2018 Vanderbilt Commodores football team


The 2018 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores played their home games at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference. They were led by fifth-year head coach Derek Mason. Vanderbilt finished the season 6–7, 3–5 in SEC play to finish in 6th place in the East Division. They were invited to play in the Texas Bowl where they were defeated by Baylor. This would be the last season the Commodores were bowl eligible until the 2024 season.

Recruiting

Recruits

The Commodores signed a total of 19 recruits.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Chuck Bednarik AwardCharles WrightLBSR
Maxwell AwardKyle ShurmurQBSR
John Mackey AwardJared PinkneyTEJR
Walter Camp AwardKyle ShurmurQBSR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardKyle ShurmurQBSR
Manning AwardKyle ShurmurQBSR

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018, with the Commodores predicted to finish last in the East Division.

Game summaries

Middle Tennessee

StatisticsMTSUVAN
First downs2119
Total yards294346
Rushes–yards116176
Passing yards178170
Passing: Comp–Att–Int27–37–110–17–0
Time of possession31:0929:51

Nevada

StatisticsNEVVAN
First downs1425
Total yards250468
Rushes–yards34198
Passing yards216270
Passing: Comp–Att–Int22–39–1–224–34–2–0
Time of possession23:5836:02

At Notre Dame

StatisticsNDVAN
First downs2423
Total yards380420
Rushes–yards24594
Passing yards135326
Passing: Comp–Att–Int16–26–026–43–1
Time of possession29:1230:48

South Carolina

StatisticsSCVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Tennessee State

StatisticsTSUVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

At Georgia

StatisticsUGAVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Florida

StatisticsUFVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

At Kentucky

StatisticsUKVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

At Arkansas

StatisticsARKVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

At Missouri

StatisticsMIZVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Ole Miss

StatisticsMISSVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Tennessee

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TENNPassingJ. Guarantano13–29, 139 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
TENNRushingT. Chandler7 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD
TENNReceivingJ. Jennings2 receptions, 51 yards
VANPassingK. Shurmur31–35, 367 yards, 3 TD
VANRushingK. Blasingame20 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD
VANReceivingC. J. Bolar6 receptions, 93 yards

Baylor–Texas Bowl">2018 Texas Bowl">Texas Bowl

StatisticsBAYVAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Players drafted into the NFL

245Joejuan WilliamsCBNew England Patriots
6183Justin SkuleOTSan Francisco 49ers