Everything Vanderbilt Head Football Coach Clark Lea Said After Vanderbilt’s Win Over Charleston Southern

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Vanderbilt came away with a lopsided 45-3 victory over Charleston Southern Saturday night.

Vanderbilt got off to a hot start on offense and the defense followed suit.

Vanderbilt was dominating from the start, scoring 28 unanswered in the first half behind a fast-paced offense and a dominating defense.

In the second half, Vanderbilts strong night continued through the rest of the game as it outgained Charleston Southern 481 yards to 135.

As the Commodores got off to a 1-0 start to the 2025 season, Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea gave his postgame thoughts on how his team performed.

Here is everything Lea said after Saturdays win.

Opening Statement It's good to win you know, I'm at a point in my life where I don't take wins for granted, and sometimes, you know, it's not exactly how you want it to be, but you gotta take the time to celebrate and enjoy it.

These guys have worked really hard and earned that win, and I think it was a game where we started the right way.

We talked a lot about this, about, how do we eliminate hope early in the game? How do we play Vanderbilt football at a level that puts distance between us and the opponent? Offense started exactly how we wanted to.

I want to shout out to Kayleb Barnett for being a big part of that early success, and that kid playing his first college football game was impressive.

You know, Diego was efficient.

We were moving him in the run game, we were completing passes.

It looked exactly how we wanted it to look, and the defense responded with the three and out.

We were able to score a couple touchdowns there quickly, and I'm proud of the way we started.

I felt like, as we went, I think on the whole tonight, we had six three-and-outs on the night, so I felt like, defensively, we had detail and discipline throughout the entirety of the game.

Offensively, I felt like that end of the half two minute drive was an indicator of a loss of focus.

And that was really disappointing.

It was an opportunity for us to train something that's going to be really critical to our success this year, and we did a great job of that, so that set in motion a period of time where I felt like we lost our focus offensively.

We had penalties that accrued and some of them, just sloppy play, some of them operational.

Some of that, we've talked about.

You know, that's part of, you know, the first game.

But also, if you go back a year ago, it cost us early on, it took us cleaning those penalties up to find success.

So we can excuse it as part of the first game and part of learning how to play, but we cannot hang on to that.

We have got to move forward and to play cleaner.

But I was proud of Jamezell Lassiter scoring his first touchdown.

I was proud of Mason Rohmiller, scoring his first group point as an extra point.

Hayden Bray got a sack.

Defensively, they crossed midfield three times, I believe, two of them.

ended in turnover.

C.J.

Heard had his first interception.

And Miles Capers had the sack fumble recovered by Khordae, who had those were big kind of bounce back moments for the defense.

Obviously, the third time they crossed, they kicked the field goal.

So if we wanted the shut out, we needed to get the stop on fourth down.

We didn't do that, so, you know, that's the consequence, but on the whole, again, it's great to learn from a win.

I think there's plenty for us to focus on to clean up and we're going to need to redirect our energy really quickly to the game against Virginia Tech, which is going to be really challenging for us.

So with that, I'm happy to open up for questions." Coach, uh, three touchdowns, first, three drives.

I know you touched on it there at the beginning, but what specifically did you like most about what the offense was able to do to start the game? "It just, I mean, I haven't looked through, and maybe I won't hold you guys up as I look through, but I can't remember when our first, like, zero or negative yards play was, but I want to say maybe it was the third drive where we had an incompletion.

I think it just felt like we were putting pressure on them from the start, positive motion, chunk runs.

We connected the right times in the pass game.

Loved the shot to Eli on the sideline.

We missed on some explosives today, and that's been a focus for us on offense.

So you know, at a point, we became a little too methodical.

But early on, I didn't feel that way.

Early on, I felt like we had our way in the run game.

I felt like we were opportunistic in the pass game and again, there weren't a lot of zero or negative yard snaps to be had., I think the onslaught of penalties is what started to interrupt.

We saw it on like, the operational or pre snap stuff in the preseasons, but not as many holding penalties, I don't think." Were there any common denominators there or like you said, you just think guys let their guard down or what did you see? "Yeah, I mean, it's hard to.

It's hard to comment on that just because I need to watch the film.

But what I sense is that we lost fundamental technical focus.

And when you do that, you stop moving your feet, you start grabbing and and you endure penalties., let me look at the film and maybe I'll have more on that on Tuesday, but obviously, you know, I don't remember maybe two operational penalties in the game, two false starts, I think.

