Vandy's Dandy At WR

The Vanderbilt Commodores have a good one in wide receiver Jordan Matthews, a 6'3", 206 pound senior out of Madison, Alabama. Through just two games this season, Matthews has racked up nearly 300 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns. Last year, Matthews caught 94 balls for 1,323 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had a 47 yard rushing touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers in a 41-18 Vanderbilt victory. Seven times last season Matthews went over the 100 yard mark, exceeding 130 yards on four occasions. To date in 2013, he's gotten over 100 in both contests, including the tally of 178 in a 10-catch performance in the Commodores' week one loss to the Mississippi Rebels.

Victor Hampton, assuming he's healthy, will be the main defensive back assigned to covering Matthews. For certain, Hampton and the South Carolina Gamecocks secondary are very aware of Matthews and the task at hand. Pressure by the defensive front will be critical in limiting Matthews' opportunities and providing aid to the secondary by not affording QB Austyn Carta-Samuels extended time to allow his receivers to run free. Carta-Samuels threw two picks against Ole Miss, and the Carolina defensive backfield must be hungry for their first interception of the season. The key is to simply limit Matthews on Saturday night. He's not going to be completely shut down, but the Gamecocks need to avoid giving up big chunks of yards to him.