Tribute to Vanderbilt's Josh Jelesky

Sixteen Vanderbilt players make up the first senior class to ever play in two consecutive bowl games during their Commodore careers. Leading up to the Music City Bowl, VandyMania.com will look back on each senior's career. In this segment Josh Jelesky is featured.

THE BASICS:

69 Josh Jelesky

Hometown: Naperville, Ill.

High school: Naperville

Position: OG

HT: 6-5 WT: 295

Chose Vanderbilt over: Wyoming, Hawaii and Central Michigan.

OVERVIEW:

Jelesky is another member of the group of redshirt seniors that will have played in three bowl games during their Commodore careers with the upcoming Music City Bowl. Following the 2008 season in which he was redshirted, Jelesky was a regular contributor in games. He played his first two years as a defensive lineman before being moved to the offensive line for 2011 and 2012. Jelesky has been a good player for Vandy but likely would have progressed much farther in his level of play had he been able to stay at one position. Jelesky could have grumbled about the move midway through his career but being a team player, he put the needs of the program first.

BEST MOMENT:

November 26, 2011 at Wake Forest. Vanderbilt has a 34-7 lead over Wake Forest in the fourth quarter. A Commodore victory is all but finalized but there is one more item on the VU agenda, the matter of making Zac Stacy the program's all-time single season rusher. The Commodores run a toss sweep to the right. Josh Jelesky lays a key block to help spring Zac Stacy for a 40-yard scoring run and Stacy becomes the all-time single season rusher in Vandy history.

MEMORABLE QUOTE:

"He talked to me for a minute and did some convincing, but I'm all for whatever is best for the team, so I wasn't fighting it. I was like, `Let's do it!'" Jelesky recalling his conversation with head coach James Franklin in which he was asked to move to the offensive line. (from the Commodore Nation)

HONORS:

2009-12 SEC Academic Honor Roll; 2008 Team Defensive Scout of Week award.

CAREER STATS:

Games played in: 45
#Carries: 1
Rushing yards: 4
Tackles: 16
Tackles for loss (solo): 1
Tackles for loss (assist): 2
#Yes, according to the official NCAA website Jelesky had one carry during his career. He is credited for a 4-yard carry during the 2010 Wake Forest game. He actually recovered a VU punt that had been blocked by Wake and advanced the ball four yards.

PHOTO GALLERY LINK: Click HERE

VIDEO HIGHLIGHT:




Josh Jelesky and family on Senior Day. (VM-Stan Jones)