SPORTS

Spring game may decide Vandy QB leader

Jeff Lockridge

jlockridge@tennessean.com

spring football game may significantly impact the quarterback competition and post-spring depth chart, coach

said.

"I think you're only as good as your last game," Mason said. "Let's play the game within the game. Let's let the numbers speak for themselves. Let's come out of this deal with a quarterback and let's see what we're going to do this summer."

Sophomore Patton Robinette and redshirt freshman Johnny McCrary have been competing for the job through 14 practices.

The spring closes with the Black & Gold game, which will be an offense vs. defense scrimmage at 10 a.m. Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium. There is no admission charge.

Robinette began the spring with a leg up in the quarterback race due to his experience last season, but Mason has not named a leader in recent weeks.

"I think it's a tight race," Mason said. "I think Johnny right now looks to be poised in terms of the pass game, and I think Robinette functions a little better just in terms of his ability to manage the offense. So you have a big-play guy and you have a guy who understands how to manage the offense. So it will be interesting in the spring game to see how that goes. I want to see some points."

Robinette has practiced in a red non-contact jersey since sitting out of a practice a week and half ago, but he is moving well now.

"It's always a competition," Robinette said. "Every time you strap up, you're out there fighting for your job and putting your résumé on tape. We've done some good things this spring as far as implementing the new scheme. I just want to see us go out there in front of the people and execute the playbook."

New plays: Learning the new playbook has been the No. 1 challenge for McCrary this spring.

"There are so many obstacles in the playbook and so many underlying things you don't understand yet, but you can get the basics," McCrary said. "I'd probably say (I know) about 50 percent of it.

"Just wait until I master it. Then I can start making my own plays up and stuff, finding other little routes we can run and combinations and concepts. Probably the playbook is going to be my girlfriend. That's what football is really to me. It's my wife."

Blind side: Sophomore Andrew Jelks' move from right tackle to left tackle is going smoothly as the Henry County alumnus prepares to be the heir apparent to Wesley Johnson.

"I've learned a lot from Wes, and getting to watch him play left tackle for two years has been great for me," Jelks said.

"Being able to play right tackle last year and get a lot of reps under my belt was good for me, but I feel like I'm more natural on the left side. I played left tackle all through high school."

Injuries: Offensive lineman Blake Fromang is on crutches. Running back Derek King did not dress out or participate in practice earlier this week. Outside linebackers Kyle Woestmann and Stephen Weatherly took part in some individual work but did not wear pads.

Quarterback Josh Grady, receivers Latevius Rayford and DeAndre Woods, long snapper Andrew East and outside linebacker Casey Hughes practiced in red jerseys.

Autographs and TV: Vanderbilt players and coaches will sign autographs for 30 minutes on the field at the conclusion of Saturday's game. Free posters will be available for fans to have signed.

CSS will televise on the game at 6:30 p.m. on April 23.

Reach Jeff Lockridge at 615-259-8023 or on Twitter @jefflockridge.