While the Vanderbilt Commodores have displayed signs of life in the world of major college football in recent years, the program is not exactly known for top-tier recruiting prowess. In fact, it would be downright shocking to learn that the top high school at any position elected to spend his college career in Nashville.
Except, of course, it actually happened this week. Four-star prospect and No. 1 center recruit Dan Dawkins pledged his allegiance to Vanderbilt.
Dawkins is not universally seen as the No. 1 prospect at the position, but Rivals does place the 6'4, 295-pound behemoth at the top of the heap. Given that Dawkins hails from New Jersey, there is no sharp geographical tie here, either, though it should be noted that he will join forces with high school teammate and fellow 2018 prospect Allan Walters at Vanderbilt.
The talented center boasted an impressive list of offers, highlighted by that of Michigan, North Carolina and Missouri, and this is a massive pick-up for the Commodores. It remains to be seen if Vanderbilt can build on an already impressive class of incoming prospects but, even if the Commodores don't make big-time waves between now and February, they have done a nice job in attracting Dawkins and Walters from the Northeast.
