Stars of the Game: Ole Miss

Vanderbilt picked up a huge win over Ole Miss on Saturday. Ryan Hamilton has already racked up several national honors. VandyMania recognizes several key contributors to the Commodores win that vaulted them into the top 25.

Vanderbilt 23

Ole Miss 17

OFFENSIVE STAR OF THE GAME

The Commodore Offensive Line #74 Reilly Lauer, #73 Ryan Custer, #60 Bradley Vierling, #71 Joey Bailey, #76 Thomas Welch.

The Commodore Offensive line has had what can be considered a successful year given that none of the current starters were projected to be anything close to as good as the five Seniors that VU lost from last year by most media publications. This Offensive line has done nothing but open holes for this offense to run through while giving Vanderbilt the opportunity to do something it has had problems doing in the past…run clock and keep opposing offenses off the field. This week the Commodore offensive line gets the award for offensive player or players of the game. This unit faced a very good Ole Miss defensive front and allowed only one sack and pretty much controlled the line of scrimmage when they had to.

DEFENSIVE STAR OF THE GAME

#2 Ryan “Rock” Hamilton

Ryan Hamilton is this weeks Star of the game. Hamilton is a member of one of the best defenses in the SEC. On Saturday night against Ole Miss Hamilton found himself in the spotlight. Hamilton plays with All American DJ Moore, Senior Rashard Langford, Myron Lewis and Darlron Spead. Vanderbilt’s secondary was without DJ (injured on opening kickoff but would return later) Moore and Darlron Spead Saturday night in Oxford when Hamilton decided he was going to take over….and take over he did.

Vanderbilt was already facing a ten point Rebel lead when the Commodore offense put the Dores in a bad spot with another fumble which was picked up by Ole Miss. In years past this might have been a good time to head to your car I you were a Commodore fan. But not tonight, tonight belonged to #2. Ryan Hamilton went out on the field and decided to put the Commodores back in the game by picking off Ole Miss Quarterback Jevan Snead and taking it 79 yards to the house for a touchdown. This would mark the start of one of the best individual efforts in Commodore history. Hamilton would go on to record not one but three interceptions on the night including a game ending interception to put the Rebels comeback hopes away for good. Ryan also recovered a big fumble to keep the Rebels out of the end zone at the time and probably wound up being the reason VU was able to come away with a victory. Ryan was also nominated by ESPN with a “helmet sticker” and a nominee for the game changing performance.

Congrats on being 4-0 and keep up the good work.

Auburn you're next.