FRANKLIN: "THIS IS OUR BEST CLASS"

Head Coach James Franklin and his coaching staff delivered today on a promise to Vanderbilt fans by signing what recruiting experts regard as the best class of national prospects in team history. Franklin praised the 25-player class that ranks among the finest recruiting achievements of any coaching staff in the nation.

"This is a significant day in Vanderbilt football history," Franklin said. "This signing class is further proof that Vanderbilt has arrived and intends to compete at the highest levels of college football. I'm incredibly happy to inform the Commodore Nation that the future of Vanderbilt Football is right now - and it's brighter than ever."

The class includes 12 players on offense, 12 on defense and one kicking specialist. It features three prep All-Americans and 17 players that earned rare four-star evaluations from national recruiting services. Fifteen members of the class made appearances in prestigious postseason all-star games. Five different signees played huge roles on state championship squads. Twenty members of the class were senior captains.

The recruiting effort attacked depth concerns. The signing class includes five wide receivers, five defensive backs, four defensive linemen, three linebackers, three tight ends, and one quarterback.

War Room Photo Gallery | Signee Highlight Reels

Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	Hometown	Rivals	ESPN	247	Scout
Zach Cunningham	LB	6'4	205	Pinson, Ala.	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★
Jordan Cunningham	WR	6'1	175	Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	★★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★★
Jay Woods	DT	6'2	280	Jackson, Ga.	★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★★★
Gerald Perry	WR	5'10	165	Memphis, Tenn.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★
Darrius Sims	DB	5'9	175	Memphis, Tenn.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
Mitchell Parsons	TE	6'4	245	Parker, Colo.	★★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
Taurean Ferguson	DB	5'9	180	Jonesboro, Ga.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
DeAndre Woods	WR	6'3	208	Clay, Ala.	★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★★
Delando Crooks	OL	6'5	275	Atlanta, Ga.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★★
Nathan Marcus	TE	6'5	220	Glen Ellyn, Ill.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
Jonathan Wynn	DE	6'4	220	Stone Mountain, Ga.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
Mack Weaver	DE	6'5	248	Collierville, Tenn.	★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★★
Ralph Webb	RB	5'10	190	Gainesville, Fla.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★
Latevius Rayford	WR	6'1	180	Memphis, Tenn.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
Jalen Banks	DB	5'11	188	Markham, Ill.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
Tre Bell	DB	5'11	170	Union, N.J.	★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★★
Nigel Bowden	LB	6'1	245	Macon, Ga.	★★★★	★★★	★★★★	★★★
Landon Stokes	DE	6'4	220	Orlando, Fla.	★★★	★★★★	★★★★	★★★
Oren Burks	LB	6'3	200	Fairfax Station, Va.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
Ryan White	DB	5'10	178	Louisville, Ky.	★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★★★
Carlos Burse	WR	6'2	200	Alpharetta, Ga.	★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★★
Tommy Openshaw	K/P	6'2	175	Jacksonville, Fla.		★★	★★	★★
Sean Dowling	OL	6'6	270	Fallbrook, Calif.	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★
Johnny McCrary	QB	6'3	200	Decatur, Ga.	★★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★★

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