We now have 14 hard commits in the 2021 class with 4 additional commits in the last week and a half. Here’s a look at the latest studs we’ve landed along with an overview of our talented 2021 class thus far.

The 4 new commits are 6’6”, 280 pound offensive tackle Gage Pitchford, an 84, 3 star, by 247 rankings, out of East Coweta High School in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Gage is an aggressive, physical player who loves to hit people and takes many defensive linemen to the woodshed and enjoys doing it. Gage will be a major impact player for us in the future. We’ve also landed 84, 3 star defensive end Jacques Hunter, a 6’3”, 210 pounder out of football powerhouse Lowndes, in Valdosta, Georgia. Lowndes is traditionally one of the top programs in the state of Georgia, a state that is filled with exceptional players and exceptional teams. Jacques is all over the field and loves to knock people off their feet. He’ll be a great addition to our defensive line, outside linebacker group in the future. Needs to put on some weight, but Strength Coach James Dobson will handle that. We received 2 commitments this week. Sunday, the lightning fast 85, 3 star James Ziglor III committed to us. James is a 5’11”, 185 cornerback from Harrison High School in Kennesaw, GA. He’s got superior speed, took quite a few carries to the house on offense, and is a playmaker on defense. Really like what we’re getting in James. Superb athlete. Yesterday, the powerful Gunnar Hansen committed to us. Gunnar is a 6’5”, 305 pound offensive tackle, who is rated as an 84, 3 star by 247. Gunnar just buries people. Gunnar played at American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale, FL. last season, but has moved over to the great powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale for his senior season. Gunnar joins Aquinas cornerback Tyson Russell in this class. Tyson is a 5’10”, 170 pound cornerback with great cover skills and speed. We have several Aquinas players on our team right now. We’re getting a lot of great athletes and size on both sides of the ball.

The other 9 players in this promising class, that is still developing with several talented players on our radar, are 87, 3 stat wide receiver Jack Bech out of St. Thomas More in Lafayette, LA. Jack is a stud, catches everything, and like 2020 wide receiver and high 3 star signee Logan Kyle, will be an excellent player on the perimeter for us in the near future. Eighty six, 3 star offensive guard Xavier Castillo is another excellent addition to this 4 member offensive line class, which may very well add one more big fella before signing day in December. Xavier is a mountain of a man at 6’5”, 325 and hails from St. Francis Academy in Baltimore. Our fourth offensive linemen is 84, 3 star Jake Ketschek, a 6’4”, 316 pound offensive tackle out of St. Augustine Prep in Richiano, New Jersey. All 4 of our lineman are big, tough and physical. Excited to see which other piece Coach Mason and the staff bring in for our 5th offensive linemen. Will keep you posted.

Our other playmaker on the perimeter is 83, 3 star wide out Ezra McAllister, a 6’0”, 170 explosive young player out of Marshall High School in Marshall, Michigan. Ezra has phenomenal wheels and an amazing ability to cut on a dime after catching the ball. We’ll really like his playmaking ability. Ezra isgoing to be making several house calls at VU. Looks like a slot wide receiver.

Our running back in this class is a great one. Dylan Betts-Pauley is a 6’0”, 215 Sherman Tank out of Hoover High School in Birmingham. Dylan has massive power, can get you those tough yards on every down, and has take it to the house deceptive speed. Saw him break quite a few runs on his film. I know Coach Mason and the staff want to add another RB to the class, so will keep an eye on that position. Really like the one we’ve gotten though. Expecting big things from DBP.

On the defensive line, 86, 3 star Terion Sugick is a 6’ 2 1/2” defensive tackle out of National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland. Terion is a disruptor and physical player. Love his addition upfront.

Tyler Bence is a 6’3”, 273 defensive tackle out of Huntsville, AL. Tyler is an 84, 3 star, and loved his film as well. He’ll get up to 295-300 like Terion will. Just really like the athletic ability in this class. The other piece, so far, upfront on defense, is 83, 3 star defensive end A.J. Campbell out of Copley High School in Akron, Ohio. A.J. is 6’4”, 240, and is another physical talent. Could play like present talented OLB Elijah McCallister as an outside linebacker, and rushing off the edge. So highly talented defensive line class so far.

Along with Russell and Ziglor III, Alan “Taco” Wright is an 84 corner-safety versatile player who committted a month and a half ago.. “Taco” is 6’0”, 185, and is the brother of freshman 4 star quarterback Mike Wright. Watched Taco’s film and he’s a player who is a ballhawk and a hitter.

So, I love this class so far. As mentioned earlier, there are several pieces that we could add to this class. Probably would like another linebacker, probably an inside guy, another RB, another wide out, a quarterback and there is a QB out of Brentwood Academy who is very interested in us and we are in him. We’ll get another OL and DL and add a guy to the secondary. Really liking the makeup of this group. We need to add to it, but we will. Will keep you posted on any more commits who jump aboard in the next several days and upcoming weeks.