So those are controllables.

Yeah, sometimes the in-game penalties are going to happen.

You know, when we're playing hard, we got to be able to bounce back the next snap when we take on negative plays and penalties that happen during the snap, when we're being competitive.

But it felt to me like, again, that lack of fundamental technical focus that gave way to us grabbing hold of them.

And obviously, stripped away a big touchdown for Richie Hoskins you know? I mean, that was a huge play in that moment that we had to erase, so probably just to go on, not that you needed to go.

But, you know, one of the most frustrating parts of that two minutes is, we are right on the doorstep of field goal range, you know, again, for us to get points in that drive is the goal.

Obviously, we want a touchdown, but to back up twice withholding penalties is just, you know, you're just shooting yourself in the foot.

So, really frustrated about that, but, you know, we'll coach it and fix it and move forward from them." You talked earlier in the week you were happy with the focus and intensity and practice early in the week.

Was it maybe a sign of progress to see them come out and do their thing early and put the pressure on them, like you said? "Well, honestly, I loved our spirit and energy early in the week.

You know, I think we needed this week to learn how to prepare for a team.

You know, sometimes as a coach, you're seeing the energy and the effort, and I'm getting the GPS numbers and it's telling me that we're we're out there practicing hard, and we're hitting our speeds, but I actually felt like there was some need for a little more attention to detail in the execution of the plan.

So, you know, specifically on Tuesday, Sunday to Tuesday, I felt like I saw a drop off and just our details.

And I think building trust and preparation is about executing on the practice field, and we're not gonna have the luxury of having an extra day for most of the games that we play, certainly not this week.

So we have to have a little bit more urgency in the way we approach those details.

But again, this is a team that's energy and spear that's spirited and has energy and I felt like they redirected Wednesday and Thursday.

I felt Friday was an excellent walk through in all three phases and that showed up for us tonight early.

So, I think we'll spend time on Sunday just talking about why we do what we do each day of the week, why it's important, where their focus needs to be, because we're in a mode of execution now.

And every week's a climb for us, and a challenge, and we can't waste time.

Your mistakes now have consequences.

This isn't training camp.

And so I hope that we have a little better perspective on not heading into next week." How important was it to have such a wide margin that you were able to get so many different players in the game and players, in some cases their first taste of college football? "Well, obviously, that's a great luxury, and it's awesome.

I mean, those kids deserve it.

Those players deserve to be out there and so to be able to put distance between us and the opponent gives us a chance to get guys critical snaps that, you know, again, Jamezell gets his touch, and he's got one rush for 35 yards and a touchdown, I think.

And so, you know, theres someone who's looking to earn more.

I think, again, they are guys that have given a lot to this program that haven't had a chance to play.

There's also young players playing their first college football game that'd have a chance to play more than special team snaps.

I think about Carson Lawrence and Austin Howard and Vanel H, and I'm sure there are others.

So it's going to help us over the course of a season.

It's great to reward those guys for their hard work and for many of them, it's just the beginning." Coach.

Diego did in terms of protecting himself today, and would you like to see him slide more in general? "I mean, I said at one point, you know, he pulled a ball on a read, and I just, I'd like to see him, you know, not get hit.

You know, I mean, he plays a certain way, and we have a physical line of scrimmage, and we have a physical run game, and we need to lean on that because we understand that we need him healthy, late this season.

I still think that it's hard for me to coach him out of his competitive edge, and I think we're gonna need that edge as the year goes.

But I want to see us do a better job.

of protecting him, where we can lean on MK, and lean on Stowers, and lean on this line of scrimmage, and A.J.

Newberry too, by the way.

I believe he scored another touchdown tonight, if I'm not mistaken there.

Yeah, thank you, guys.

So, that's going to be important for us.

We have the tools to take care of them.

We need him to play with an edge, when we need him to play with an edge.

I'd love to see us get things going without him having to carry the ball every time.

And let's protect him in the pocket, you know he's taken undue hits.

We need to do a better job, but protecting without holding and keeping him clean and take a lot of pride in Coach K does that.

These guys, we have a great O-line and a great O-line coach and Jeff Nady.

I mean, those guys do such a good job.

There's going to be learning from this game that we need to apply for." You gave it to Blaze late in the third quarter.

What'd you see from him on offense specifically? "You know, he got a couple of opportunities to put the ball up in the air.

