American college football season
The 2018 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Commodores played their home games at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by fifth-year head coach Derek Mason . Vanderbilt finished the season 6–7, 3–5 in SEC play to finish in 6th place in the East Division. They were invited to play in the Texas Bowl where they were defeated by Baylor . This would be the last season the Commodores were bowl eligible until the 2024 season .[ 2]
The Commodores signed a total of 19 recruits.
US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date Allan Walters QB Hightstown, New Jersey The Peddie School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Dec 16, 2016 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Daniel Dawkins C Hightstown, New Jersey The Peddie School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 296 lb (134 kg) Mar 30, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Alston Orji LB Rockwall, Texas Rockwall High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 230 lb (100 kg) May 23, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Ben Bresnahan TE Cumming, Georgia West Forsyth High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jun 14, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Gavin Schoenwald TE Brentwood, Tennessee Brentwood Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jun 15, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Camron Johnson WR Brentwood, Tennessee Brentwood Academy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 182 lb (83 kg) Jun 16, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Javan Rice K Miami, Florida Belen Jesuit Preparatory School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jun 16, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Wyatt Smock OG Louisville, Kentucky St. Xavier High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 290 lb (130 kg) Jun 21, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Tre' Douglas CB McDonough, Georgia Eagle's Landing Christian Academy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jun 22, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Dashaun Jerkins S Woodbridge, Virginia Woodbridge High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jun 23, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Maxwell Worship S Fort Lauderdale, Florida Cardinal Gibbons High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Jun 29, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : JaVeon Marlow RB Winter Haven, Florida Winter Haven High School 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jul 9, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Brendon Harris S Chattanooga, Tennessee Baylor School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Oct 24, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : C.J. Bolar WR Purvis, Mississippi Purvis High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 186 lb (84 kg) Dec 10, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Tyler Steen DE Fort Lauderdale, Florida St. Thomas Aquinas High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 300 lb (140 kg) Dec 20, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Elijah McAllister DE Rumson, New Jersey Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Dec 20, 2017 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : Amir Abdur-Rahman WR Atlanta, Georgia Mays High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Feb 4, 2018 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : BJ Anderson WR Andalusia, Alabama Andalusia High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 172 lb (78 kg) Feb 5, 2018 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : N/A Lorenza Surgers DE Cary, North Carolina Panther Creek High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Feb 5, 2018 Recruiting star ratings :Scout :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN : N/A Overall recruiting rankings: Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:
Listed in the order that they were released
The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018, with the Commodores predicted to finish last in the East Division.[ 9]
Media poll (East) Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Georgia 1,977 (271) 2 South Carolina 1,535 (8) 3 Florida 1,441 (2) 4 Missouri 1,057 5 Kentucky 874 (1) 6 Tennessee 704 (1) 7 Vanderbilt 392
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 6:30 p.m. Middle Tennessee * SECN W 35–725,348 September 8 11:00 a.m. Nevada * Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN SECN W 41–1025,676 September 15 1:30 p.m. at No. 8 Notre Dame * NBC L 17–2277,622 September 22 3:00 p.m. South Carolina Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN SECN L 14–3726,078 September 29 3:00 p.m. Tennessee State * Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN SECN W 31–2727,340 October 6 6:30 p.m. at No. 2 Georgia SECN L 13–4192,746 October 13 11:00 a.m. No. 14 Florida Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN ESPN L 27–3731,118 October 20 6:30 p.m. at No. 14 Kentucky SECN L 7–1454,269 October 27 11:00 a.m. at Arkansas SECN W 45–3156,251 November 10 11:00 a.m. at Missouri SECN L 28–3348,342 November 17 6:30 p.m. Ole Miss Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN (rivalry ) SECN W 36–29 OT 24,866 November 24 3:00 p.m. Tennessee Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN (rivalry ) SECN W 38–1335,887 8:00 p.m. vs. Baylor * ESPN L 38–4551,104 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
Schedule Source: [ 10] 1 2 3 4 Total Blue Raiders 7 0 0 0 7 Commodores 7 7 7 14 35
