Three-star TE/ATH Gavin Schoenwald picks Vandy over Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee

Derek Mason didn’t have to go far to find his sixth recruit for the class of 2018. Tight end/athlete Gavin Schoenwald, a three-star prospect, will make the short trek from Brentwood to Nashville when he joins Vanderbilt football next fall.

The news came just a day after Mason and his staff landed a commitment from another impact tight end, Georgia recruit Ben Bresnahan. Together, the pair will give the Commodores two athletic 6’5 playmakers who are versatile enough to develop into major red zone threats and recharge the Vandy offense.

Schoenwald announced his commitment on Twitter Thursday afternoon.

Schoenwald also played quarterback for Brentwood Academy, and while he could be a dependable SEC passer, he looks most likely to do his damage as a receiver up the seam. He’ll need to add bulk to a lean 225-pound frame, but he shows the fundamentals that could make him a plus blocker at the next level. More importantly, he shows a keen awareness in finding space downfield, which should make him a dependable target for Vanderbilt’s quarterbacks of the future.

Another year of experience at the position should only raise his stock. By the time January’s recruit rankings come out the Commodores could have another four-star player en route. More importantly, Mason’s ability to add another homegrown standout should bolster his reputation in Middle Tennessee. Schoenwald is the team’s first in-state commit for ‘18. He’d be the eighth player on the roster from Nashville or its suburbs should he make it to campus next fall.

Here’s what Vandy’s class of 2018 currently looks like: