2008 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Preview

2008 Vanderbilt Commodores season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Vanderbilt Commodores football preview as well as the 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Schedule. We also offer a free odds comparison service of lines and totals on the NCAA football odds page.

Coach: Bobby Johnson (7th year at Vanderbilt)
Team Name: Commodores
2007 Overall Record: 5-7
Returning Starters: 9

The Vanderbilt Commodores (5-7 overall, 2-6 SEC) ended their 2007 season sixth in the East. Their only two SEC wins came against Ole Miss 31-17 and South Carolina 17-6. The Commodores scored an average of 21.7 PPG, while allowing 22.6 PPG, leaving them with a deficit in the PF/PA ratio.

The quarterback situation is up in the air for 2008. It could be junior Mackenzi Adams (182 ATT, 101 COMP, 1,043 YDS, 9 TDs, 6 INT), who is a sound leader with rugged toughness. Or it might be Chris Nickson, a senior, who, although a better QB technically, has been plagued by injuries. A starter won’t be announced until the fall, but it does look like it’s Nickson’s job to lose. Overall, Vandy posted average running numbers but featured no game breaking rushing threat. Look for senior Jeff Jennings (96 CAR, 346 YDS, 2 TDs) and junior Jared Hawkins to both get plenty of carries. The receiving corps is thin this season due to graduation and injuries. The offensive line returns no starters, but it is stocked with guys who have seen quite a bit of action.

The Commodores’ defense was ranked 16th overall—18th versus the pass and 32nd against the run. The secondary includes three juniors and a senior, all of whom started last season. This seasoned unit should be tough to beat. The linebackers are talented and include hard working sophomore John Stokes on the strong side and dependable junior Patrick Benoist at the middle spot. They’ll be replacing two topnotch starters—Marcus Buggs and Jonathan Goff—who have departed. The defensive line does not have the depth to consistently be effective.

Two wins look certain with two others possible in toss-up contests against Miami (OH) on August 28 and Ole Miss on September 20. Both are road games.

In six years at the helm, head coach Bobby Johnson is 20-50 at Vandy. This year the team will once again put a solid defense on the field. But the other side of the ball raises many questions—quarterback, receiver and even running back. Vanderbilt has had 25 losing seasons in a row. It looks like the team is headed towards their 26th.

Vanderbilt Commodores Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 28	Miami Ohio	Away
Sep 4	South Carolina	Home
Sep 13	Rice	Home
Sep 20	Mississippi	Away
Oct 4	Auburn	Home
Oct 11	Mississippi State	Away
Oct 18	Georgia	Away
Oct 25	Duke	Home
Nov 8	Florida	Home
Nov 15	Kentucky	Away
Nov 22	Tennessee	Home
Nov 29	Wake Forest	Away

 

For more info on the 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores football program, view the Commodores official website or scroll down below to read up on the rest of the SEC competition.