How Vanderbilt offensive line has built chemistry through basketball and baseball

Vanderbilt football needed a way to develop chemistry on the offensive line with only one returning starter for 2026. While a transfer-heavy offensive line worked wonders for the Commodores a year ago, Vanderbilt now needs another new group to gel. How do you do that?

The answer is typically for the players to spend as much time together as possible, and the Commodores have now found new places to do that: baseball and basketball games. Several of the linemen attended men's and women's basketball games as both teams qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2026. Now that basketball is done, they have turned their attention to baseball.

During a 16-inning marathon game against Tennessee, those players stayed the entire time, moving behind home plate and cheering loudly as Vanderbilt eventually got a walk-off win. "It was great, Mustapha Dannett, man ... he's a character," said Kevo Wesley, referring to the walk-on defensive back who was among the rowdiest fans at the game.

It's become increasingly common for athletes at Vanderbilt to attend each other's games. Baseball players frequently attend basketball games and several made the trip to Alabama to see the football team play this past season. The women's basketball team came for the Men's SEC Tournament and was there when football hosted College GameDay.