Derek Mason certainly knows defense. In his two years serving as both Vanderbilt's head coach and defensive coordinator, the Commodores have ranked in the top six of the SEC in total defense and scoring the last two years, and there's been more bite out of the Dores.
Although, Mason's defensive momentum could take a hit in 2017. It's not that that side of the ball lost a host of talent, but one very important part to the defense jetted to the NFL early, leaving a gaping hole at middle linebacker for the Commodores.
Now that do-everything freak of nature Zach Cunningham has taken his talents to the professional ranks, Vanderbilt coaches are left scrambling to find a suitable replacement for him.