This past June, Vanderbilt defeated Michigan two games to one in the Finals of the College World Series to win its second national championship in baseball.
Vanderbilt has made six of its nine all-time bowl appearances since 2008, including a pair of post-season appearances under Derek Mason’s watch in 2016 and 2018.
One of Vanderbilt’s greatest players ever was quarterback Whit Taylor, runner up to Herschel Walker in 1982 as the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year.
KE’SHAWN VAUGHN (RB, #5)
The Bulldog defense, out to bring more “havoc” on opposing offenses this season, will get tested right out of the chute in 2019 as it lines up against the Vanderbilt offense Saturday night in Nashville. That’s because the Commodores are bringing back two All-SEC 2nd Team performers in tailback Ke’Shawn Vaughn and wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb. The 5-10, 218-pound Vaughn averaged 7.9 yards per carry in 2018 while totaling 1,244 yards and 12 touchdowns. Boasting both outside speed and the power to run between the tackles, Georgia can’t allow Mr. Vaughn to gash the defense with explosive runs.
KALIJA LIPSCOMB (WR, #16)
Like Vaughn, this 6-1, 201-pound senior can break off a big play from any spot on the field. Combining his speed with a great pair of hands, Lipscomb pulled in 87 (2nd in SEC) passes for 916 yards and nine touchdowns last season. A deep touchdown catch by Lipscomb (who has been selected Preseason All-SEC First Team) early on would surely ignite both the Commodores and their fan base; thus, the task facing the Bulldog secondary in covering this guy Saturday evening.
DIMITRI MOORE (ILB, #7)
Moore, a 6-3, 230-pound redshirt sophomore, is expected to be one of the SEC’s top linebackers this fall, thus building on a redshirt freshman season that saw him record 84 tackles … the most by a first-year SEC player. Moore, named to the All-SEC Freshman Team, also notched a sack, three pass breakups, and four quarterback hurries. The Bulldogs’ talented offensive front will have to be at its best to prevent Moore from disrupting the attack in the season opener.
DAYO ODEYINGBO (DE, #10)
Talk about disrupting an offense, Vanderbilt’s 6-6, 275-pound Odeyingbo is one of the best at doing so. In his sophomore year in 2018, Odeyingbo rendered a stat line that included 28 tackles, including 17 solo, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries. And, he also had two fumble recoveries for the Commodores. Like Dimitri Moore a Texas product, Odeyingbo will be coming off the edge fast Saturday night and it will be the task of UGA tackles Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson to keep him from getting to quarterback Jake Fromm.