Vandy has five starting slots to finalize before opener
The Commodores’ depth chart has three starters on offense still undecided and three choices left on defense. Johnson promised Monday at his weekly news conference that he and his coaches will know who’s starting before they leave.
“We’re not going to tell you,” Johnson told reporters.
Time is running out with only two practices left before the Commodores leave for Wake Forest. History isn’t good for Vanderbilt, which hasn’t won a season opener since beating North Texas in 1997 and hasn’t opened with a victory on the road since 1993.
Coincidentally, that game was a 27-12 victory at Wake Forest.
Johnson and his coaches are busy quizzing players in meetings to determine who is most familiar with what they’re looking for.
“You never know. Some of them may get sick or not understand the game plan as well,” Johnson said.
“We feel more comfortable with the guys who know the game plan and know the adjustments and this is no longer a simple game. You’ve got to know what you’re doing out there. If you don’t, you’re going to look bad.”
The choice for starting tailback is between a pair of sophomores — Jeff Jennings or Cassen Jackson-Garrison. Two spots on the offensive line remain undecided with senior Ryan King the likely choice if he can recover from a sprained ankle, while sophomores Josh Eames and Merritt Kirchoffer are vying to be the left guard.
On defense, Johnson must choose between sophomores Theo Horrocks or Lamar Divens at right tackle, and two starting slots in the secondary remain open.
Senior Kelechi Ohanaja, who was second in tackles last season with 64, would seem to have the edge at strong safety over junior Ben Koger. With the one-game suspension of Sean Dixon at cornerback, redshirt freshmen Jared Fagan and Josh Allen will get their first starts Thursday night.