We are less than two months away from the Kentucky football team reporting to campus for the beginning of fall training camp. Over the next few weeks at KSR+, we will start getting ready for the schedule.<\/p>\n
For the seventh year in a row, I will be providing weekly scouting reports on Thursday for Kentucky\u2019s upcoming opponent that will include an in-depth look at personnel, advanced stats, scheme background, betting information, series history, program profile, and keys to victory. That is just around the corner.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s never too early to start getting some homework done. We are now pumping out some early scouting reports as we research and take a closer look at the foes on Kentucky\u2019s schedule. Next up is a program trying to climb out of the cellar.<\/p>\n
Early Scouting Report: Southern Miss<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Early Scouting Report: South Carolina<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Early Scouting Report: Georgia<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Early Scouting Report: Ohio<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Early Scouting Report: Ole Miss<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Notre Dame defensive coordinator\u00a0Clark Lea<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0returned to his alma mater following the 2020 season to begin a long rebuild at Vanderbilt. The former assistant coach at UCLA and Wake Forest knew there was a tall task awaiting in Nashville. Lea inherited a program that had one long losing streak to get rid of.<\/p>\n That losing streak finally got snapped in 2022.<\/p>\n Vandy stunned Kentucky at Kroger Field as a 17-point underdog to record the program\u2019s first SEC road win since 2018. One week later, Vandy knocked off Florida at home for the program\u2019s first SEC home win since 2019 as a 14-point underdog. That was Vanderbilt\u2019s first victory over the Gators in Nashville since 1988. Those two victories created a lot of positive momentum for the program.<\/p>\n That momentum evaporated in 2023.<\/p>\n Vandy finished 2-10 and posted the program\u2019s third winless SEC season in four years. The Commodores have not won more than two SEC games since 2018. Lea\u2019s program is having a hard time finding its footing. The head coach decided to make massive changes in the offseason by leaning into the portal, hiring a third offensive coordinator in four years, and taking control of the defense. Only time will tell if those moves will pay off but the deck seems stacked against Vanderbilt.<\/p>\n Vanderbilt was another SEC program that saw over 20 players leave the program and that is something that will always be difficult for this high-end academic institution to overcome. However, Clark Lea\u2019s staff tried to find answers by reeling in a huge portal class with over 20 additions.<\/p>\n That was needed after some serious star power was lost.<\/p>\n Vandy saw eight of 17 players who played 200-plus snaps on offense leave the program via the transfer. Quarterbacks Ken Seals<\/a><\/strong> (TCU) and AJ Swann<\/a><\/strong> (LSU) will be power conference backups this season. Wideouts Jayden McGowan<\/a><\/strong> (Boston College), London Humphreys<\/a><\/strong> (Georgia), and Will Sheppard<\/a><\/strong> (Colorado) will each have big roles at their new schools. The defense also had some losses with top defensive lineman Nate Clifton<\/a><\/strong> transferring to USC and starting linebacker Ethan Barr<\/a><\/strong> ultimately flipping his transfer commitment from Washington to UCF. <\/p>\n In the portal, Vandy reeled in five New Mexico State commits (more on this later) and a couple of receivers. The Commodores signed some needed offensive line help, found a new punter, and a couple of potential starters in the secondary.<\/p>\n Lea\u2019s program lost some talented players but they were able to find replacements. Many of the additions have multiple years of eligibility remaining. Player development will still need to happen over numerous years for this program to find success.<\/p>\n After a second-year resurgence under Joey Lynch<\/a><\/strong> where Vandy found some success on the ground with Mike Wright<\/a><\/strong> at quarterback and Ray Davis<\/a><\/strong> at tailback, things reverted for the Commodores in 2023. This program could not take advantage of some talent at wide receiver and an early season injury at quarterback put the program into a tailspin.<\/p>\n Scoring: 22.8 (No. 103 overall)<\/p>\n Points Per Drive: 1.65 (No. 105 overall)<\/p>\n Yards Per Play: 5.18 (No. 102 overall)<\/p>\n Yards Per Rush: 3.28 (No. 122 overall)<\/p>\n Yards Per Pass: 6.9 (No. 86 overall)<\/p>\n Snaps Per Game: 63.5 (No. 118 overall)<\/p>\n Pass Play Percentage: 55.16% (No. 23 overall)<\/p>\n 20+ yard plays: 55 (No. 73 overall)<\/p>\n Red Zone TD Percentage: 64.71% (No. 39 overall)<\/p>\n After becoming a run-heavy team with Wright and Davis in the lineup, Vandy switched to a pass-heavy attack with AJ Swann and Ken Seals. The results weren\u2019t pretty. After another 2-10 season, Clark Lea decided to make a switch and is bringing the New Mexico State offense to the West End.<\/p>\n Former New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill<\/a><\/strong> is now Vanderbilt\u2019s senior offensive advisor. NMSU offensive coordinator Tim Beck<\/a><\/strong> will be calling plays for the Commodores. Diego Pavia<\/a><\/strong> (6-0, 200, RSr.) is expected to be Vandy\u2019s starting quarterback after starring in the C-USA.<\/p>\n Kill and Beck\u2019s offense played at a slow tempo but ranked No. 12 in success rate and No. 33 in EPA\/play last season. Most importantly, New Mexico State finished No. 5 in rushing success rate rolling up just under 200 yards per game with Pavia leading the way with 1,058 non-sack rushing yards and seven touchdowns.<\/p>\nState of the Program<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Transfer Portal Recap<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Vanderbilt Offense<\/strong><\/h2>\n