Clark Lea is well aware that Vanderbilt football fell below expectations in 2023.
After a surprising 5-7 finish in 2022, the Commodores fell to 2-10 in 2023. That prompted Lea to make a variety of sweeping changes to try to boost his team in 2024: staff changes, a roster overhaul and a strength and conditioning shakeup.
In his podium session at SEC Media Days in Dallas on Monday, Lea described to reporters his process of remaking the program. In particular, he described three specific steps the program has taken: first, changing the way the team trains, second, re-imagining the team’s scheme, and third, embracing NIL and the transfer portal.
It remains to be seen if that approach will work. The Commodores face an uphill battle with the expansion of the SEC to include Oklahoma and Texas, which will make their SEC schedule harder.
Here’s how Vanderbilt plans to remake its team and improve in Lea’s fourth season:
Vanderbilt made a change at strength and conditioning coach in the offseason to bring in Georgia Southern’s Robert Stiner. Although this change is under the radar, it’s an important one not just because of the strength and conditioning coach’s role in player development but also how much time that person spends with the players.
Much of the summer is spent on conditioning, and according to Lea, the results have already started to show.
“One of the things that I feel like is most impressive is, the speed has increased,” Lea said. “But so has the weight. And so when you look at our edge players, average weight gain from January til now, an average addition of 16.4 pounds, that’s impressive. Now you talk about the tight end group averaging 12 pounds of weight gain, safeties averaging 10 pounds of weight gain.”
If the Commodores can hold those gains on both the speed and weight, Vanderbilt could start to see it pay off on the field.
There was significant staff changeover in the offseason. Offensive coordinator Joey Lynch was replaced with Tim Beck from New Mexico State and defensive coordinator Nick Howell parted ways with the program while Lea took over the defensive playcalls himself. Other staff changes included offensive line coach, special teams coordinator, running backs coach and safeties coach.
Other additions included former New Mexico State coach Jerry Kill as a chief consultant to the head coach and Steve Gregory as an associate defensive coordinator. Due to NCAA rules changes, both coaches can coach players on the field now.
“My belief that I could possibly impact (the defense) kept me from having to put anyone else in front of our defensive players,” Lea said. Consequently, I’ve grown closer to the team and … I’m able to build connection through teaching the game that we love and share. And … I needed to round out the staff or someone who had the experience of strength on our operational systems while sharing in the responsibilities that traditionally fall to the head coach. Jerry Kill brings to our staff 175 wins over 24 years as a head coach. He’s built programs at challenging places throughout his career. And I can think of no one better to lock arms with as we continue our climb at Vanderbilt.”
Together with the Aggies, Beck and Kill won 10 games in 2023 and defeated Auburn at what is historically considered one of the toughest places to win. New Mexico is a far cry from Nashville, but Kill and Beck do have a track record of winning at lower levels.
According to Lea, Vanderbilt has brought in 53 new players on the roster out of 120. The Commodores brought in a traditional large freshmen class but also took 22 transfers. Among the most notable of those were the quarterback that led the upset over Auburn, Diego Pavia.
“He’s a unique competitor, he just exudes edge and we’re really, really proud to have him in black and gold,” Lea said.
ESTESDon’t you worry about Jerry Kill. He’s busy helping revive Vanderbilt football | Estes
Pavia will compete with Utah transfer Nate Johnson for the starting job. Other notable transfers include Liberty tackle Chase Mitchell, Purdue edge Khordae Sydnor, Mississippi State offensive lineman Steven Losoya and TCU safety Randon Fontenette.
“Falling behind in the NIL and transfer portal spaces has erased much of the progress we made in our first two years,” Lea said. “As I’ve stated in the past, it’s impossible to function in the portal without resources. And it’s taken time for us to build the infrastructure that allows us both to retain our team and be competitive in that market. … And though we still have a ways to go, we’re in a much better position to support our team now than we were a year ago.”
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.
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