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Good morning.
Optional Musical Accompaniment
You never want to see this.
Here is Vanderbilt's depth chart for this week. I have a quick count of 45 scholarship players, DBs playing LB for the first time, 5 DL-men (including one who just switched back from OL) and a bunch of guys who have barely seen the field. pic.twitter.com/DfFDlc16u7
— Chris Lee (@chrislee70) December 8, 2020
If you’re counting, Vanderbilt has 18 scholarship players listed on the depth chart on the defensive side of the ball. That number doesn’t include backup safety Camden Coleman, a walk-on, but does include Drew Birchmeier, back on the defensive line after moving to the offensive line in the preseason. So, perfectly normal. Also, 5’11”, 185-pound cornerback Jaylen Mahoney is listed as the starter... at outside linebacker. (Weirdly, the offensive side of the ball appears pretty normal.)
One thing I will say is that to the extent that there have been any more losses, most of them have been seniors, or at least fourth-year juniors — guys who we probably weren’t expecting back next year either way. One way to read a lot of the opt-outs in this light is that they’re guys who planned to go somewhere else as grad transfers after the season and figured it’s not worth it any more, just wanting to finish their degree and move on. I don’t know. Then again, Daevion Davis and Derek Green are gone from the defensive line and who knows what’s going on there. Maybe Todd Fitch will answer for some of this at his press conference.
In more bad news, the men’s basketball team’s December 11 game against North Carolina Central is off. That means next up on the schedule is Mississippi Valley State on December 13. That should be a win: MVSU lost to Arkansas by a score of 142-62 earlier this season.
Women’s basketball hosts ETSU tonight at 7 PM CT on the SEC Network+.
Auston Kim will compete in the U.S. Women’s Open, which tees off on Thursday.
Women’s tennis signed Australian Amy Stevens to a Letter of Intent. Stevens will join the program in 2021-22.
SEC Basketball Schedule
Bad Gambling Advice: Season to Date: 15-22-1 ATS, 16-22 totals
Colorado at Tennessee (5:00 PM CT, SEC Network+): Colorado +5.5, Under 137.5
Montana at Georgia (6:00 PM CT, SEC Network): Georgia -10.5, Over 144.5
Jackson State at Mississippi State (8:00 PM CT, SEC Network): Mississippi State -16.5, Under 132.5