Six key Vanderbilt players to watch vs. Georgia football – UGA Wire

The Georgia Bulldogs (4-0) will host another home game in Athens this weekend and this time it will be against the Vanderbilt Commodores (3-1). Over the past couple of seasons, Vanderbilt has been really good and found many ways to utilize their key players.
It’s obvious that Vandy’s talent still remains strong as they are off to a 3-1 overall record this season. The Commodores brought back 10 total starters this season with five of them being on offense and five being on defense. The Commodores faced a pretty hefty roster turnover that included replacing big pieces like Heisman finalist Diego Pavia.
With Vanderbilt bringing plenty of experience into this contest versus the Bulldogs, it could make for some interesting matchups against some of Georgia’s key players. Looking ahead to this weekends contest, we will take a glance at the key opposing players for the Commodores.
Martel Hight has been the most versatile player for the Commodores the past couple of years and this year, Hight has already made a splash for his team. The Rome, Georgia, native has been very impactful in so many ways.
Hight made plays as a two-way player playing as a wide receiver last season for the Commodores. Hight is a key return specialist and of course he is a star defensive back. Hight earned second-team All-SEC honors as a returner after gaining 265 punt return yards and scoring a touchdown. Hight showcased his versatility by playing both ways, being one of the most impactful players in the SEC, and with that being named national Paul Hornung Player of the week. This season, Hight looks to be a force in the return game and at his main position, defensive back. Hight is a key player to watch because of his versatility.
Junior Sherrill is one of the main targets for the Commodores offense at the wide receiver position. In 2025, Sherrill hauled in 54 grabs for 784 yards and seven touchdowns. He was their primary target in his standout season in 2025 and became a real threat down field when Vanderbilt needed a big play. Sherrill is one player that the Commodores can rely on heavily in 2026.
Sedrick Alexander is one of the returning veteran players on this solid Commodores squad. Alexander is the guy anchoring the ground game and bringing a high level of balance to the Vandy offense. Alexander has totaled 1,600 rushing yards and over 20 touchdowns in his time at Vanderbilt and he’s not done yet.
A really neat note to add along with Alexander’s success is each touchdown he scores during the 2026 season, he will be donating $280 to the ALS Association in honor of former Tennessee Titans star running back Chris Johnson who recently announced his diagnosis with ALS.
The 6-foot-7 tight end is a mismatch who just recently made his debut against the Auburn Tigers this past weekend. He showcased that he can be a major asset to this Commodores offense with his size and ability. Look for him to be a key player in the contest against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Lining up at a massive 6-foot-7, Yulanan Ouattara is a physical force in the trenches and provides a lot of versatility on the defensive line. The 315-pound lineman is from Cologne, Germany, and began his American football career in 2019 with the Cologne Crocodiles. Since moving into the United States, Ouattara has made his presence felt in the SEC. He brings power, size, explosiveness and IQ to the Commodore defense.
The former Georgia Bulldogs commit has stepped into the big role at Vanderbilt and has done really well. Curtis was highly touted coming out of high school and is just a freshman this season but in a lead role. Curtis had a great showing in his first career start for the Commodores on Sept. 19 versus NC State. Curtis went 20-of-34 passes for 277 yards, 3 touchdowns, and adding 64 yards on the ground. Curtis earned SEC Freshman of the week honors following that performance.
In his first four games, he has passed for 746 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Curtis has also been solid in the run game showcasing his athletic ability going for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. It will be key for Curtis to play great for Vanderbilt to give the Bulldogs defense any problems on Saturday.
Georgia will look to continue their dominant ways after coming off of a big 41-13 home win against Oklahoma. Kickoff will be Saturday, Oct. 3 at 12:45 p.m. ET.
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