Kalija Lipscomb hoping Vanderbilt can do more than just bowling

The Vanderbilt Commodores went 25 years without a bowl appearance in the seasons from 1983 to 2007.

Vanderbilt qualified for its fifth bowl game in the past eight seasons last year, but suddenly that doesn't seem like it's enough. The Commodores achieved the necessary six wins for bowl eligibility in 2016 and again last season under coach Derek Mason, but they were bounced by North Carolina State in the Independence Bowl and by Baylor in last December's Texas Bowl to close out 6-7 records.

"It's a matter of finishing close games at this point, and doing that would allow us to turn that corner in people's minds," Vandy senior receiver Kalija Lipscomb said during SEC Media Days. "We could go from a 6-6 team to a 9-3 team. I think we're close, and I think there is a lot of hype this year around the talent we have on the offensive side of the ball.

"The defensive side of the ball is stepping up as well, and I think our combination of offense, defense and special teams going into this year is going to be a force to be reckoned with. I'm excited."

Vanderbilt could be quite exciting this season with the senior trio of Lipscomb, tight end Jared Pinkney and running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn. Pinkney is earning preseason All-SEC recognition after catching 50 passes last year, the most by a Vandy tight end since 1984, for 774 yards and seven touchdowns, while Vaughn decided the NFL could wait after his 1,244-yard season that yielded 12 rushing scores.

Lipscomb led the Southeastern Conference last season with 87 receptions that netted 916 yards and nine touchdowns, and the 6-foot-1, 201-pounder from New Orleans has much bigger plans for this year.

"For me, the sky is the limit," Lipscomb said. "I don't think I've hit my peak yet as far as football goes. If I had to shoot for a ballpark number, I would say 100 catches. I want to beat 1,000 yards, but my goal is around 1,300.

"I'm chasing the touchdown records that Jordan Matthews has, so I've got some work to put in."

Lipscomb's 151 career catches for 1,845 yards and 19 touchdowns rank sixth, ninth and fifth in program history. The first record within his grasp is the total of 24 touchdowns Matthews compiled from 2010 to 2013.

"Kalija Lipscomb is extremely talented," Mason said. "He's in his fourth year. He started as a true freshman, so he has played a lot of football. I remember a year ago talking about this young man and the possibilities of the season he could have."

Lipscomb's numbers to this point were aided by the talent and experience of former quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who broke into the starting lineup as a freshman in 2015 and will be remembered for his phenomenal play against rival Tennessee the past three seasons. The son of New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur did not get drafted but was quickly signed to a free-agent contract by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Seniors Deuce Wallace and Riley Neal, a graduate transfer from Ball State, are vying for the opportunity to become Shurmur's successor. The Commodores are holding their first preseason practice Friday.

"The quarterback competition is in flux right now," Lipscomb said. "We've got the transfer, Riley Neal, and he's competing with the front-runner, Deuce. They're going to go at it in camp, but there will never be another Kyle Shurmur.

"Kyle was one of a kind, and we love him, but ultimately the show must go on. I'm looking forward to playing with whoever steps out on that field."

The Commodores opened last season with routs of Middle Tennessee State and Nevada before losing a hard-fought contest at Notre Dame. They are a three-touchdown underdog in this season's opener, with Georgia coming to town Aug. 31.

Vanderbilt pulled off a 17-16 upset in Athens in 2016, but the Bulldogs have rolled the past two seasons by scores of 45-14 and 41-13.

"It's a big opportunity," Lipscomb said. "It's a big stage, and we've got to show up."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.