He's one for three for five yards.

I think I would have loved to see him connect on the throw to Martel that I thought Martel had a chance to come down with.

The one that I believe would have ended in a touchdown.

He had the other one he threw that got intercepted, but it was all the defense pass interference.

So in the first game, I felt like he ran the ball well.

I felt like he made good decisions back there on the hole, and, you know, we're gonna need him too.

And I would have loved to have seen Drew Dickey get out there because Drew's had a great training camp and, you know, unfortunately, we couldn't get to the stop defensively that we needed to get him a chance.

But Drew's time will come also.

And between those two guys, we have to give them opportunities to separate.

They'll get those opportunities in practice as well, but I was happy to get Blaze out there and, you know, when we'll need him to continue to develop." It felt like Tre Richardson was one of the tone setters early on in the offensive end.

Led team in receptions tonight, just what were your thoughts on what his performance was like? "I thought there were some really good catching runs there.

Obviously, we've seen that in practice.

He's just been such a steady contributor through training camp, catches the ball well.

And again, he can hit the gas and get the ball vertical, too.

So yeah, I was happy for him, you know, I mean, he's had a wayward path to Vanderbilt.

He's been such a great team member for us, and I'm grateful to have him here.

And you, his first time in black and gold, I felt like he represented himself really well, and like you said, I mean, to have him and Kayleb contributing there early in those drives was important, and we're going to need more then.

" How big of a deal was it for us to sell this game out? "Well, I mean, you know, that was very meaningful.

I certainly don't take the environment for granted.

And in fact, I think, it's one of those things that, you know, as we kind of took the field and there in the first quarter, you just take it all in.

I mean, that is what the vision has always been.

You know it's about can we have a stadium that's full of black and gold and a team that's tough and explosive and it's fun to watch and play physically.

I don't know, those moments are special to me because when you see the dream coming to life and you realize what the potential is here, you know? That was special.

So I think everyone who came out to support this program, again, I thought our students showed up again.

It made a difference for us, and that means the world to me too, because I was one of them, you know, and our team appreciates it.

I felt the stadium was awesome, I think compliments to Candace and Chancellor Deermeyer and everyone who contributed to that.

and I hope the Vanderbilt fans enjoyed a new venue.

So I'm grateful.

Again, sometimes, in brief moments, will kind of be able to pull up and take a big picture view, and I took a couple of snapshots in my mind there in the first half where I thought, you know, this is what it was always meant to be, and it's taken us longer to get here than I thought.

But if I can keep putting a team out there that inspires people to show up, we can make this thing really fun." You mentioned Barnett earlier in the press conference.

Just what does that add to the offense as a whole? "Well, he doesn't add size.

So, I don't think hell mind me saying that.

No, I KB's remarkable, you know, here's a guy, and again, this is a credit to Tim and Jerry, and their connections.

You know, he was connected with Kayleb, watched him play when he was young, and believed in what he saw.

Kayleb is a resilient person.

He believes in himself.

He knows he belongs, and from the very first day he stepped on campus, he made an impression how he could run, how he handled the balls.

He's got great hands.

He finds his way open, he catches the ball really well.

And obviously, tonight, the story was about his speed on the edge.

But I also want to compliment the physical decisions too at the finish in those runs.

He was not backing down from contact.

And, you know, again, he's got elite speed, elite twitch.

He can create problems when he gets the ball into space, and certainly we benefited from that tonight." You mentioned Jamezell a few times, how fulfilling was it to see his career and how it's played out, and then to see him have that moment tonight? "Yeah, I mean, again, I hope that's a sign of things to come, you know, Jamezells challenge is that he's got to show consistency, and he's got to show the ability to handle himself down in, down out, to expand his role.

But, you know, we felt like he has the opportunity to have an impact, to have a set of plays, to get some touches throughout the game.

And again, this was.

I can't I think it was the first scrimmage that, you know he maybe had 15 plays, but he scored a couple times.

He felt like every time he touched a ball, it was an explosive.

That's what he can do physically.

Again, he is developing in his process, you know, his attention to detail, his consistency, all the whatever other coach terms, you guys want to throw out there.

But, you know, we need him to take ownership, and we've challenged him with that.

And I expect him to respond that way, but he showed tonight what he could do when he's out there, and so we need to push him more." Vanderbilt Commodores On SI:.

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