Football practice is going very well so far. Quarterback is a 4 way battle. Freshman Ken Seals has been impressive. Seals is a high 3 star in the 2020 class. Then you have fellow 4 star freshman Mike Wright along with transfers Danny Clark, who started at Kentucky before transferring to Junior College in Mississippi. Jeremy Moussa is another junior college prospect competing for the job. We have good talent, not great experience, but that’s what fall camp is for. We did have 4 key players opt out of the season, 3 key offensive linemen, Jonathan Stewart, Cole Clemons and Bryce Bailey, and our leading tackler from last season, inside linebacker Dimitri Moore. Sorry those guys are not playing, and we’ll have to develop some depth on the OL, but we’ve got talent and several players, so we can develop the rest of this month and into September. I like our team and what we can do this season and into the future.

Our first game is @ Texas A&M, Saturday, Sept. 26th. No time announced as yet. We’ll definitely be on TV though. On October 3rd, LSU comes to Vanderbilt Stadium. On Oct. 10, we’ll host South Carolina. On Oct. 17th, we’ll be @ Missouri. We’re off on Oct. 24 and then host Ole Miss on Oct. 31st. On Nov. 7th, we play @ Mississippi State, then, on Nov. 14, we’re @ Kentucky. On Nov.21 we host Florida. On Nov. 28, that team from the East comes to town. And on Dec. 5, we play @ Georgia.

No doubt the schedule is tough, but it’s that way every year, and I’m just elated we have a shot at competing this season. A freshman quarterback for Georgia State was diagnosed with a heart condition related to COVID-19 yesterday, so that’s a development. He sounds like he’s OK. There is danger there, but hoping we can survive the pandemic and play SEC football. This year’s team gets a pass regardless of the outcomes. These are just unprecedented times as a good friend said to me about a month ago, so it’ll be a thrill to see our team play, and keep developing our present team and building on a highly talented recruiting class. We’ve got a chance to be a special team in the next couple of years with continued improvement on this year’s team and continued excellent recruiting. I know the older guys are really focused on having a solid 2020 season though and go to a bowl, so believe in them. More on football next week.

MLBers

All our guys are competing well. Here are 4 who are really excelling right now.

Dansby Swanson

Dans is hitting .303 with 3 homers and 16 Ribeyes. In 85 chances at shortstop, Dans has not committed an error. Thats’ sensational. Love what the man is doing. He had quite a night on Monday, hitting a walk off 2 out 2 run game winning home run to win the game for the Bravos over the Washington Nationals, 7-6. Dansby, at 26 years old, is hitting his stride as a professional baseball player. Love seeing it. Couldn’t happen to a better guy. The Braves are 14-11 and a game and a half ahead of the Miami Marlins in the NL East. They’re battling through some injuries with stud centerfielder Ronald Acuna and stud second basemen Ozzie Albies hurt right now. But this team seems to always find a way to get it done in dramatic fashion. Dansby is a major part of that clutchness. Acuna and Albies should be back pretty soon. Kyle Wright has been a little up and down this season on the mound, but the Braves believe in Kyle’s talent like we all do and he’s in the starting rotation. Kyle was schedule to pitch last night versus the Nationals, but the game was postponed due to rain. Kyle will pitch again next Wednesday against the New York Yankees, so that’ll be a thrill to watch.

Yaz

Mike Yastrzemski is playing superb baseball for the San Francisco Giants. Yaz is hitting .319 with 6 homers and 19 Ribbies. In 67 chances at every position in the outfield, Mike has not committed an error either. He’s a spectacular defensive player. I saw him make a diving catch in right central on Sunday that saved at least one run from scoring. The Giants are 10-16, but have won their last 2 over the Angels. Just need to get better work out of their bullpen. The hitting, defense and starting pitching are good. Love to see Yaz excelling.

Tony Kemp

Tony is only hitting .239 right now, but he’s hit over .300 in the month of August. In 50 chances at 2nd base, Tony has not committed an error either. Tim Corbin grooms terrific players who can really hit and play serious defense. Tony has found a home with the Oakland A’s, a perfect fit for him. The A’s are a blue collar, hard working team, that are so clutch. They are presently 17-8 and lead the AL West by 2 1/2 games over the sign stealing Houston Astros. Love what T Kemp is doing as well.

Sonny Gray

Sonny has been beyond spectacular for the Cincinnati Reds. The man is 4-1 now with a 2.05 ERA and an 0.913 WHIP, walks plus hits per innings, spectacular number, anything under 1.00 is totally stellar. In 30 innings, Sonny has walked only 9 and struck out 45. He’s putting together a Cy Young type season right now. The Reds are 10-12, and 5 back of the Chicago Cubs, who are 16-8. With the playoffs expanded to 8 teams per League, 16 total in the Majors, the Reds are definitely in the picture for a playoff spot and they’ve got a talented roster. Sonny pitches tonight @ St. Louis at 7:15 PM CT. The Cardinals are 6-7, having only played 13 games due to irresponsible behavior on the team with several members contracting COVID due to some carousing that was out of line. But they’re back playing, so big game tonight for Sonny and the Reds. Will let you know how it goes.

Will have more on football, MLB studs, our exciting basketball team, our stellar men’s golf and women’s tennis teams coming up in the next week. Thanks a lot.