Vandy’s Will Sheppard, Matthew Hayball & Wesley Schelling Named Preseason All-SEC

/in , /by

Will Sheppard. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt football players Will Sheppard, Matthew Hayball and Wesley Schelling have been selected Preseason All-SEC by the league’s coaches.

Schelling was named the First-Team long snapper, while Sheppard picked up a Second-Team nod at wide receiver and Hayball was named the Third-Team punter.

Schelling was a First-Team All-SEC selection by the coaches a season ago, the first time the league honored long snappers as part of the all-conference voting. He was the first Commodore to be a First-Team All-SEC selection since 2016. The Nashville native executed all 108 long snaps during the season and recovered a fumbled punt for a touchdown in Vandy’s win over Florida.

Sheppard was a Second-Team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press last season after leading Vanderbilt in receiving touchdowns for the second consecutive year. He finished 2022 with 60 receptions for 776 yards and nine touchdowns. His nine touchdown receptions were second in the SEC and 11th in FBS. The most important six points came with 32 seconds left against Kentucky, giving Vanderbilt their first conference win since 2019.

Hayball is on the Ray Guy Award Watch List after ranking second in the SEC in punting average a season ago. He punted 59 times for an average of 45.36 yards, which was also 11th nationally. That clip ranks fourth in Vanderbilt’s single-season history. The Aussie also forced a fumble at Alabama.

The Commodores open the 2023 campaign Saturday (Aug. 26) against Hawai’i. Kickoff at FirstBank Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.

Steven Boero
Latest posts by Steven Boero (see all)