Memphis DB transfer Maurice Hampton commits to Vanderbilt

Former Memphis defensive back Maurice Hampton has committed to Vanderbilt out of the NCAA transfer portal, he announced on Monday.

He started his college career at LSU and Samford as both a football and baseball player.

Hampton appeared in two games as a defensive back at LSU from 2019-20, totaling 37 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. He then entered the portal during the Tigers’ baseball season and made his way to Samford – pausing his football career – before heading to Memphis ahead of the 2023 season and joining the football team. Hampton didn’t record a stat with the Tigers last year.

Hampton is a product of Memphis University School (Tenn.), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 132 overall football recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, which is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

On the baseball diamond at Samford, Hampton appeared in 54 games and had a .253 batting average in 2022. He slugged nine home runs and had 28 RBI, as well as 15 stolen bases, to help the Bulldogs to a 28-29 overall record. He appeared in four games during the 2023 campaign.

Before he played two years at Samford, Maurice Hampton was a 23rd-round pick in the 2019 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, but decided to continue with his career at LSU. He was part of the Tigers’ national championship team that year, but appeared in only 13 games and entered the portal during the following season.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.

Vanderbilt names former Clemson assistant Lemanski Hall as new director of player development

Vanderbilt named Lemanski Hall as the new football Director of Player Development, according to a release from the school.

Hall played nine years in the NFL and was most recently a defensive assistant with Clemson since 2015. He also played his college football at Alabama before being drafted in 1994.

Hall’s coaching career was solely with Clemson under Dabo Swinney, going from analyst to senior analyst to defensive ends coach over the last six seasons. He was on staff for two College Football Playoff national championship teams in 2016 and ’18.

“Hall takes over for former Commodore legend Earl Bennett, who was recently promoted to senior associate athletic director for strategy and business operations,” the release read. “In the player development role, Hall will work daily with the student-athletes in the football program while focusing on off-the-field areas. He will advise players in life skills and career development alongside the Ingram Center staff, while also helping coordinate community service opportunities.”