Five takeaways from Vanderbilt football's first depth chart release before Hawaii game

Vanderbilt football released its first official depth chart of 2023 on Tuesday. The listed starters had very few surprises, though the Commodores will be down a few players as Darren Agu and Christian James are both out for the Hawaii opener on Saturday. Both would have the chance to start if healthy.

On offense, Vanderbilt returns eight players who started a year ago. The listed starters are AJ Swann at quarterback; Will Sheppard, Jayden McGowan and Quincy Skinner at receiver; Patrick Smith at running back; Justin Ball at tight end; Logan Kyle at flex tight end; Gunnar Hansen at left tackle; Delfin Xavier Castillo at left guard; Julian Hernandez at center; Bradley Ashmore at right guard and Junior Uzebu at right tackle.

On defense, the starters are Yilanan Ouattara at defensive end, Nate Clifton at defensive tackle; Devin Lee at nose tackle; Aeneas DiCosmo at defensive end/linebacker; Kane Patterson at WILL linebacker; Ethan Barr at MIKE linebacker; De'Rickey Wright and Jaylen Mahoney at safety; CJ Taylor at linebacker/safety and BJ Anderson and Tyson Russell at cornerback.

On special teams, the starters are Will Faris at kickoff specialist; Matthew Hayball at punter and holder; Jacob Borcila or Brock Taylor as kicker; Wesley Schelling as long snapper; Sheppard as punt returner and McGowan as kick returner.

Here are three takeaways from the depth chart release:

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Seven freshmen make the depth chart

Seven true freshmen were listed on the opening depth chart, making it likely that they will see action against Hawaii.

Four of those players are on offense, including London Humphreys (second-team outside receiver), Junior Sherrill (third-team slot receiver), Sedrick Alexander (third-team running back) and Kamrean Johnson (second-team tight end).

On defense, Martel Hight was named a second-team cornerback and Bryan Longwell a third-team MIKE linebacker.

Kicker Brock Taylor was given the "or" designation with transfer Jacob Borcila as starting kicker.

Two 'or's

Kicker is the only position that doesn't have a set starter on the depth chart, and the battle between Taylor and Borcila will go into the season, coach Clark Lea confirmed.

The lone other "or" on the depth chart was at third-string quarterback, where redshirt freshmen Drew Dickey and Walter Taylor are both listed. Lea said that if there were to come a time where a third quarterback would be needed, the game situation would dictate which of the two got in the game.

Walk-on Richie Hoskins gets a shot

Walk-on Richie Hoskins, who transferred from Division III Middlebury prior to the 2022 season, was listed second on the depth chart at slot receiver, ahead of Sherrill.

"Richie has impressed us since he arrived honestly, and he's been a consistent leader for us," Lea said. "He's been a playmaker for us. He's got really good hands, he's smart, he's physical. And so he's earned it."

Less tight end usage

Last year, Vanderbilt ran a high amount of 12 personnel, which is when there is one running back and two tight ends on the field. That was a good choice when Ben Bresnahan and Gavin Schoenwald were on the team. But with both of them gone, and Cole Spence out for the season, the Commodores will use tight ends a bit less.

"I don't see us venturing too far from 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end) in the early going here, but we also recognize the fact that we have a really talented receiver room," Lea said. "So as the year goes on, and as that position evolves, we know we have the chance to put four receivers on the field to spread it out a little bit."

Rotation at corner

Though veterans BJ Anderson and Tyson Russell got the nod at starting corner on the original depth chart, Lea said after the team's practice Saturday that he anticipated some shuffling at the position, with Hight and redshirt freshman Trudell Berry also seeing time.

"I think you're going to see all those guys playing, and it's not going to be two guys playing the entire game," Lea said Saturday. "We need to get Martel in the game. He needs to be a part of our plan. We need to get Trudell Berry and he needs to be a part of our plan. Those guys can play winning football for us."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football releases depth chart for Hawaii: Five takeaways