Vanderbilt Hoping to Finally Build on Success in Football

Bobby Johnson may learn it's easier to find success than maintain it.  No player on Vanderbilt's team was even alive the last time Commodores had a winning season.  Let me repeat that, not one player had even been born since Vandy last had a winning season 26 years ago.

This year, Vandy won't have the element of surprise that they did last year when they jumped on teams early before collapsing mid season only to make a very breathtaking bowl win to secure that first winning season in a quarter century.

Does this mean we can rank Vanderbilt as an SEC power?  They did after all beat a very good Boston College team that was heavily favored.

With two good signing classes in the books over the last couple of years, Bobby Johnson is hoping to try and maintain their winning ways.  New recruit Wesley Tate, the younger brother of Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate is sure to help. But it won't be easy.

After losing All-SEC corner back D.J. Moore to the NFL Draft, Johnson may have to rely on younger players to step in and fill that big gap.  To help he signed four defensive backs this year and though it doesn't sound like much compared to the big boys, his haul of 12 three star athletes is the most ever at Vanderbilt.

In comparison last year, he signed just four three star players, but did get his first Parade All American in QB Charlie Goro. With McKenzi Adams throwing more picks than TD's last year, Chris Nickson leaving after his senior season and Larry Smith's little experience, we could see Goro making a push for playing time this year and well as Jared Funk.

In any event, should Johnson guide the Commodores back to another bowl this year and continue to put players in the NFL, his recruiting classes should go nowhere but up and who knows, Vandy's faith in hiring Johnson, as well as their decision to stand by him after such a rocky start, may end up paying bigger dividends than they could have imagined.