Ohio State WR Alex Stump announces he will transfer to Vanderbilt

Derek Mason only landed one four star prospect in Vanderbilt’s 2017 recruiting class. He’s added two more through Big Ten transfers.

Former Ohio State wide receiver Alex Stump announced he would join the Commodores this summer. Stump spent two years in Columbus, redshirting as a freshman and then catching only a single pass last fall. The once-touted recruit will join Illinois transfer Ke’Shawn Vaughn as potential impact players for the 2018 season.

Stump announced his decision on Twitter Tuesday.

Stump will sit out the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but will be eligible to play the following year. That’ll be just in time for the Commodores, as quarterback Kyle Shurmur will be entering his senior season but will be without top targets C.J. Duncan, Caleb Scott, and Trent Sherfield. While Kalija Lipscomb, Donaven Tennyson, Jackson Winrow, and recruits James Bostic and Chris Pierce will be available, the addition of a veteran like Stump will help stabilize the unit during a period of turnover.

While the Ohio State product hasn’t yet left his mark on the NCAA, a look at his recruiting profile showcases the kind of impact Mason’s newest Commodore can have. Stump was a four-star prospect who held scholarship offers from Stanford, Nebraska, West Virginia, and a handful of Ivy League schools. He’s the kind of dynamic student-athlete who fits well with the culture Vanderbilt football strives to create.

At 6’3 and 210 pounds, he’ll give the team the kind of big red zone target it’s lacked since Chris Boyd was dismissed from the program in 2013. With long arms, good hands, and the ability to adjust to the ball once its in the air, his presence could be a boon to Shurmur and the Vandy passing attack.

He won’t be able to contribute next fall, but the Commodore staff’s ability to find underappreciated talent outside traditional recruiting grounds is a strong way to supplement a low-key class of 2017. Stump could be a major piece of Vanderbilt’s offensive revival, especially if Shurmur and Vaughn can continue to grow as athletes. Add in an ever-developing offensive line and young talent like Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney, and you’ve got the makings of a bowl team.