2018 Winter Haven (FL) RB Ja’Veon Marlow Commits to Vanderbilt

Derek Mason’s strong push on the recruiting trail continued on Sunday, as 2018 Winter Haven (FL) RB Ja’Veon Marlow committed to Vanderbilt via his Twitter account.

Marlow is rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals, and the 247 Sports composite rating considers him the #66 running back prospect in the Class of 2018 and the #164 prospect in the state of Florida. Marlow chose Vanderbilt over offers from Nebraska, Arizona, Iowa State, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pitt, and Purdue.

At 5’10” and 186 pounds, Marlow was clocked at 4.76 in the 40-yard dash and 4.4 in the shuttle run at The Opening. His junior year highlight tape doesn’t show him to be an especially powerful runner, but he’s shifty and has good breakaway speed when he finds daylight:

When he arrives on campus, Marlow will join what’s already an impressive stable of running backs at Vanderbilt. Ralph Webb will be gone after this year, but Vanderbilt will have Illinois transfer Ke’Shawn Vaughn eligible next year, in addition to returnees Khari Blasingame, Josh Crawford, and Jamauri Wakefield.

Marlow is now the fourteenth commitment to date in the Class of 2018, and the fourth from the Sunshine State -- joining Miles Jones, Javan Rice, and Max Worship. His commitment brings Vanderbilt’s 2018 recruiting class up to 24th nationally in the 247 Sports composite. And we were worried Derek Mason couldn’t recruit as well as James Franklin.