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Zaylin Wood injury: Clark Lea addresses chances at Vanderbilt DL getting waiver

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax11/21/24

BarkleyTruax

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Andrew Nelles (The Tennessean) / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Clark Lea revealed on Wednesday that he expects Vanderbilt senior defensive lineman Zaylin Wood to apply for a waiver at the end of the 2024 season. If approved, it would grant him an additional year of eligibility.

A return to the field in 2025 would mark Wood’s sixth season in college football. Wood, who transferred into the Commodores’ program this past offseason, has had his 2024 season marred by injury. Still, the NCAA isn’t guaranteed to accept his waiver plea as Lea explained his stance on the matter.

“I think he’s got a great case,” Lea told reporters on Thursday. “He hasn’t been able to participate outside of, I think, two games, three, but the third he got hurt. I think that makes his case really strong. He hasn’t even been able to get back into practice, you know? So it’s just, we’ve tried, he’s tried. It’s just not responded.

“And I think that the case is strong. But again, you just never know. You want to provide all information you can [to the NCAA] to make it as strong as you can.”

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If Wood has his waiver denied, his college football career will effectively be over.

“At this point, we’re not pushing him to put himself at risk and further injury,” Lea said. “He’s just not able to play. So yeah, he won’t be participating.”

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This season, Wood has been cleared to play in three games. He logged stats in just one — the season-opening overtime victory against Virginia Tech. He totaled seven tackles and a sack during the contest.

Before coming to Vanderbilt, Wood played four seasons at Middle Tennesse State. During the 2023 season, he finished with 16 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, and four quarterback hurries. He looked to be a nice piece to Lea’s pass rush, but injuries have gotten in the way.

Wood played high school football at Bowdon (GA) Heard County, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1,239 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Vanderbilt will hit the road in Week 13 and play SEC foe LSU in Baton Rouge. Saturday’s kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network.