Commitment (Class of 2025): Caden Knighten, 5-10 175 RB Wynnewood, OK

[BrentVU]

He becomes the first commitment for Vandy's Class of 2025... has a 4-star rating from On3 Sports and is rated the No. 1 RB in Oklahoma in his class. Visited campus a week or so ago.

He is a speed demon: as a freshman, he was the state champion in the 100-meter dash in Oklahoma.

[BrentVU]

Quick take: new running backs coach Jayden Everett (who came to Vandy from Tulsa) gets the credit for this one... Everett had had his eye on the young Knighten, who has been something of a phenom as a running back as far back as eighth grade. It will be fun to watch what he does in his next two seasons in high school. This is a great get and a bang-up start to Vandy's recruiting class of 2025.

[BrentVU]

Knighten did this interview the night before announcing his decision, so you can get to know him a bit... seems very well grounded... sounds like the coaches really made a deep connection with him, and he believes in all the things the VU coaches are selling...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn92-yFKExA&ab_channel=thePGshow

[BrentVU]

OK, here's what's really exciting... Knighten trains with an outfit called C4 Sports, which shepherded Knighten through Nashville (and UT and MTSU) last week. They are the same outfit which brought Bai Jobe to Nashville last spring (Vandy wanted him badly, but he ended up at Michigan State). But THIS YEAR on that same trip last week was Xadavien Sims, a 6-4 270 defensive lineman and tight end rated the best 2024 player in Oklahoma... and Sims seemed to like everything.

Sims just dropped his current Top Ten schools, and Vandy is right there among them.

[img=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FtNBHaPWYAA ... name=small /]

[AuricGoldfinger]

Huge commitment at a chronic position of need, even if he won't be on campus for another couple of years.

[3rdFloorDyer]

university of Vanderbilt? That's OK - you can teach syntax but not speed!

[Vandy187187]

SPEED. To go along with the DL BEEF on the last commitment. Love it.

[dallasdore]

I will be (pleasantly) stunned if we can hold on to Knighten. He is a stud, from a state known for producing RB's. He's going to get a lotttttttt of attention.

Please, please, PLEASE Knighten come here to Vandy!!!! You can be the star RB on a rising program with an improving O-line in the best conference in the country!!!! I know he's not reading this, but still....

[BrentVU]

A report from local station KTEN on Knighten's commitment (be sure to watch the video)...

https://www.kten.com/story/48687106/cad ... vanderbilt

[BrentVU]

Knighten's commitment has created a bit of a stir on social media among OU fans over whether OU offered, and whether he would have committed to Vanderbilt if OU had.

Knighten's trainer at C4 Sports, Sean Cooper, had this to say: "The man has at least 1 Offer from every Power 5 Conference he has P5 Offers he hasn’t posted this week b/c he knew he was committing he made a CHOICE best for him in his mind for his future both on field and beyond."

NOTE: Get ready... OU fans can be just as obnoxious about their school as any current SEC school can.

[BrentVU]

As a junior, Knighten was No. 1 in both the 100m and the 200m regional track meet over the weekend. On to the Oklahoma state meet!

[Versus75]

A report from local station KTEN on Knighten's commitment (be sure to watch the video)...

https://www.kten.com/story/48687106/cad ... vanderbilt

I wonder if KnighTEN has his own station. Self-promotion is big these days.

[BrentVU]

Another VU RB signee, A.J. Newberry from Texas, was lighting it up in track last weekend...

[Go Vandy!]

university of Vanderbilt? That's OK - you can teach syntax but not speed!

I'm going to call CDD & see if they'll rename the university. It might be easier... (At least it's not the University of UV!)

[alathIN]

A report from local station KTEN on Knighten's commitment (be sure to watch the video)...

https://www.kten.com/story/48687106/cad ... vanderbilt

I love the coach enthusing about the Ivy League education Knighten will get at VU.

[zhanglini]

university of Vanderbilt? That's OK - you can teach syntax but not speed!

I am ok with "THE University of Vanderbilt"

[UltimateVUFan]

As a junior, Knighten was No. 1 in both the 100m and the 200m regional track meet over the weekend. On to the Oklahoma state meet!

If he’s c/o 2025, isn’t he a sophomore?
Two years VU has to maintain the commitment. Glad he committed early. Holding onto him for two years would be a major coup.

[BrentVU]

If he’s c/o 2025, isn’t he a sophomore?

Yes, correct.

[BrentVU]

Knighten won the 100m dash in the Oklahoma state meet (for the second year in a row!) with a time of 10.81; he said he had a strained hamstring, but still won it pulling away. See it below:

[charlestonalum]

Obviously a really great get