Mizzou Week 7 Opponent Preview: Vanderbilt Commodores
The Missouri Tigers will continue conference play in Week 7 when the Vanderbilt Commodores come to Columbia for an SEC East matchup.
The Commodores were one of the bottom-feeders of Division I last season, let alone in a powerhouse conference like the SEC. Vanderbilt finished with a 2-10 record and went 0-8 in SEC play. The two lone wins came in a two-point victory over 1-11 UConn and a three-point victory over 3-9 Colorado State.
The Commodores were shutout twice and ended the season on a seven-game losing streak. But still, coach Clark Lea's team gave Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers a tougher fight than most expected in Nashville. The 37-28 win for Mizzou was one of the closer losses Vanderbilt had all season.
Mizzou currently leads the series between the two teams by a margin of 9-4 with one tie
Vanderbilt was last in the SEC in total offensive yards (3,751) total passing yards (2,272), and points scored (189). The team would have ranked last in total rushing yards if not for the pass-happy offense of Mississippi State having the fewest rushing yards per game in the nation (59.5).
The Commodores were eighth-worst in average points per game (16.9) in Division I last season and allowed the 15th-most offensive yards per game (471.5).
The defense wasn't much better. Vanderbilt was last in the SEC in total yards (5,492), passing yards (3,171), and points (430) allowed in 2021.
Vanderbilt Commodores
2021 Record: 2-10 (0-8 in SEC)
Offensive Scheme: Pro Spread
Defensive Set: 4-3
Head Coach: Clark Lea
Lea enters his second season at Vandy, his first collegiate coaching gig after stints as an assistant at Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Syracuse, UCLA, and South Dakota State. The Vanderbilt alum played fullback for the Commodores from 2002-2004.
Projected offensive starters:
QB Ken Seals
RB Re'Mahn Davis
WR Will Sheppard
WR Kyle Logan
WR (Slot) Devin Boddie Jr.
TE Ben Bresnahan
LT Gunnar Hansen
LG Ben Cox
C Julian Hernandez
RG Delfin Xavier Castillo
RT Bradley Ashmore
Projected defensive starters:
DE Nate Clifton
DT Daevion Davis
DT Malik Langham
STAR LB: Elijah McAllister
WILL LB: Anfernee Orji
MIKE LB: Kane Patterson
LB Michael Owusu
CB Jeremy Lucien
CB Jaylen Mahoney
SS Maxwell Worship
FS Chase Lloyd
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
Follow MizzouSportsTalk.com on Facebook and Twitter!
Want More Tigers News? Check Out The Latest In Mizzou Tigers News Here
