Depth on the defensive line is always a priority for Vanderbilt, and a familiar name will help add experience to that position in 2026. The Commodores landed a commitment from Oklahoma State transfer defensive lineman Michael Diatta on Monday, bringing home the Nashville (Tenn.) Cane Ridge product after having recruited him twice in the past. Diatta told Vandy247 that he visited West End on Saturday; he previously visited Arkansas.
Listed at 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, Diatta is an interior defensive lineman who played his first four seasons at Virginia before transferring to Oklahoma State last offseason. Diatta is a veteran of college football, entering his sixth season due to an NCAA waiver that grants players who were part of the Virginia team that experienced a fatal shooting in 2022 an extra season of eligibility.
“Really with it being my last year of eligibility, I was looking for the right fit scheme-wise so I can go compete, play, have an impact,” Diatta told Vandy247. “Also, somewhere that fits my style of play, a scheme I’m really used to, and that’s something Vandy has.
“Obviously, being from Nashville, I watched them a good amount this season. Their defense has always interested me, intrigued me.”
At Oklahoma State in 2025, Diatta made nine total tackles over 11 appearances as a backup for the Cowboys. Diatta played a similar high-usage backup role at Virginia in 2023 and 2024 after serving as a deep reserve for the Cavaliers in 2021 and 2022. Diatta said he expects to play as a 3-tech and/or 2i defensive tackle within Vandy’s relatively traditional four-down front and that the Commodores’ scheme is more similar to what he played in at Virginia.
Diatta has been recruited by Vandy before, as he turned down former coach Derek Mason and his staff in December 2020, signing with Virginia. The ‘Dores also had contact with Diatta during last offseason’s transfer portal window before he chose Oklahoma State. This time, a return home remained in the cards and ultimately was Diatta’s pick.
“Just being from here, having the opportunity to come back home again,” Diatta said. “Vandy recruited me out of high school, the first go-around in the portal and now again. Having this opportunity again to finish my last year in Nashville, where I’m from, playing in front of my home crowd — I feel like it was too big of an opportunity to pass up again.”
With Diatta’s addition, Vandy could be done at defensive tackle after having also added 3-star Jacksonville State transfer Talan Carter at the position. Yilanan Ouattara and Glenn Seabrooks III project as starters at the position with Jaylon Stone, Bradley Mann, Aaron Bryant, Carter and Diatta likely to see action as well.
Other options for the ‘Dores include redshirt freshman Nikhil Jefferson and true freshman Daryl Campbell. Vandy lost three defensive tackles who exhausted their collegiate eligibility in Joshua Singh, Zaylin Wood and Mason Nelson. One defensive tackle also transferred out: redshirt freshman Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala, who has not announced his destination yet.
An improved front four in 2025 helped Vandy’s defense jump from toward the bottom of the FBS to inside the top 50 according to most computer metrics. Diatta praised coach Clark Lea and his staff — including defensive line coach Larry Black — for their work in building a program that he wanted to become a part of.
“It just shows who Coach Lea is as a person, what he has done at Vandy,” Diatta said. “When he first got the job, they slowly (improved) each year. You could tell how the guys were playing, who he has on his coaching staff. Coach Black is a really good coach as well.
“It shows how far (Lea) has come as far as building that program. Growing up in Nashville, Vandy hasn’t historically been a good football team. But seeing the turnaround he has been able to make in just four or five years is insane.”
Editor’s note: This report was updated at 3:30 p.m. CT.
© 2005-2026 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 247Sports is a registered service mark of CBT Sports, LLC. Scout is a registered service mark of CBS 247 Inc. Fans Only is a registered service mark of CSTV Online, Inc.
The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and 247Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.
There is no gambling offered on this site. This site contains commercial content and 247Sports may be compensated for the links provided on this site.
