Derek Mason, Commodores not lacking confidence at SEC Media Days
HOOVER, Ala. — The pitch that Vanderbilt football head coach Derek Mason extended as he addressed the masses at SEC Media Days took a personal approach at times.
After several questions from reporters, he not only hyped the Vanderbilt program, but also complimented reporters on their attire.
Times like that showed Mason was excited to be here. Entering his fourth season as head coach of the Commodores, the team finally found some success last season after reaching the postseason for the first time in his tenure. Despite losing in the Independence Bowl to N.C. State, Vanderbilt returns 18 starters and has the momentum to be an even bigger factor in the SEC East race this season.
“For the first time in my tenure, I look at depth on this football team,” Mason said. “And I truly believe we have a chance to do something special.”
One thing was clear: Mason’s pitch was not for himself or the team. The Commodores know not to be underestimated.
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Along with the returning starters, Vanderbilt is also bringing back 38 upperclassmen to give Mason the junior and senior led team he’s wanted since going up against teams like the Dak Prescott led Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi, at the beginning of his head coaching career.
“I am not talking about how many games we are going to win, but I do know we have a junior-senior team,” Mason said. “The culture, continuity, all of those things lead to special things. I've been there before, and I am truly excited what the season holds for us.”
For the players at least, the convincing is done. All three Vanderbilt players that came with Mason to Hoover spoke about how great it was to make it to a bowl game last season. They also talked about the team's big wins against Georgia and Tennessee last year. And one guy in Ralph Webb didn’t waste any time in declaring himself “the best running back in the nation.”
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“I think my film is as good as anyone else’s in the country,” Webb said. “I’ve been a consistent back for the past three years.”
Mason called Webb the most underrated back in the SEC and a guy that is chasing conference history with Herschel Walker’s SEC rushing record within grasp. Webb currently sits at No. 20 on the SEC’s all-time list but has impressed his first three years as he’s now set all three of the freshman, sophomore and junior rushing records for the Commodores.
Besides the accolades he hopes to bring in, Webb will play a big part serving as a complimentary back for quarterback Kyle Shurmur and the offense.
Shurmur was brought up at first with the addition of a Migos reference. And while he down played how loudly he and his teammates played music in the locker room, he spoke highly of the turnaround the offense undertook to reach the postseason.
“I think not only myself but as an offense we all grew as the season went on,” Shurmur said. “...We saw flashes of that throughout the beginning of the year and we really did some great things. We would like to be more consistent, but I think we can build off the end of last season.”
Shurmur’s offensive growth was a big part of Vanderbilt closing out the season strong to reach bowl eligibility. He upped his average to 298 passing yards per game over the Commodores’ last three games, including a career-day against Tennessee in which he threw for 416 yards in the victory.
Whether it was Vanderbilt’s strong close to the season or because of the depth and talent present on its current roster, the confidence was overflowing at SEC Media Days. Mason’s pitch and Webb’s claims to the media should serve as an early warning — Vanderbilt has its sights set on making a move in the SEC East.
“We want to compete and win the East just like everyone else,” Webb said. “And we are going to do everything in our power to go out and get it done.”
