By STEVE CORNELIUS, CJ Sports Editor
Nashville, Tenn. — With a dismal 2-9 record and 0-7 in Southeastern Conference play, there has not been many bright spots for the Vanderbilt football team this season.
On Senior Day at Vanderbilt Stadium, it was a familiar redshirt freshman who gave a brief spark to an ailing program.
With 2:25 left in the opening half, the Commodores took a 13-10 lead after former Somerset High School Briar Jumper standout John Cole made an acrobatic touchdown catch over Kentucky cornerback Trevard Lindley. Cole streaked down the right sideline, closely covered by Lindley. Vandy quarterback Mackenzi Adams threw the ball into the end zone, leaving Cole and Lindley airborne for the grab.
Like Cole had done so many times before during his prolific prep career as a receiver for the Jumpers, he got a hand on the ball and followed the loose pigskin as he fell on his back. And in a second effort, Cole came down with his first collegiate pass touchdown pass reception.
“The touchdown catch was a pump and I stuttered a little bit — I was fortunate to get on top of Trevard (Lindley),” Cole said. “I went up and got the ball, although it might have been the second time, but I got it.”
“In this league you go up against guys like Lindley every week, so it makes it sweet when you can (get you first touchdown reception) against someone of his caliber,” Cole explained.
At the Kentucky high school level, no one did it better than Cole, as the talented speedster holds the state record for single-season touchdown receptions with 28 and a career TD mark of 69. Cole also holds the state’s single-season receiving yardage record with 1,896 yards.
But all those accolades didn’t seem to impress his home state university a few years back, which gave Cole a little fire going into this game against the Wildcats.
“Yeah, I had some extra motivation in this game against Kentucky in the way they recruited me and the things that happened in the past,” Cole stated. “I was ready to play this game, to say the least.”
Cole’s second-quarter score capped off a perfect half for the freshman receiver, as he snagged all four passes thrown his way for a game-high 56 yards in receptions, at that point of the game. Even with the Wildcats’ top cornerback shadowing his every move, Cole was able to use his speed and sure hands in a productive opening half.
“I thought going into the locker room at halftime we were going to win, but I go into every game thinking we are going to win,” Cole said of his team’s halftime lead.
But things started to unravel for the Commodores in the second half, much like things have faltered for them all season long.
In the second half, Vanderbilt had only five yards in passing (thanks to Cole) and only 41 total offensive yards, as they watched the game slip away to the visiting Wildcats.
“It is very frustrating to not move the ball offensively after our defense has played as well as they have the majority of the year,” Cole summarized. “It’s tough not to give the defense the help they need because our offense has not been clicking.”
“Our running game was slowed down in the second half,” Cole continued. “In the first half, we went with a lot of ‘short unders’. We were able to complete several passes under the defense, and that opened up our running game. Inevitably, that opened up the long touchdown.
“Lindley played me pretty tight the whole game, because he is a good corner,” Cole said. “But we just missed on a few opportunities and I wasn’t targeted as much. We all need to get on the same page, be competitive and not want to lose. We really need that as a team.”
Despite another disappointing loss, Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson saw Cole’s first half performance as one positive from the game.
“Early on, John had some injury problems, but he is completely healthy now,” Johnson said. “I think he is confident and I think our quarterback is confident in him. He has been a good receiver for us, but he has not had a chance to show it because of all the injuries. It is good to see him excel out there and he will continue to get better. He’s just that kind of guy.”
Cole leads the Vanderbilt receiving core with 339 yards on 32 receptions. Cole had his first rushing TD against Rice on a 31-yard reverse play earlier in the season.
But Cole looks little into his individual numbers and more into the team’s overall psyche and recovery.
“We have got to dig deep and not look at the coaching staff for answers, but find the answers within ourselves,” Cole said. “We have got to have some motivation within ourselves to get back on the winning track.”
Cole and the Commodores will get one last chance to get on a winning track when they travel across the state to finish out the season with Tennessee next weekend.