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP MTSU VAN 1 12:21 5 58 2:39 Commodores Khari Blasingame 30-yard touchdown run, Ryley Guay kick good 0 7 1 1:59 15 93 6:58 Blue Raiders CJ Windham 4-yard touchdown reception from Brent Stockstill, Crews Holt kick good 7 7 2 14:01 1 11 0:00 Commodores Fumble recovery returned 11 yards for touchdown by Dayo Odeyingbo , Guay kick good 7 14 3 7:26 7 92 4:25 Commodores Chris Pierce 17-yard touchdown reception from Kyle Shurmur, Guay kick good 7 21 4 12:47 12 80 4:56 Commodores Kalija Lipscomb 28-yard touchdown reception from Shurmur, Guay kick good 7 28 4 1:28 12 80 7:04 Commodores Jamauri Wakefield 14-yard touchdown run, Guay kick good 7 35 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 7 35
Statistics MTSU VAN First downs 21 19 Total yards 294 346 Rushes–yards 116 176 Passing yards 178 170 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–37–1 10–17–0 Time of possession 31:09 29:51
Team Category Player Statistics MTSU Passing B. Stockstill 24–36, 178 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing T. Thomas 8 carries, 32 yards Receiving T. Thomas 4 receptions, 42 yards VAN Passing K. Shurmur 10–17, 170 yards, 2 TD Rushing J. Wakefield 10 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD Receiving K. Lipscomb 4 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Wolf Pack 0 10 0 0 10 Commodores 0 17 17 7 41
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP NEV VAN 2 13:16 7 53 2:41 Commodores Kalija Lipscomb 2-yard touchdown reception from Kyle Shurmur, Ryley Guay kick good 0 7 2 12:24 2 7 0:15 Commodores Ke'Shawn Vaughn 7-yard touchdown run, Guay kick good 0 14 2 3:13 7 13 3:17 Wolf Pack 32-yard field goal by Ramiz Ahmed 3 14 2 3:13 7 48 2:28 Commodores 35-yard field goal by Guay 3 17 2 0:49 10 75 2:24 Wolf Pack Brendan O'Leary-Orange 9-yard touchdown reception from Ty Gangi, Ahmed kick good 10 17 3 7:14 11 77 6:17 Commodores 25-yard field goal by Guay 10 20 3 6:17 1 46 0:11 Commodores Vaughn 46-yard touchdown run, Guay kick good 10 27 3 0:23 8 73 4:00 Commodores Lipscomb 11-yard touchdown reception from Shurmur, Guay kick good 10 34 4 1:10 3 21 1:40 Commodores Josh Crawford 1-yard touchdown run, Guay kick good 10 41 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 10 41
Statistics[ 11] NEV VAN First downs 14 25 Total yards 250 468 Rushes–yards 34 198 Passing yards 216 270 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–39–1–2 24–34–2–0 Time of possession 23:58 36:02
Team Category Player Statistics NEV Passing T. Gangi 22–39, 216 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing T. Taua 6 carries, 24 yards Receiving M. Mannix 6 receptions, 86 yards VAN Passing K. Shurmur 23–32, 258 yards, 2 TD Rushing K. Vaughn 11 carries, 93 yards, 2 TD Receiving J. Pinkney 4 receptions, 98 yards
1 2 3 4 Total Commodores 0 3 7 7 17 No. 8 Fighting Irish 10 6 0 6 22
Location: Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP VAN ND 1 11:02 10 74 3:58 Fighting Irish 26-yard field goal by Justin Yoon 0 3 1 0:58 15 94 5:21 Fighting Irish Brandon Wimbush 12-yard touchdown run, Yoon kick good 0 10 2 7:33 6 49 1:10 Fighting Irish 33-yard field goal by Yoon 0 13 2 1:15 10 51 3:55 Fighting Irish 46-yard field goal by Yoon 0 16 2 0:00 8 72 1:15 Commodores 21-yard field goal by Ryley Guay 3 16 3 0:11 5 47 2:44 Commodores Ke'Shawn Vaughn 3-yard touchdown run, Guay kick good 10 16 4 11:04 11 75 2:44 Fighting Irish Nic Weishar -yard touchdown reception from Ian Book , 2-point pass failed 10 22 4 7:22 9 75 3:42 Commodores Jared Pinkney 18-yard touchdown reception from Kyle Shurmur, Guay kick good 17 22 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 17 22
Statistics ND VAN First downs 24 23 Total yards 380 420 Rushes–yards 245 94 Passing yards 135 326 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–26–0 26–43–1 Time of possession 29:12 30:48
Team Category Player Statistics ND Passing B. Wimbush 13–23, 122 yards Rushing T. Jones Jr. 17 carries, 118 yards Receiving T. Jones Jr. 2 receptions, 56 yards VAN Passing K. Shurmur 26–43, 326 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing K. Vaughn 10 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD Receiving J. Pinkney 5 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Gamecocks 10 10 10 7 37 Commodores 0 14 0 0 14
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Statistics SC VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics SC Passing J. Bentley 19–28, 261 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing R. Dowdle 20 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD Receiving S. Smith 5 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD VAN Passing K. Shurmur 18–38, 180 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing J. Wakefield 14 carries, 72 yards Receiving K. Lipscomb 9 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 0 13 7 7 27 Commodores 0 10 14 7 31
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Statistics TSU VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics TSU Passing D. Croft 22–31, 269 yards, 3 TD Rushing D. Croft 9 carries, 41 yards Receiving T. Harris 8 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD VAN Passing K. Shurmur 22–29, 297 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing K. Vaughn 17 carries, 146 yards, 1 TD Receiving K. Lipscomb 9 receptions, 174 yards, 2 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Commodores 3 3 0 7 13 No. 2 Bulldogs 7 14 17 3 41
Location: Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia
