VandySports.com - Commodores lose two more for the season

October 13, 2009

Jesse W. Johnson
VandySports.com Publisher

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- In addition to offensive struggles and failures to convert in the red zone, injuries also continue to be something that has plagued the Vanderbilt football program. The Commodores have already had as many as 14 players from the original preseason roster either miss at least one game of action this year while others like safety Ryan Hamilton, tackle James Williams and receiver Justin Wheeler have been lost for the year.

Now, following the gutwrenching overtime loss at Army, the Commodores will be without the services of key reserve linebacker Tristan Strong for the rest of the 2009 season due to a torn ACL in his knee.

The redshirt freshmen emerged on the two-deep at the weakside linebacker position after promising performances during the spring and preseason practice periods. The Georgia native was also a key member of the Commodores special teams coverage units and has registered three official tackles through Vanderbilt's first six games this season.

His loss is compounded by the fact that the Commodores were already without veteran reserve weakside option Nate Campbell. A letterman over the past two years, Campbell was dismissed in early September after violating university rules. Vanderbilt also lost the services of fellow veteran Brandon Bryant before the season started when it was determined that the two-year letterman would not be healthy enough to return to the football field.

Vanderbilt will attempt to address the loss of Strong with fellow redshirt freshmen Archibald Barnes and Dexter Daniels. Both have played in every game this year, with Barnes registering five official tackles on mainly special teams.

In addition to the Strong injury, Vanderbilt has also lost the services of reserve sophomore running back Jermaine Doster due to an indefinite suspension.

The 5-foot-10, 205-pound was taken into custody by the Nashville metro police last Friday morning and charged with resisting arrest and obstruction of justice after ignoring police orders to break up a altercation near 2nd Avenue and Broadway in Nashville. He has since been released.

This was Doster's second arrest since July of 2008. He was charged with three misdemeanors in Florida, including resisting arrest following a incident outside a Tampa nightclub.

The Vanderbilt football program suspended Doster for the entire 2008 season following the arrest in Tampa and stipulated that the player had to be a solid citizen and solid student. Sources close to the football program told VandySports.com in the spring that the running back had shown significant improvement in his attitude and all parties were ready to move on with his second chance.

That second chance included Doster seeing his first collegiate action on September 5th when he saw action in Vanderbilt's 45-0 victory over Western Carolina. He rushed for 36 yards on five carries in the win and set Vanderbilt up for its final touchdown in that game.

Doster came to Vanderbilt from the Robinson High program in Tampa, choosing the Commodores over Central Florida, Florida International and South Florida. He rushed for more than 2,300 yards and 32 touchdowns at Robinson.

His older brother, Kwane, was a three-year letterman for the Commodores from 2002 to 2004 but was tragically shot and killed while visiting his hometown of Tampa during the 2004 Christmas Holiday. The Vanderbilt program continues to honor Kwane's life and memory with the KD1 Memorial patch, currently worn by senior defensive end Broderick Stewart. Kwane's No.1 jersey is also permanently displayed in the football offices at Vanderbilt and his locker is maintained for every game. His game action photo is also still displayed with the rest of the current team's standouts in the walkway to the John R. Hall Football Complex at the McGugin Center.

Vanderbilt hopes to get back the services of senior running back Jared Hawkins and senior defensive end Steven Stone soon.

Hawkins missed the Commodores game with Army after starting games against Rice and Ole Miss, racking up 115 yards on 21 carries. He is still battling soreness in his foot and is said to be day-to-day.

Stone has yet to suit up for the Commodores this year. The projected three-year starter and unsung hero of the 2008 Music City Bowl champion defense broke a bone in his foot during the early stages of preseason drills in August and Vanderbilt has been cautious to rush him back too soon. He has shown good movement in running drills with the Vanderbilt trainers over the past couple of weeks.

Starting receiver John Cole and standout freshman running back Zac Stacy returned to action for the Commodores last weekend in the loss to Army. The pair missed the Ole Miss game due to injuries. Neither is close to 100-percent but are expected to play against Georgia this weekend.

Stay tuned to VandySports.com for more football news and analysis.

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