Vanderbilt will be without starting QB AJ Swann against Kentucky

Vanderbilt football will head to Lexington for the Week 11 matchup with Kentucky fresh off of five consecutive losses as the season is slowly slipping away from the Commodores. Clark Lea’s second team at Vanderbilt hasn’t been able to get many stops, but the offense has shown signs of promise.

Most notably, true freshman quarterback AJ Swann looks like a potential building block for the program. Unfortunately for Vandy, Swann will be unable to go this week against Kentucky after suffering a lower-body injury last week at home against South Carolina.

Swann has started six consecutive games for offensive coordinator Joey Lynch with some very good moments. The true freshman had four touchdown passes in a road win over Northern Illinois in his first career start and threw for 281 yards against Ole Miss. However, the Dores will be without him and starting offensive linemen Bradley Ashmore (right guard) and Delfin Xavier Castillo (left guard) on Saturday.

The Commodores have done some good things on offense this season, but much of that had to do with Swann. Mike Wright will get the start for the fourth time this season after the junior opened the season as QB1 for Vandy. With 336 non-sack rushing yards on 8.0 yards per attempt with a 61.2 percent first down/touchdown rate, the junior is very dangerous as a runner. Don’t be surprised to see a run-heavy attack from the Dores on Saturday afternoon with Wright teaming up with workhorse tailback Ray Davis.

For the second time this season, Kentucky will see a backup quarterback since playing Northern Illinois when Ethan Hampton took over for Rocky Lombardi. In that game, the Cats played one of their most disappointing defensive performances of the season. Brad White’s defense will look to avoid a letdown on Saturday against a capable backup that will test the Wildcats on the ground.