NFL Veteran C.J. Ah You Joins Vanderbilt as Defensive Line Coach

Derek Mason's defensive line was one of the SEC's most underrated units in 2015 thanks to the play of athletes like Adam Butler, Caleb Azubike, Jonathan Wynn, and Nifae Lealao. Despite Azubike's departure, they'll have the opportunity to get even stronger in 2016 under new defensive line coach C.J. Ah You.

Welcome to the Vanderbilt family @CoachAhYou – new 'Dore D-line coach. pic.twitter.com/E8pktxNyLJ

— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) January 14, 2016

Ah You spent last season as the special teams quality control assistant with the Oklahoma Sooners. Before that, he spent six years playing professional football, mostly with the St. Louis Rams, after being selected in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He has played both defensive end and tackle in his career, and that flexibility should help him coach up a Commodore line that will be stocked with veteran talent in 2016.

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, who guided Ah You both as a player and a coach, praised his former assistant on the day of his departure.

.@OU_CoachStoops on CJ Ah You – "Vanderbilt is getting a great person. All of his former teammates and all of our staff love & respect him."

— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) January 14, 2016

He'll take over for Frank Maile, who left the program this winter. Maile is currently associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Utah State.