Vanderbilt football's deepest position may be at safety. At least players at the position believe so.
There's a good blend of returners and new talent. CJ Heard is back after co-leading the team with 71 tackles a year ago. While Marlen Sewell and Randon Fontenette are gone, Dontae Carter, Carson Lawrence and Jalen Gilbert return after being reserves at the position in 2025.
Davin Chandler could be a breakout candidate after appearing in one game as a freshman. Then there's Clemson transfer Ricardo Jones, who had six interceptions a year ago and was a All-ACC third team selection.
"My goal here is to get that plus more every year," Jones said Aug. 11.
The safeties are simultaneously young and experienced. There are only two seniors at the position
− Gilbert and Payne Daniel − and no fifth-year players. But the group has plenty of starting experience.
The key will be replacing the production of Sewell and Fontenette. Jones figures to step into one of the open starting spots, but Fontenette's production could be replaced by committee.
"(Jones) brings experience, he brings that attitude that we need as a defense," safeties coach Melvin Rice said.
Among other options at safety, Carter had 33 tackles and one pass breakup in 2025; Lawrence had nine tackles and one pass breakup; and Gilbert had three tackles and two pass breakups.
Gilbert has stayed at Vanderbilt despite three years of sparse playing time. He stayed through the 2-10 year in 2023 to the 10-3 season in 2025. He stayed because he wanted to continue playing in the SEC.
"This truly is a brotherhood," Gilbert said. "We said it was a brotherhood when we went 2-10, but that was fake. Our motto is 'anything but fake.' And now, definitely, we feel like a brotherhood. That's how we're playing on the field too."
The culture has appealed to Chandler too. Last year as he redshirted, he learned a lot from veterans like Sewell and Heard.
"It's a great experience," Chandler said. "The guys in my room, in my circle. We've got Ricardo Jones, who's played a lot of ball, played it at a high level."
Jones made 39 tackles last season at Clemson to go along with his six interceptions and recovered one fumble.
He'd had some prior relationships with other players on the Commodores from Georgia when he went into the transfer portal, but it was Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea who appealed to him the most. When he went on a visit, his conversation with Lea about life got so personal that Jones said he cried.
"That might be one of the realest dudes I've ever met, man," Jones said. "He's just a real stand-up guy, and that's what I tell people, I'd run through a wall for coach Lea."
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football safeties blend experience, upside in 2026
