SEC football preview: Vanderbilt Music City Mystery

He's in the NFL, wearing a Denver Broncos uniform and has a new six-year, $48 million contract tucked in his pocket.

So, where's that leave Vanderbilt?

After four years with tough, talented Cutler at the helm, a new quarterback will have to step forward to lead the Commodores in 2006.

Sophomore Chris Nickson appears to be the frontrunner.

"There's not going to be a whole lot of change," Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said at SEC Media Days last week in Hoover, Ala. "When Chris Nickson was our quarterback in spring, we didn't change the offense that much except we are going to take advantage of his athleticism, him being able to run the football.

"He's going to put pressure on some defenses doing that."

Proof of Nickson's athleticism came in two appearances at wide receiver a year ago.

Redshirt freshman Mackenzi Adams and Richard Kovalcheck are two other potential Cutler replacements.

Adams is more of a longshot, but Kovalcheck started 11 games at Arizona before transferring to Vanderbilt in May under the new NCAA graduate-student transfer rule.

"I think eight games (he started) were against top 25 teams," Johnson said. "He's had some experience.

"We're going to have to find out what Richard does best and tailor our offense around that if he's the quarterback."

In the meantime, guys like tailback Cassen Jackson-Garrison (Central High School graduate) and receiver Earl Bennett will be called on to take pressure off the first-year QB.

"We're going to have to get some help from the other players," Johnson said. "Our running backs are going to have to step up.

"We're going to have to get the ball to Earl Bennett (79 catches, 876 yards, nine TDs in 2005), George Smith, and Marlon White, at wide receiver. The onus is not just on the quarterbacks."

Jackson-Garrison (6-1, 220, Jr.) will get an early opportunity to lead the running game. He had a team-high 539 yards rushing, with eight TDs and a 5.6 per carry average.

"Cassen Jackson-Garrison, especially at the first, will carry most of the load because Jeff Jennings (Jefferson County graduate) had a knee injury in the next to the last game (of 2005)," Johnson said. "He's rehabbing well, but we don't quite know whether he's going to be ready or not.

"We also have a redshirt freshman, Jared Hawkins, who we think is a very good player."

Jackson-Garrison and Jennings, the two East Tennessee products, have obviously have earned the respect of teammates in their first two years at Vanderbilt.

"I love having those guys back there," Vandy offensive lineman Brian Stamper said. "They're going to do whatever it takes to get those extra yards.

"You know, even if you don't make the perfect block, they have the ability to make a cut and make things happen."