Vanderbilt Recruiting Updates: Franklin Drops One adds Two

Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin continues to work miracles on the recruiting trail for the Commodores. After years of relative futility attracting SEC caliber talent, Vandy has 22 verbal commitments, all with a 3-star ranking or better.

With only one year of head coaching experience under his belt, Franklin caught college football by surprise in 2011 and made a statement to all SEC teams that Vanderbilt will no longer be an easy win for any team.

The Commodores are a team on the rise and recruits from all over are jumping on board.

Franklin’s message has helped recruits like 3-star quarterback and Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year Patton Robinette from Maryville, TN to switch his commitment from North Carolina to Vandy.

Former Arkansas commitment Jakarri Thomas, a 3-star linebacker from Tallahassee, FL committed to the Commodores on Jan. 26.

Reports are former Razorback defensive coordinator Willy Robinson was high on Thomas. Once Robinson was released from his duties the Hogs cooled on Thomas.

A loss for Arkansas becomes a valuable gain for Vanderbilt.

Chris Moody, a safety and quarterback prospect from McDonough, GA, committed to the Commodores on Sunday Jan. 22, after taking an official visit to the campus the weekend of Jan. 20.

Moody is taking his last official visit to South Carolina before National Signing Day on Feb. 1. He visited University of Central Florida and South Florida previously.

The lone recruit no longer committed to Vanderbilt is 3-star wide receiver Andre McDonald from Minnetonka, MN. McDonald, rated as the third best prospect in the state of Minnesota, committed to the Golden Gophers on Jan. 26.

The only known soft verbal commitment on the Commodores list is 4-star defensive end Josh Dawson from Tucker, GA.

University of Georgia has aggressively recruited Dawson over the past weeks after he officially visited the Bulldogs on Jan. 13.

Minnesota is not ranked in Rivals.com top 50 while Scout.com has the Gophers ranked No. 62.

With three scholarships remaining Franklin hosted Dawson, 3-star linebacker Harding Harper from Montgomery, AL, 3-star offensive tackle Andrew Jelks from Paris, TN, Vanderbilt commitment Will Holden, 3-star wide receiver Herbert Waters from Homestead, FL, and Vanderbilt commitment Jaborian McKenzie the weekend of Jan. 20.

3-star offensive tackle Kevin McCoy from Seffner, FL is scheduled to visit this weekend.

Scout.com has Vandy ranked No. 33 in the nation which places them No. 10 out of the current 12 SEC teams with Kentucky at No. 34 and Ole Miss tied for No. 60.

Rivals.com rates Franklin’s haul much higher- No. 25. The bump in rankings on Rivals.com places Vandy at No. 9 in the SEC ahead of Mississippi State at No. 30, Arkansas at No. 31, Ole Miss No. 41, and Kentucky which is not ranked.

New SEC members Texas A&M and Missouri, come this summer, are ranked nationally at No. 10 and No. 49 respectively.

Here’s a list of the 22 current verbal commitments:

QB Patton Robinette, 6’5”, 200 pounds, 3-star, Maryville, TN

RB Jaborian McKenzie, 5’9”, 180 pounds, 3-star, Natchez, MS

RB Brian Kimbrow, 5’9”, 165 pounds, 4-star, Memphis, TN

WR Cory Batey, 5’11”, 180 pounds, 3-star, Nashville, TN

OT Andrew Jelks, 6’6”, 260 pounds, 3-star, Paris, TN

OT Will Holden, 6’6”, 271 pounds, 2-star, Green Cove Springs, FL

OT Blake Fromang, 6’8”, 280 pounds, 3-star, Orlando, FL

OT Barrett Gouger, 6’4”, 275 pounds, 3-star, Chattanooga, TN

OG Adam Butler, 6’5”, 285 pounds, 3-star, Duncanville, TX

CB Torren McGaster, 6’0”, 180 pounds, 2-star, Daphne, AL

CB Brandon Banks, 5’11”. 170 pounds, 3-star, Brandywine, MD

FS Chris Moody, 6’0”, 197 pounds, 3-star, McDonough, GA

SS Paris Head, 5’10”, 170 pounds, 3-star, Buford, GA

DE Ladarius Banks, 6’2”, 263, 2-star, Dallas, GA

DE Stephen Weatherly, 6’4”, 190 pounds, 2-star, Atlanta, GA

DE Josh Dawson, 6’4”, 225 pounds, 4-star, Tucker, GA

DE Caleb Azubike, 6’5”, 240 pounds, 3-star, Nashville, TN

DE Torey Agee, 6’4”, 250 pounds, 3-star, Opelika, AL

LB Jakarri Thomas, 6’1”, 195, 3-star, Tallahassee, FL

OLB Jacob Sealand, 6’1”, 220 pounds, 3-star, Tucker GA

OLB Darreon Herring, 6’2”, 195 pounds, 3-star, Stone Mountain, GA

K Colby Cooke, 6’3”, 175 pounds, 2-star, Goochland, GA

All commitments are verbal and non-binding. National Signing Day is February 1. 

