Vandy Players To Watch

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Vandy Players To Watch

Kyle Shurmur  Vandy QB
Kyle Shurmur Vandy QB
Photo: Vandy Athletics

 
 
KYLE SHURMUR (QB, #14)
 
This 6-4, 225-pound senior out of Philadelphia, Pa. was on the 2018 Walter Camp, Maxwell Award and Johnny Unitas Award preseason watch lists after passing for 2,823 yards and a new school-record 26 touchdowns, with just 10 interceptions, in the 2017 season. Shurmur, who became the first Vandy QB to throw for 300-plus yards in three straight SEC games since Jay Cutler did it in four straight in 2005, has already thrown for more than 1,000 yards this season and is going to be another test for the Bulldog secondary Saturday night.
 
 
KE’SHAWN VAUGHN (RB, #5)
 
Vaughn, a 5-10, 215-pound redshirt junior who sat out last season after transferring from Illinois, has evolved into the Commodores’ leading rusher this season and is averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry. With the speed to get on the edge and the power to run inside the tackles, Vaughn will need to be stymied by Georgia’s defensive front when the ‘Dores come between the hedges Saturday.
 
 
KALIJA LIPSCOMB (WR, #16)
 
By far Vanderbilt’s leading receiver this season after an outstanding sophomore year in 2017, the 6-1, 200-pound Lipscomb is Shurmur’s favorite target when the Commodores take to the air. A big receiver who can catch the ball in traffic and go for big yardage after the reception, the Bulldogs will need to monitor this guy during all points of the game.
 
 
CHARLES WRIGHT (OLB, #11)
 
And offensively, the Bulldogs will have to keep this Commodore off Jake Fromm and the Georgia running backs Saturday night. Wright, a 6-3, 240-pound senior, was fourth in the SEC in sacks last season with nine and was a 2nd Team All-SEC preseason choice this year. The Bulldogs simply can’t allow Wright to disrupt the offensive attack Saturday evening.
 
 
LaDARIUS WILEY (SAF, #5)
 
A 3rd Team All-SEC preseason selection in the coaches poll, this 6-1, 210-pound senior is a veteran ringleader in the Vanderbilt secondary, equally adept at defending the pass and coming up to halt running backs in their tracks. Like linebacker Charles Wright, Wiley has to be accounted for when the Bulldogs go on offense.
 
 
JOEJUAN WILLIAMS (CB, #8)
 
Another talented member of the Commodores’ back line of defense, the 6-3, 208-pound junior is a former four-star recruit who has lived up to the hype. Williams is a bonafide All-SEC candidate and along with fellow secondary performer Wiley will be closely shadowing the Georgia receiving corps come Saturday night.
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

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Murray Poole is a 1965 graduate of the University of Georgia Journalism School. He served as sports editor of The Brunswick News for 40 years and has written for Bulldawg Illustrated the past 16 years. He has covered the Georgia Bulldogs for 53 years.