James Franklin is shaking things up a bit heading into spring practices in Nashville. Faced with a glut of quarterbacks, the team announced that two scholarship players, Josh Grady and Kris Kentera, would be spending April at new positions.
Grady, a 6'0", 190 lb redshirt freshman, was originally brought to campus as a QB but many thought he could end up at wideout or tailback due to his athleticism. He'll line up at receiver alongside players like Chris Boyd and Jordan Matthews next season. Kentera, a 6'4", 215 lb passer from the same recruiting class, will be a hybrid H-back and tight end headed into the 2012 season.
Grady and Kentera are the second and third players to recently move from quarterback under Franklin. LaFonte Thorogood announced a winter switch to fullback after redshirting his freshman year as well. With the changes, Vanderbilt will be left with Jordan Rodgers, former Mountain West Freshman of the Year Austyn Carta-Samuels, true freshman Patton Robinette, and redshirt junior John Townsley on the depth chart. Another highly rated quarterback prospect, 2013 freshman Johnathan McCrary, has committed to Vanderbilt and will make an impact in Nashville soon enough.
Could these moves suggest that room is being made for potential Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien? The former ACC Freshman of the Year has strong connections to James Franklin and his staff and has been rumored to have Vandy in his top three choices for his next destination. However, it's possible that the 'Dores are just cleaning up to get their best athletes the most possible playing time.