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December is a strange time for recruiting.
There is still about a month before letters of intent can be signed and coaches can officially and formally talk about their recruiting classes. But coaches are not allowed much contact with recruits right now and certainly cannot say them by name.
But with the pervasiveness of social media, coaches still have to let recruits know they are at the top of their wish list when Santa Claus comes calling.
Vanderbilt director of player personnel Tyler Barnes released his #Select16, a sort of wish list for Santa on Christmas Eve describing 16 recruits Vanderbilt is targeting ahead of signing day:
https://twitter.com/TylerBarnesVU/status/680101029635993600
No names are mentioned so Barnes would appear not to be in violation of NCAA rules. But with the pervasiveness of recruiting news and information we can maybe make some inferences on who these guys are.
1. Tough, nasty smart OL is probably three-star center Sean Auwae of Hawai’i. Auwae at one point committed to UCLA but backed out and is now picking between Vanderbilt, Louisville and Hawai’i. Auwae may wait until signing day to make a decision but took an official visit to Nashville.
2. Smooth, sure-handed pass catcher is probably Kalijah Lipscomb of Louisiana.
3. The best route runner is probably Joejuan Williams who has already committed to Vanderbilt.
4. A little South Florida speed is unclear based on 247’s recruiting database.
5. Long, fast playmaking WR is three-star Oklahoma product Austin Quillen, who has already committed to Vanderbilt.
6. Long, rangy tackling machine is four-star Texas product Jeffrey McCulloch or Dontavious Jackson. McCulloch is the fourth best linebacker in the country, according to Rivals. Jackson is the ninth best linebacker in the country. Jackson recently announced his final list of schools and left Vanderbilt off it.
7. Freakishly athletic jumbo athlete is probably Alabama defensive end Kelvin Lucky. Lucky visited Vanderbilt earlier this month and has picked up some pretty high offers — including from Florida. Lucky played his first year of organized football this past season.
8. Smart QB-sacking machine is probably four-star defensive end Prince Sammons. 247 Sports says interest has cooled between Sammons, the 20th ranked defensive end in the country, but he is still taking visits with several academic schools including Duke.
9. Smart, relentless OLB is someone from Hawai’i. The 247 recruiting database does not list any outside linebackers from Hawai’i as interested in Vanderbilt.
10. Absolute gamechanger is probably offensive lineman Devin Cochran, already a Vanderbilt commit.
So that is a very Merry Christmas wishlist from Vanderbilt to some recruits it is targeting.
We will see whether the Commodores get presents or coal in their stockings in February.
