Clark Lea addresses concerns about Vanderbilt's cornerbacks entering season

When Clark Lea came to Vanderbilt, he brought a strong background on the defensive side of the football with him. Despite that, there are some serious questions regarding the Commodore’s cornerbacks entering his third season in Nashville.

At SEC media days, Lea addressed those concerns, explaining that Vanderbilt is going to put its best players on the field.

“Yeah, we have to find the best 11 on both sides,” Clark Lea said. “We do return some snaps at corner, but that doesn’t mean that they haven’t played a bunch. This is about finding the people that are capable in the moment.”

Lea emphasized the importance of being able to play well on the perimeter in the modern game. He also pointed to young players on Vanderbilt who are coming up and have the potential to make an impact for the Commodores on the outside.

“Obviously in a game now that is won and lost on the perimeter. We have to give our young players a chance to develop in fall camp. Obviously we have some second year players that are further along in their progress that we expect to have a role on our team,” Lea said.

“We also have a true freshman that comes in with the chance to make an impact, too, and one of the great — the way we start our season won’t almost assuredly won’t be the — the patience to see that level of performance come to the surface. If you remember a year ago, CJ Taylor started as kind of a fringe contributor on our defense and became really our most dynamic playmaker on that side of the ball. That’ll happen at some level this year, too.”

Clark Lea emphasized that this is an area Vanderbilt is working on ahead of the season. That work and the evaluation that will go on of the secondary is even going to continue into the season.

“What our goal here is in fall camp is to get all those guys exposure, and they’re going to be guarding some SEC-level receivers now. We have a good receiving corps, and it’s not always going to look pretty. But for us, it’s to be patient enough to see that through, to keep coaching and developing them through both their wins and their losses and their reps, and to see how that group matures through camp and where we’re ready to start the season,” Lea said.

“At the point at which we put the ball down against Hawai’i, we don’t stop evaluating at that point. We’ll still look for the highest level performance. That gives those young players time to build into an impact role.”

Clark Lea signs a contract extension

Entering his third season with the Commodores, Vanderbilt has given Clark Lea a vote of confidence, extending his contract. Now, Lea is set to be the head coach at Vanderbilt for the foreseeable future.

“Vanderbilt is home, it is such an honor for me to lead our football program. The only way that we accomplish the mission we have set forth for Vanderbilt Football is with the vision and support from Chancellor Diermeier and (athletic director) Candice (Storey) Lee,” Lea said in a statement.

“To have them acknowledge the progress we’ve made to this point, and to commit to seeing us push further on our journey means everything to me. Like everyone who is a part of our team, I will work to earn it every day, and recognize the great responsibility I have with the incredible opportunity and support I’ve been given. I also want to thank the members of our program, both student-athletes and staff. Their hard work and sacrifice is what allows for progress in our quest to build a program that makes all of Vanderbilt and Nashville proud.”