Tenn Truth
Fansided

Vanderbilt Football: Commodores look to nab first SEC win against the Razorbacks

By Logan Shaw

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 13: Jamauri Wakefield #32 of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates with teammate Devin Cochran #77 after scoring a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 13: Jamauri Wakefield #32 of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates with teammate Devin Cochran #77 after scoring a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Vanderbilt Commodores travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in a battle of teams searching for their first conference win of the season.

Finally, the matchup we have all been waiting for is here. Two teams enter and one team wins their first conference game of the season as the Commodores make their first trip to Fayetteville since 2010.

There is not much history between these two teams as they have only squared off nine times dating back to 1949.

Their last meeting was in 2011 when the Razorbacks traveled to Nashville as the number ten team in the country. The Razorbacks trailed late in third quarter before regaining the lead in the fourth and snatching the victory away from first-year head coach, James Franklin.

Most notably, this game gave us one of the more brutal hits of the decade as Arkansas’ Marquel Wade destroyed Vanderbilt’s Jonathan Krause on a punt, demolishing him seconds before the punt arrived while Krause was calling for the fair catch. Wade was promptly ejected and suspended from the Razorbacks’ next game, and the Commodores never recovered.

This year’s matchup will surely be less exciting as neither team is ranked and neither team has won an SEC game this season.

Regardless of their record, the Razorbacks are certainly capable of sending the Commodores back home in defeat. Here is what you need to know about the Commodores’ next opponent: the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Offense

The Razorbacks enter Saturday’s contest on their longest win streak of the season, one. Arkansas defeated their first FBS opponent of the season last week as they beat the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 23-0.

Leading the Razorbacks in rushing this season is sophomore running back, Rakeem Boyd, who is currently averaging close to seven yards a carry. Boyd is quickly becoming the Razorbacks’ most solidified back as his workload has gradually increased over the season.

FAYETTEVILLE, AR – OCTOBER 6: Rakeem Boyd #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs the ball in the second half during a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Razorback Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 65-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – OCTOBER 6: Rakeem Boyd #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs the ball in the second half during a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Razorback Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 65-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Boyd is certainly a weapon the Commodores should be aware as he has rushed for a gain of at least twenty-five yards in five of his seven games with rushing attempts this season. It also helps that Boyd runs behind an offensive line that features four upperclassmen, three seniors and a junior.

At quarterback, the Razorbacks have been slightly inconsistent, which is quite an understatement, as multiple quarterbacks have attempted passes for the Razorbacks in seven of their eight games this season.

Good news for the Razorbacks is that junior quarterback, Ty Storey, has returned to the Arkansas depth chart after missing last week’s game against Tulsa due to a head injury that he suffered against Ole Miss.

The Razorbacks feature several capable pass catchers, most notably La’Michael Pettway and Cheyenne O’Grady, who account for over half of the Razorbacks’ receiving touchdowns. It is not their ability that is questionable. Rather, it is the ability of one of their many quarterbacks to get them the ball.

Similar to their game plan against Kentucky, the Commodores will need to stop the Razorbacks’ rushing attack and make Storey very uncomfortable to leave Fayetteville victorious.

Defense

Though the Razorbacks are fresh off their first shutout since 2014, the Arkansas defense has not been strong this season as they are allowing over thirty-two points per game and forty points per game in conference play.

Leading the team in tackles is junior linebacker, De’Jon Harris, who has the second most tackles in the SEC, behind Vanderbilt’s Jordan Griffin, with eighty-two tackles on the season.

FAYETTEVILLE, AR – SEPTEMBER 30: De’Jon Harris #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks tackles Larry Rosa III #3 of the New Mexico State Aggies at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Aggies 42-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – SEPTEMBER 30: De’Jon Harris #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks tackles Larry Rosa III #3 of the New Mexico State Aggies at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Aggies 42-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Statistically, their most notable defender in the secondary is senior cornerback, Ryan Pulley, who is tied for the second most interceptions in the SEC with three on the season.

Pulley and Harris are certainly two threats that senior quarterback, Kyle Shurmur, will need to be aware of as the Commodores have struggled to move the ball in conference play, averaging only fifteen points against SEC foes this season.

Thankfully, the Arkansas defense has not proven to be much of a threat this season, ranking 111th in passing yards allowed per game.

For Vanderbilt to win in Fayetteville, the Commodores must pass the ball effectively against the struggling Arkansas defense, and they will also need a healthy Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who is currently listed as the starter on the Commodore depth chart this week, back in the lineup as he was sorely missed last week and in the second half of the Commodores contest against Florida.

Catch the Game

The Commodores will travel to Fayetteville on Saturday to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks who have won the last three meetings between the two schools. Kickoff is set for 11:00 AM CT/12:00 PM ET and will be broadcasted on the SEC Network.

Home/Vanderbilt Commodores