Vanderbilt Football Recruiting: TE/DE Cody Markel is the Latest To Join 2016 Class

As the days until National Signing Day 2016 grow closer and closer, the time is now for Vanderbilt to add players who are going to thrive both academically and athletically during their time in Nashville. Late Wednesday evening, TE/DE Cody Markel from Middleton HS in Wisconsin is the latest to drop the anchor. Markel announced the news on Twitter:

Extremely excited to announce I will be attending Vanderbilt University to play football! #AnchorDown ⚓️⚓️ pic.twitter.com/bUQZE7jIJ2

— Cody Markel (@merkel24) January 7, 2016

Markel is an under-the-radar prospect who played his high school ball in the state of Wisconsin, a state that is far from a pipeline for Vanderbilt. He has a solid 6-foot-5 frame with plenty of room to grow at only 205 pounds. He played his high school football with a very familiar name for Vanderbilt fans: Ludwig. Coach Ludwig's son plays on this Middleton HS team, and is a future Division I ready prospect as well.

According to his NCSA profile, Markel is someone who is going to thrive in the academic setting that is Vanderbilt University, as he has been able to obtain a 3.97 GPA, as well as receiving a 33 on the ACT. Impressive numbers for any applicant, let alone for one that is prepared to play football for CDM and company.

On the field, He played both defensive end and tight end, and he did both well as seen in his Senior film. His physicality immediately jumps off the tape, as does his awareness for finding the ball. He will need to bulk up if he is going to play in the SEC, but with a 6-foot-5 frame, that will be one of the easier adjustments he makes when he steps foot on campus.

We've got a busy month in recruiting coming up, with offers, de-commitments, flips, and commitments all coming up. Count on AoG for the latest one-hundred percent free Commodore recruiting news.