What would you like to clarify? Don't forget to sign up for email notifications and as a reader/follower. Follow HogManInLA on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/HogManInLa

Vanderbilt Recruits Responding to James Franklin’s Pitch

Based off the momentum James Franklin has created for Vanderbilt in recruiting circles, one would think the Commodores are a perennial SEC East powerhouse instead of a program coming off just their fourth bowl game in school history.

Having no previous head coaching experience to help his cause, Franklin hit the recruiting trails in 2011 with little more than a promise of a top notch education and the ability to play in the SEC.

In a few short weeks leading up to National Signing Day, he did the unthinkable, he turn Vanderbilt into a destination school for highly regarded talent and in the process paved the way for the Commodores to be a contender in the SEC East for years to come.

Vanderbilt’s 2011 recruiting class was not on the level of other high profile SEC teams like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and Arkansas but what cannot be denied is the immediate impact Franklin made. He hauled in the two 4-star recruits- quarterback/wide receiver Lafonte Thourogood (Virginia Beach, Virginia) and tight end Dillon van der Wal (Westlake Village, California).

To put this achievement into prospective, Vanderbilt had not signed a 4-star recruit since 2003- tight end Jonathan Loyte (Danvers, Massachusetts).

In the process Vanderbilt posted their first Top 50 recruiting class in over a decade finishing ranked No. 49 (Scout.com).

Still not impressed? Of the 21 recruits Franklin signed 13 were rated as 3-star or better.

How about the fact that Vanderbilt finished the recruiting season ranked ahead of Baylor (50), West Virginia (53), UCLA (55), Maryland (56), Kansas State (61), and Arizona State (64)?

On the field Franklin translated his message into wins. Vanderbilt surpassed the win total of the two previous seasons (four wins) winning six games. Besting teams like Ole Miss, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Wake Forest along the way.

In four heartbreaking losses to Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee by a total of 19 points, Franklin showed they are close to taking the next step he just needs a few more talented players to round out his roster.

2012 is shaping up to be an even better year for the Commodores on the recruiting trail than 2011. Vandy is currently ranked No. 35 according to Scout.com with 21 total recruits verbally committed.

Running back Brian Kimbrow (Memphis, Tennessee) and defensive end Josh Dawson (Tucker, Georgia) are two 4-star recruits highlighting the early recruiting season for Vanderbilt.

Another recruit Commodore fans will be happy to see on campus is kicker Colby Cooke (Goochland, Virginia). Cooke is rated the 16th best place kicker in this year’s senior class. He was awarded spots on Parade Magazine and Sports Illustrated All-American teams after making 17-21 field goal attempts and helping his team advance to the state championship game.

If Vanderbilt’s pledges stay true, nine different states will be represented in this year’s haul.

As the final two weeks of the recruiting season heats up all eyes will be on Franklin hoping he can continue pulling top talent to Nashville.

The following is a complete list of all 21 current verbal commitments:

QB Patton Robinette, 6’5”, 200 pounds, 3-star, Maryville, Tennessee

RB Jaborian McKenzie, 5’9”, 180 pounds, 3-star, Natchez, Mississippi

RB Brian Kimbrow, 5’9”, 165 pounds, 4-star, Memphis, Tennessee

WR Adre McDonald, 6’3”, 210 pounds, 3-star, Minnetonka, Minnesota

WR Cory Batey, 5’11”, 180 pounds, 3-star, Nashville, Tennessee

OT Andrew Jelks, 6’6”, 260 pounds, 3-star, Paris, Tennessee

OT Will Holden, 6’6”, 271 pounds, 2-star, Green Cove Springs, Florida

OT Blake Fromang, 6’8”, 280 pounds, 3-star, Orlando, Florida

OT Barrett Gouger, 6’4”, 275 pounds, 3-star, Chattanooga, Tennessee

OG Adam Butler, 6’5”, 285 pounds, 3-star, Duncanville, Texas

CB Torren McGaster, 6’0”, 180 pounds, 2-star, Daphne, Alabama

CB Brandon Banks, 5’11”. 170 pounds, 3-star, Brandywine, Maryland

SS Paris Head, 5’10”, 170 pounds, 3-star, Buford, Georgia

DE Ladarius Banks, 6’2”, 263, 2-star, Dallas, Georgia

DE Stephen Weatherly, 6’4”, 190 pounds, 2-star, Atlanta, Georgia

DE Josh Dawson, 6’4”, 225 pounds, 4-star, Tucker, Georgia

DE Caleb Azubike, 6’5”, 240 pounds, 3-star, Nashville, Tennessee

DE Torey Agee, 6’4”, 250 pounds, 3-star, Opelika, Alabama

OLB Jacob Sealand, 6’1”, 220 pounds, 3-star, Tucker Georgia

OLB Darreon Herring, 6’2”, 195 pounds, 3-star, Stone Mountain, Georgia

K Colby Cooke, 6’3”, 175 pounds, 2-star, Goochland, Georgia

If Franklin continues to open 4-star and 3-star doors the Commodores will be a team to be reckoned with for years to come.

All commitments are verbal and non-binding.

National Signing Day is February 1. 

What would you like to clarify? Don't forget to sign up for email notifications and as a reader/follower. Follow HogManInLA on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/HogManInLa