Clark Lea confirms Cole Spence will miss season, updates Jake Ketschek's status

As Vanderbilt gets fall camp underway, head coach Clark Lea had some health updates on a couple key offensive players, tight end Cole Spence and offensive lineman Jake Ketschek. The outlook was not great for either, according to Lea.

Spence will miss the entire 2023 season, Lea said. Ketschek also projects to be out for the season, but Lea wasn’t ready to say that was a guarantee, as he could be back if Vanderbilt is playing in the postseason.

“There’s a chance, obviously, as we get to postseason that he could be available,” Lea said of Ketschek. “But right now, he’s focused on his rehab process and getting himself better.” 

The fortunate news for Vanderbilt is that outside of Spence and Ketschek, everyone else injured should get back.

“The rest of the guys will be back at varying times. And, you know, we can more detailed update as we go. Some of those guys will be back in days, some of them weeks. It’s just a matter of them getting healthy,” Lea said.

Spence was set to have a potentially ascendent sophomore season as a tight end after playing mostly as a special teamer as a freshman. Ketschek had slid into a starting role at right guard by the end of the 2022 season and was likely to pick it back up this season.

Instead, the Commodores will seek other options at guard and tight end.

Offensive line and tight end can be added to the positions Lea will need to sort out

At SEC media days, Lea addressed concerns at cornerback, 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.