These are exciting times at Vanderbilt. The baseball team finished off the 2018 athletic year winning the national championship and the football program plans to build on that momentum. Derek Mason believes he has his best team in Nashville and will be seeking a second straight bowl trip. The Commodores won their last two regular season games last season to qualify for a bowl, then lost to Baylor in the Texas Bowl. Mason has shown progress in building his program with two bowl trips in the last three seasons, and he’s looking for that breakthrough year. He thinks it might come this season though he has to face Georgia, Purdue and LSU in the first three games. Last season USC handled Vandy in Nashville 37-14. The Commodores visit Columbia November 2nd.
Derek Mason at SEC Media Days
Vanderbilt at a glance (compiled by Menachem Muller)
Overall Conference
Vanderbilt Commodores 6-7 3-5 Lost Texas Bowl to Baylor
Derek Mason 6th season 24-38 9-31
| Offense | 2018 | SEC Rank | NCAA Rank |
| Points Per game | 28.5 | 11 | 71 |
| Rushing Yards per game | 167.6 | 9 | 66 |
| Passing yards per game | 243.7 | 6 | 55 |
| Total yards per game | 411.3 | 8 | 60 |
| Defense | |||
| Points allowed per game | 26.6 | 10 | 60 |
| Rushing yards allowed per game | 194.7 | 12 | 94 |
| Passing yards allowed per game | 244.2 | 10 | 85 |
| Total yards allowed per game | 438.9 | 13 | 99 |
The Commodores return 12 starters; 6 on offense, 5 on defense, and the Kicker.
Statistical Leaders Returning
| RB | Games | Yards | TD | AVG |
| Ke’Shawn Vaughn | 12 | 1414 | 14 | 8.3 |
| WR/TE | Games | Yards | TD | REC |
| Kalija Lipscomb | 13 | 991 | 10 | 87 |
| C.J. Bolar | 11 | 464 | 2 | 34 |
| Jared Pinkney | 13 | 774 | 7 | 50 |
| Defense | Tackles | TFL | INT | Sacks |
| Dayo Odeyingbo | 28 | 4.5 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Dmitri Moore | 84 | 3.5 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Frank Coppet | 30 | 0.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Tae Daley | 45 | 5.5 | 0 | 1.5 |
Returning Starters Offense
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
WR Kalija Lipscomb
WR C.J. Bolar
TE Jared Pinkney
LG Cole Clemens
RT Devin Cochran
Returning Starters Defense
DE Dayo Odeyingbo
DT Drew Birchmeier
LB Dimitri Moore
CB Frank Coppet
S Tae Daley
Special Teams
K Ryley Guay
Key Losses
QB Kyle Shurmur
RB Khari Blasingame
LT Justin Skule
RG/C Bruno Reagan
RG Egidio DellaRipa
LB Josh Smith
LB Jordan Griffin
CB Joejuan Williams
CB Donovan Sheffield
S LaDarius Wiley
