A quick glance at Vanderbilt’s passing-game box scores tells the same story every week: Junior Sherrill is carrying the load, and the Commodores need someone else to join him.
Sherrill has hauled in six catches from five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis in each of Vanderbilt’s last two games, piling up 203 yards in that stretch. Through the first month of the season, he has been the offense’s most reliable receiving weapon by a wide margin.
The trouble starts right after that. Against Auburn, the next most productive targets were running back MK Young, who had three catches for 21 yards, and Ja’Cory Thomas, who finished with three receptions for 18 yards. Tristen Brown, Cole Adams and Brycen Coleman combined for just two catches and 14 yards.
There was at least one reminder that Brown can be part of the answer. Against NC State, he posted four receptions for 81 yards, and he and Sherrill were the only Vanderbilt players with more than two catches in that game.
Still, the larger issue is hard to miss: Vanderbilt does not yet have enough consistent pass-catching options. That is the problem Clark Lea is trying to solve.
“I think it’s a matter of designing. Right now we’ve designed a lot for Junior.
We’ve created one-on-one shots and I think Ja’Cory can be a great option opposite Junior for a downfield threat,” Lea said. “Both Cole and T5 [Brown] are guys that have a knack for finding the spaces on the shorts intermediate throws and that’s an area where their abilities can help give Jared options.”
The Commodores have numbers in the receiver room, but Lea made it clear that availability alone is not enough. Those players have to turn that depth into production on Saturdays.
Tight ends Cole Spence and Jayvontay Conner are part of the picture, too. Spence saw his first game action of the season at Auburn, which means his role in the passing game is still just beginning to take shape. Lea also pointed to the connection Conner has with Curtis as another reason for optimism.
Even with the uneven production from the pass catchers, Vanderbilt is not sounding any alarms. Lea said the group is still settling into its roles, and he believes more options beyond Sherrill will emerge.
“All of this is about chemistry and time and Tim’s [offensive coordinator Tim Beck] design for how we move the ball effectively,” Lea said.
At his Tuesday press conference, Lea circled back to the same need: Vanderbilt wants another receiver who can threaten defenses down the field. Once again, he pointed to Thomas and Coleman as candidates to fill that role.
Maybe one of them gets there. The bigger question is when, because Vanderbilt needs that answer quickly. This weekend’s game against Georgia would be a natural place for one of those receivers to start staking a claim as a true No. 2 option.
In Other News...
Vanderbilt Heads To Georgia With A Problem Fans Did Not Want
Vanderbilts week got a lot more complicated on the eve of its trip to No. 2 Georgia, with the Commodores releasing an initial injury report that immediately put a spotlight on availability. Eight players showed up on the list, and the most troubling part for Vanderbilt is the cluster of names already ruled out, including cornerback Jaylin Lackey and linebacker Jamison Curtis, both of whom will miss the game because of injuries.
Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis is listed as questionable, which only adds to the uncertainty around a depth chart already carrying plenty of concerns. There is at least some encouraging news in the group marked probable, with Miles Capers, Lyndon Cooper and Clinton Azubuike expected to be in position to play, but Vanderbilt is still heading into one of the toughest road tests in the country with a problem no team wants this late in the week. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt May Have Found An Unexpected Answer At Wide Receiver
Vanderbilts search for more answers at wide receiver took an unusual turn against Auburn, when backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz lined up in the pass-catching group for a few snaps. He finished with one catch for no yards and drew another target, but the bigger takeaway was that the Commodores were willing to experiment with a player whose athleticism and feel for the offense have kept him in the mix.
Head coach Clark Lea confirmed Berlowitz had been working at wide receiver in practice and pointed to the chemistry he has developed with quarterback Jared Curtis as part of the appeal. Whether that usage sticks is still unsettled, but the staff is clearly exploring ways to get Berlowitz on the field, which could give Vanderbilt a little more flexibility as it looks for help in that room. [Read more 🡒]