3 new Commodores anchor down in advance of National Signing Day

The early National Signing Day brought 16 new recruits to Vanderbilt’s Class of 2018. The regular one just got a little more exciting.

Head coach Derek Mason earned three commitments over the last two days, earning pledges from a trio of southern recruits. 6’7 defensive end Lorenza Surgers, 6’4 wideout Amir Abdur-Rahman, and 6’2 receiver BJ Anderson are all set to fax their official letters of intent to Nashville on February 7.

Abdur-Rahman was the first domino to fall. The Atlanta native is a three-star recruit whose 6’4, 200-pound frame gives him at least a passing resemblance to former Vandy target Chris Boyd. He picked the Commodores over offers from Maryland, Wake Forest, and Iowa State.

His highlight reel shows a talented playmaker with a strong nose for the ball and good timing to freeze defenders out of potential breakups. Though he lacks elite speed, he uses his SEC size well to power through tackles and break free for yards after the catch. With Caleb Scott, Trent Sherfield, and CJ Duncan all graduated, he should have a chance to break onto the field next fall.

Anderson, whose first name is Bridges (which is awesome), only had scholarship offers from two other FBS programs — Troy and South Alabama. Vanderbilt offered him late in the process, which should be a good indicator of how the tail end of this year’s recruiting class is shaking out. He’s a sleeper for sure, but he put up big production at Andalusia High School in Alabama.

Anderson is faster and more elusive than Abdur-Rahman. His ability to change directions quickly could make him an asset in the return game as well.

Surgers is the last domino to fall, a low three-star recruit and a project of a pass rusher who will need some time on the practice field and in the weight room before he makes an impact at Dudley Field. At 6’7 and 225 pounds, he’s got an intriguing frame and will be fun to watch develop, though he’ll have to learn when to use that leverage and when to get lower in his pads to make the most of his mismatch potential at defensive end.

He’d previously committed to UConn before flipping to the Commodores Monday.

That brings Mason’s Class of ‘18 haul up to 20 players. That includes 16 commits who signed during the early period, this February trio, and holdover Rayshad Williams — a 6’4 cornerback who seems every bit a perfect fit in Mason’s secondary. Vanderbilt still has two more days to add some more talent to a top-heavy class that features three members of ESPN’s top 300 recruits.