Statistics UGA VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics UGA Passing J. Fromm 17–23, 276 yards, 3 TD Rushing E. Holyfield 6 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD Receiving T. Godwin 2 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD VAN Passing K. Shurmur 14–28, 169 yards Rushing K. Vaughn 9 carries, 79 yards Receiving C. J. Bolar 4 receptions, 46 yards
1 2 3 4 Total No. 14 Gators 0 13 7 17 37 Commodores 7 14 0 6 27
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Statistics UF VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics UF Passing F. Franks 19–29, 284 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing L. Perine 23 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD Receiving L. Perine 4 receptions, 93 yards VAN Passing K. Shurmur 18–36, 229 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing K. Vaughn 7 carries, 56 yards Receiving K. Vaughn 1 reception, 75 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Commodores 7 0 0 0 7 No. 14 Wildcats 0 7 0 7 14
Location: Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky
Statistics UK VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics UK Passing T. Wilson Jr. 3–9, 18 yards, 1 TD Rushing B. Snell 32 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD Receiving L. Bowden 3 receptions, 18 yards, 1 TD VAN Passing K. Shurmur 15–23, 216 yards, 1 TD Rushing J. Wakefield 19 carries, 74 yards Receiving C. J. Bolar 2 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Commodores 7 14 3 21 45 Razorbacks 7 7 3 14 31
Location: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, Arkansas
Statistics ARK VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics ARK Passing T. Storey 23–36, 240 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing R. Boyd 19 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving C. O'Grady 6 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD VAN Passing K. Shurmur 13–19, 192 yards, 2 TD Rushing K. Vaughn 26 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD Receiving J. Pinkney 5 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TD
1 2 3 4 Total Commodores 14 7 7 0 28 Tigers 7 6 13 7 33
Location: Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri
Statistics MIZ VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics MIZ Passing D. Lock 22–33, 253 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing D. Crockett 22 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD Receiving D. Gicinto 4 receptions, 81 yards VAN Passing K. Shurmur 24–35, 249 yards, 3 TD Rushing K. Vaughn 15 carries, 182 yards, 1 TD Receiving K. Lipscomb 8 receptions, 99 yards, 1 TD
1 2 3 4 OT Total Rebels 3 10 6 10 0 29 Commodores 0 12 14 3 7 36
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
Statistics MISS VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics MISS Passing J. Ta'amu 32–52, 457 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing I. Woullard 16 carries, 107 yards Receiving A. Brown 9 receptions, 212 yards VAN Passing K. Shurmur 22–34, 191 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing K. Vaughn 25 carries, 127 yards Receiving J. Pinkney 6 receptions, 85 yards
1 2 3 4 Total Volunteers 0 0 7 6 13 Commodores 7 10 0 21 38
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee Team Category Player Statistics TENN Passing J. Guarantano 13–29, 139 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing T. Chandler 7 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD Receiving J. Jennings 2 receptions, 51 yards VAN Passing K. Shurmur 31–35, 367 yards, 3 TD Rushing K. Blasingame 20 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD Receiving C. J. Bolar 6 receptions, 93 yards
1 2 3 4 Total Bears 10 7 14 14 45 Commodores 14 7 7 10 38
Location: NRG Stadium • Houston, TX
Statistics BAY VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics BAY Passing C. Brewer 21–34, 384 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing C. Brewer 16 carries, 109 yards Receiving T. Ebner 3 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD VAN Passing K. Shurmur 18–37, 286 yards, 1 TD Rushing K. Vaughn 13 carries, 243 yards, 2 TD Receiving K. Blasingame 3 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ] ^ Lowery, Logan (September 12, 2024). "MSU fires Moorhead after two seasons" . Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal . Retrieved September 17, 2024 . All eight of Moorhead's victories in 2018 had to be vacated after 10 football players were reprimanded by the NCAA for academic misconduct involving a former part-time tutor and an online chemistry class. ^ "Vanderbilt Bowl Eligible For First Time Since 2018" . American Football Coaches Association . November 3, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024 .^ "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List" . July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018 .^ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List" . July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018 .^ "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF) . July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018 .^ Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List" . Retrieved July 30, 2018 . ^ "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced" . August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018 .^ "Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018" . August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018 .^ "Media predicts Alabama to win 2018 SEC Championship" .^ "2018 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Schedule" . FB Schedules. Retrieved December 26, 2017 .^ "Nevada vs. Vanderbilt – Game Summary – September 8, 2018" . ESPN . Retrieved September 8, 2018 .
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