Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea met with the media on Tuesday, Sept. 16, just days after the Commodores’ dominant 31-7 win over then-No. 11 South Carolina. With momentum on their side, Vanderbilt now turns its attention to a revenge matchup at home against Georgia State.
The meeting carries extra weight after the Commodores’ disappointing loss to Georgia State in 2024. That defeat still lingers, especially for the veterans on this year’s squad.
“Obviously, it’s been a big week,” Lea said. “This is a game that stung us last year, so [we’ve had] a lot of learning from that. This is a dangerous team we’re playing against. They’re athletic and very capable on both sides of the ball.”
One of the main threats the Commodores must prepare for again is wide receiver Ted Hurst, who torched Vanderbilt last year with 128 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 15 seconds left. Lea knows stopping him is a priority.
“[Georgia State are] going to feature maybe the best receiver [we’ve] faced to this point,” Lea said. “He’s a really good player. We learned that last year, so he’ll present challenges to us.”
Looking back on the 2024 meeting, Lea admitted the preparation and focus were lacking.
“A year ago, I felt like there was just a lot left to be desired with respect to how we focused in the week, how we showed up and how we played at the start of the game. We paid for it,” he said.
This time, however, the Commodores are approaching things differently. With quality wins already on their résumé and sharper practices, Lea feels his team is in a stronger place.
“Today, yesterday [and] Sunday were certainly better days than we had a year ago this week,” he noted.
Part of Vanderbilt’s improvement comes from key additions like FAU transfer CJ Heard, who recorded 12 solo tackles against South Carolina.
“[CJ’s] a good player. He’s instinctive. He has a really good point of attack fundamentals, and he’s a good tackler,” Lea said. “I’ve been so pleased with how he’s played… He’s made a big difference, and I’m really pleased that he’s with us.”
Another standout has been junior Martel Hight, whose ability to contribute at wide receiver, defensive back, and on special teams has made him one of Vanderbilt’s most versatile weapons.
“I thought [Hight] performed well defensively too,” Lea said. “There are times where he’ll go defense to punt return to offense and won’t skip a beat. It was great to see him get involved, and he can be a real weapon for us offensively.”
The offensive line has also been a cornerstone of Vanderbilt’s early success. Despite some penalties, their cohesion and leadership — particularly from center Jordan White — have impressed Lea.
“I think [the offensive line] handled themselves well in a really tough environment,” Lea said. “I love the mentality. I love the attitude. I love the way they’re executing. I think [Jordan White] has been such a bright spot on our team to this point in the year.”
Vanderbilt’s hot start has propelled them into the AP Top 20, but Lea made it clear that rankings aren’t the focus.
“I never take for granted the progress and positive energy that’s around us. I don’t bathe in it, though. I don’t sit there and go swimming [in it],” he said.
Instead, the Commodores are keeping their eyes on Saturday’s matchup with Georgia State — a game they’ve had circled since January.
“We’ve talked about [this game] since January, so this is a really big one for us,” Lea said. “We want to play really well”.
