Vanderbilt has two promising, long-term options at quarterback on their current roster. Neither of them should start Week One in College Station. Both freshmen, Mike Wright and Ken Seals will have their time in the spotlight on West End, but starting either of them under current circumstances would be irresponsible. At least four Commodore offensive linemen have opted out of this season due to COVID-19 and shoving an inexperienced freshman behind a makeshift offensive line is not a smart decision. That is why Coach Mason should start JUCO transfer, Danny Clark. Clark actually appeared in two SEC games with Kentucky before transferring to Copiah-Lincoln Community College for the 2019 season and has the experience to remain calm in a difficult Week One matchup. The big lefty has a solid arm and according to offensive coordinator Todd Fitch, “a little moxie to him” that would lend itself well to the Commodores’ need for creativity behind an unpredictable offensive line. Clark has many different experiences playing with many different teammates and despite being new to the program, his adaptability should be favored over the long-term promise of Wright or Seals.

All of these quarterbacks are young and need development, so you do not want to force one of the quarterbacks into a bad situation. This offense is rebuilding, including the offensive line. Clean pockets will be hard to come by with on a conference schedule. Ken Seals may be the more polished quarterback, but Mike Wright fits the situation better. He is more mobile, more explosive, and more capable at making some magic happen when the play breaks down. Let’s see how this line fairs, and if proves to be stable then maybe switch to Seals. But for now, Wright should get the nod.

Although he’s young, I’d love to see Ken Seals secure the starting spot in the Commodores’ offense. I think it’s past time that Derek Mason shook things up a bit, and I think a new, talented quarterback may just be the thing to invigorate the team and the fans in a relatively dry time in the sports world. Even without the spring semester he planned for, I’m optimistic that Seals will fit in well. It seems that he’s a quick learner and that he’s already learned a great deal about Coach Mason’s offense from the veteran players. He posted record-breaking stats in his Texas high school career, and I think he showed a lot of promise by turning his winless team into one with a playoff berth in just a few years. I think that if given the chance, Ken Seals could electrify Vanderbilt football and give fans someone to get behind for years.

Vanderbilt Football has four options to start at quarterback this season, but none are more intriguing than Mike Wright. Of the group, he is not the highest ranked nor does he have the most experience, but he has a weapon that separates him from the rest of the QBs: his speed. Watch his high school tape. Wright is E-L-E-C-T-R-I-C and he can make plays with both his arms and legs. Without Kyle Shurmur’s consistency and presence, last season’s best QB play came from Mo Hasan’s one game where he was able to run the ball. And with several offensive linemen opting-out or transferring, this team’s quarterback will need to be able to move around the pocket and adjust to chaotic situations. Wright gives the Commodores the best shot at doing just that and at having a more entertaining offense. I do not expect Wright to start the season as QB1, but hopefully he can see some minutes before the end of the year. Regardless of who starts, Wright will be a name to watch the next few years on West End.

It just makes sense for Ken Seals to get the nod. Unless you’re Oklahoma and can crank out three Heisman Trophy winners/contenders (Mayfield, Murray, and Hurts) in rapid succession, having considerable turnover in the quarterback room does not often equate to success. This season is a chance to give valuable experience and playing time to a possible four-year starter in Seals. Though he’ll face significant pass rush pressure with an all-SEC schedule, Coach Derek Mason can use these games to learn what works and what doesn’t for Seals. Worst case scenario, he struggles against good teams, and no one can blame him. Best case scenario, he lights up the field, and Vanderbilt’s future quarterback situation becomes a beacon of hope that will attract plenty of talented, new recruits for Coach Mason and the Commodores.

Ken Seals should be the starting quarterback this season. He has no experience as a true freshman, but he is clearly talented. Seals is the future of the Vanderbilt football program at the quarterback position, and Derek Mason should let him play immediately in order to get as many reps as possible. Vanderbilt probably will not win many games this season regardless of who is at the quarterback position, so Mason might as well let Seals gain game experience early on. Let the young guy play and learn on the fly.

I would like Mike Wright to be the starting quarterback in this upcoming season. I want him to be the starter because he is a dual-threat quarterback, unlike Ken Seals who is pro-style. Personally, I just think that it is much more interesting to watch dual-threat quarterbacks because of their versatility. For example, I would much rather watch Lamar Jackson outrun defenders than a player like Matthew Stafford who, for the most part, stays in the pocket and looks to throw. In addition, I will always root for a Black quarterback because so often Black players are denied the opportunity to play the quarterback position. For these two reasons, I would like to see Mike Wright win the starting quarterback role.