Martel Hight went back to the locker room with an apparent injury during Vanderbilt football’s Sept. 19 matchup with NC State.
The Commodores cornerback and punt returner went back to the locker room late in the third quarter with NC State holding a 24-14 lead in the matchup at FirstBank Stadium, which is the final nonconference game for Vanderbilt. He had previously collided with Bryan Longwell helmet-to-helmet and came up looking dazed, then left the game and did not return.
Hight was checked for a concussion, coach Clark Lea said after the game. But he was cleared and later returned to the game.
Hight recorded two tackles on defense when he was in the game. He did not have any punt return yards. In total, Hight has recorded nine tackles and an interception on defense and has recorded five punt returns for 63 yards during the 2026 season.
Hight was replaced at punt returner by safety Ricardo Jones.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.
