VIDEO: Mason On Youth Playing Key Roles For Vanderbilt Defense

Derek Mason spoke with the media on Tuesday and talked about the youth on his defense, and in particular at inside linebacker.

Derek Mason is a football coaching looking for consistancy and for answers to the issues that have plagued the Vanderbilt Commodores through the first five weeks of the season. 

In doing so, there have been several young, inexperienced players earning valuable playing time. Along with that playing time come mistakes that young players often make. One such area has been inside linebacker, where the Commodores have used different players and multiple lineups each week because of injuries.

Mason spoke of two young players seeing extensive minute in redshirt freshmen Brendon Harris and Dashaun Jerkins. The two are currently one and two in total tackles for the Commodores. 

Through five games Jerkins leads the team in tackles with 32 while Harris is second with 29. stops. Junior Dimitri Moore is third with 28 stops.

For context, redshit junior and team leader Kenny Hebert is fourth with with 19 tackles, but leads the team in tackles for loss with 4.5 through five games. 

The future for the Commodores defense would seem to have potential for improvement as these young players mature and grow, but with this season hanging in the balance, the time is now for that improvement to begin to show.