Can the Vanderbilt Commodores return to relevance in the 2023 NFL Draft? The Nashville-based program failed to have a player selected in April, but they’ve been a regular fixture since the turn of the millennium. Who are the top prospects who could return the Vanderbilt name to the podium in the 2023 NFL Draft?
Vanderbilt prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft
Unsurprisingly for a program whose biggest draft haul was six selections in 1956 and 1959, the list of Vanderbilt prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft isn’t substantial. However, there is genuine potential that one player could follow in the footsteps of most recent draftees Dayo Odeyingbo, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, and Joejuan Williams.
Re’Mahn Davis, RB
Vanderbilt’s hopes of having a prospect selected in the 2023 NFL Draft are led by running back Re’Mahn Davis. The former Temple RB had a productive season for the Owls in 2019, tallying 936 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Davis had posted 50+ rushing yard games in his first season for Vanderbilt last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Davis’ quick feet, vision, and patience as a rusher may prove alluring for NFL teams if the 5’9″, 205-pound running back returns to his redshirt-freshman form.
Jeremy Lucien, CB
After a productive season for the UConn Huskies in 2021, Jeremy Lucien heads to the SEC with Vanderbilt, where he’ll be hoping to elevate his 2023 NFL Draft stock. Lucien tallied two interceptions in nine games for the Huskies last year. At 6’2″ and 192 pounds, he has the size to play outside at the NFL level while boasting impressive length. Meanwhile, the new Vanderbilt CB has demonstrated a decent level of athleticism that, combined with his size and length, makes him a potent weapon in man coverage.
Anfernee Orji, LB
Anfernee Orji is comfortably Vanderbilt’s most productive returning defensive player for the 2022 college football season. The 6’2″, 224-pound former safety was a monster in the box, tallying 13 tackles for loss as part of a 92-tackle campaign. Can a similar season of production catapult him into 2023 NFL Draft contention? He’s an explosive tough tackler with elite football intelligence whose main limitation may be a lack of top-end speed.
Jaylen Mahoney, CB
A former three-star recruit who was impressively productive for South Pointe High School, Jaylen Mahoney is one of the leading lights of the Vanderbilt secondary. Last season, the 5’11”, 191-pound cornerback tallied two interceptions and four pass breakups. Meanwhile, he proved disruptive in the backfield with 4 1/2 tackles for loss. The senior CB showcases great instincts, ball skills, impressive athleticism, and is a vocal on-field leader.
Will Sheppard, WR
Vanderbilt WR Will Sheppard is only heading into his junior season for the Commodores, but he showcased some alluring attributes in something of a breakout season in 2021. The 6’3″, 200-pound pass catcher led the program in receiving touchdowns (four) and yards per catch (13.4) as a sophomore last season. While he needs to work on some elements of his game — such as developing a release package to defeat press coverage — Sheppard has shown that he can use his big-bodied frame to make spectacular plays at the catch point.
Ethan Barr, LB
Once a three-star linebacker committed to Tulane, Ethan Barr made a surprisingly large contribution to Vanderbilt as a true freshman in 2020. Last season, he emerged as one of the more disruptive linebackers in the SEC. With 85 tackles last fall, he possesses the tackling tenacity you’d expect from a 6’3″, 244-pound linebacker. However, Barr also showcased disruptive ball skills last year, leading all SEC linebackers with three interceptions.
Ken Seals, QB
Vanderbilt QB Ken Seals returns for his third season under center. At 6’3″ and 218 pounds, the junior quarterback boasts prototypical NFL size. Meanwhile, he has solid mechanics upon which he can build. Although last year wasn’t his greatest, Seals completed 64.6% of his passes during the 2020 season while quarterbacking an offense that is heavily predicated on the ground game.
Kane Patterson, LB
Although he went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Clemson LB James Skalski wound up on an NFL roster this spring. The next man in line to replace him at Clemson was Kane Patterson. However, Patterson entered the transfer portal and headed to Vanderbilt to join his brother Langston, a Vanderbilt recruit in the 2022 class. A former four-star recruit himself, Patterson is a downhill threat with good lateral agility. He’s also showcased some ball skills from the LB position, snagging an interception for Clemson in the 2020 CFB campaign.