Commodores Recruiting: Franklin Signs Best Vanderbilt Class in Recruiting Era

On Wednesday Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin gave Commodores fans arguably the best recruiting class the city of Nashville has signed in 20 years or more.

The discrepancy in recruiting services aside, even the most critical of Vanderbilt fans cannot argue about the tremendous amount of SEC caliber talent Franklin signed to his 2012 recruiting class.

When National Signing Day finished the whirlwind of activities across the nation, Vanderbilt signed a class that included three 4-star prospects along with 18 3-star players including one 3-star prospect that will grayshirt this fall.

The biggest coups of the recruiting class maybe linebackers Jakarri Thomas and Harding Harper, two prospects very high on SEC rival Arkansas.

Thomas was committed to the Hogs until Jan. 27 when he switched his verbal pledge from Arkansas to Vanderbilt after his official visit to Nashville.

Harper had been offered by Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, and Arkansas. He is considered the thirty-second best linebacker in this year’s recruiting class by Scout.com.

Franklin filled a need at middle linebacker with Harper and Jacob Sealand. With Chris Marve departing due to graduation, Harper and Sealand will both get an opportunity to compete for time at middle linebacker during fall practices.

Three big in-state recruits helped add overall quality to Vandy’s class. Running back Brian Kimbrow from Memphis, defensive end Caleb Azubike, and Andrew Jelks from Henry County High School were all considered 4-star talents on Rivals.com.

Azubike has the frame, size, and tools to be an All-SEC performer. He is listed at 6’5”, 240 pounds, and runs a reported 4.65 forty-yard dash. He was offered scholarships by Miami, Kentucky, and Boston College among others.

Offensive tackle Andrew Jelks is listed as the thirty-first best offensive tackle in the nation. His 6’6”, 260 pound frame will need to add some weight once he gets on campus if he is to remain an offensive tackle in the SEC but his footwork and hand quickness coming out his stance is great.

Brian Kimbrow from East High School in Memphis has the game breaking speed that every coaching staff covets including teams like Alabama and Auburn.

He has been clocked at 4.2 in the forty-yard dash. He is a little undersized at 5’9”, 165 pounds, but the addition of extra weight should not slow him down too much.

Because of Kimbrow’s speed, he will get opportunities to contribute on special teams next fall on return and coverage units. If he can show improvement with his pass catching ability he could make an impact as a third-down back as well.

A few surprises came Vanderbilt’s way on National Signing Day. Safety-athlete Chris Moody from Henry County High School in Georgia signed with South Carolina instead of with the Commodores.

Perhaps the least surprising but the most upsetting loss was four-star defensive end Josh Dawson to Georgia. The Tucker, GA product was rumored to be a candidate to flip to Georgia leading up to National Signing Day.

The Commodores may have found their quarterback of the future in Patton Robinette. With senior quarterback Larry Smith departing and 2011 starter Jordan Rodgers having only one more year of eligibility left, Robinette will have an opportunity to push Rodgers in practice while learning the game during the 2012 season.

One of the biggest needs for the Commodores in 2012 that has gone unsigned is at kicker. Three-star kicker Colby Cooke from Goochland, VA has been committed to the Commodores since August but remains unsigned and is expected to grayshirt this fall.

Cooke’s scholarship will count against Vanderbilt’s 2013 recruiting class.

Cooke is considered the eighth best kicker in the nation per Rivals.com. If he is able to translate his prep career abilities to the colligate level he could make an immediate impact for Vanderbilt.

Another perspective for Vanderbilt fans to appreciate is Franklin’s class ranking among other SEC teams. For the first time in the recruiting era, Vanderbilt is ranked ahead of teams like Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky, and SEC new comer Missouri.

Coming off a 2011 bowl berth and another great recruiting class, Vanderbilt fans have a lot to be excited about in the coming years.

Here’s a list of the 22 Vanderbilt signees:

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

RB Jaborian “Tip” 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, 4-star, Paris, TN

OT Will Holden, 6’6”, 271 pounds, 3-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

OT Kevin McCoy, 6’5”, 275 pounds, 3-star, Seffner, FL

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

CB Torren McGaster, 6’0”, 180 pounds, 3-star, Daphne, AL

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

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

DE Ladarius Banks, 6’2”, 263 pounds, 3-star, Dallas, GA

DE Stephen Weatherly, 6’4”, 190 pounds, 3-star, Atlanta, GA

DE Caleb Azubike, 6’5”, 240 pounds, 4-star, Nashville, TN

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

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

MLB Harding Harper, 6’2”, 212 pounds, 3-star, Montgomery, AL

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, 3-star, Goochland, GA

* Denotes Grayshirt

How the recruiting services ranked Vanderbilt’s class:

Scout.com No. 44

Rivals.com No. 29

247Sports.com No. 49

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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. 

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