 40 carries with five touchdowns. It is largely boom or bust with him, but he has the ability to hit a game-changer at any time. Young has been held under 10 yards in each of the Commodores’ last two games, but he had big contributions in wins over LSU and Missouri. Vanderbilt will move it on the ground in three different ways between Pavia, Alexander, and Young. Kentucky’s defense will have to play their best football of the season to set up a chance for an upset in Nashville.

A Tight End is the Leading Pass Catcher

It really is a New Mexico State takeover in Nashville. Coach Jerry Kill, who spent two seasons at the helm at NMSU, came to the West End as a Chief Consultant to the Head Coach while his offensive coordinator, Coach Tim Beck, followed to become the Vanderbilt Commodores OC. Not only did they obviously bring Diego Pavia with them, but Makhilyn Young in backfield is a New Mexico State transfer as is the top Commodores top pass catcher. Eli Stowers has now emerged as one of the best tight ends in college football.

Stowers began his career in the SEC as a quarterback at Texas A&M. A position change to tight end took him to Las Cruces before returning to the conference at Vanderbilt. He earned second team All-SEC honors last season racking up 638 yards and five touchdowns on 49 receptions. This season he has 51 catches for 669 yards and four touchdowns. Stowers is coming off of a 12-catch, 122-yard game against Auburn. He will be Pavia’s primary target.

Commodores Defense Has Some Issues

We discussed how the Vanderbilt Commodores offense doesn’t really have a weakness. Unfortunately, their defense doesn’t really have a strength. They routinely fall behind the chains allowing a 43.1% success rate and 0.11 EPA per play. Those numbers rank 83rd and 130th respectively in the country. Additionally, they really struggle to create havoc. Their havoc rate of 10.9% is just 114th nationally. Vanderbilt is coming off of allowing 38 points to an Auburn team that only scored three against Kentucky. If the Wildcats defense comes to play and contains Diego Pavia we could be in for a close, low scoring game in Nashville.

Khordae Sydnor and Miles Capers are two guys to watch out for in the pass rush. Sydnor is a jumbo-sized defensive end who leads the Commodores with 28 pressures and has accumulated 6.5 tackles for the loss. The Purdue transfer will be a consistent force in the trenches. Meanwhile, Capers is having an outstanding redshirt senior season. He will lineup in a hybrid defensive end/linebacker look. Capers has 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks on the season. If given time, Cutter Boley will have a chance for another big game against Vanderbilt.