Jamaal Richardson received two separate bits of devastating news shortly before Vanderbilt football’s 2024 season.
The first came in the spring. Eastern Washington transfer Marlon Jones was supposed to move in, but he didn’t show up on time. Jones called Richardson, Vanderbilt’s cornerbacks coach, and said he had to push back his move-in a little bit. About a week later, Jones was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer.
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Later, just before the start of preseason practice, Richardson was getting lunch when he heard that Mark Davis, the team’s other transfer corner from Southern Illinois, had torn his Achilles and would also miss the 2025 season.
After both players missed all of 2024, each will be back in action for the Commodores in 2025.
“The cool part about that is, even though you go through those hardships, it’s like, you see Jaylin Lackey have to step up this year,” Richardson said. “And that’s a guy who’s played a lot of football now. Now you get those two back and you’re looking up and it’s a room full of depth.”
Jones has been back in practice since spring ball, while Davis had another setback when he underwent a cleanup surgery on his knee earlier in the summer. However, Davis has finally returned to practice and should be able to contribute in some way as he ramps up.
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Those two will join returning options Martel Hight, Lackey and Kolbey Taylor. Hight was a starting corner a year ago but is now experimenting as a two-way player, which will likely limit his snaps somewhat on defense. Taylor struggled with penalties a season ago, but there’s optimism that he’s cleaned it up. As for the sophomore Lackey, Richardson said that he is the team’s best corner at playing man coverage.
Jones is highly experienced from his time at Eastern Washington, an FCS powerhouse, and Davis is one of the more athletic players on the team. Richardson said that Davis had an 11-foot broad jump, 40-inch vertical jump and a 4.4 40-yard dash. Richardson himself suffered two Achilles injuries in college and helped Davis through the recovery process.
“It’s an athleticism we haven’t seen here,” Richardson said. “And so when you talk about playing more man coverage this year, letting him go up there and press and play, I’m excited about it. It opens doors to the defense.”
Richardson said Jones’ experience recovering from cancer gave him a new level of maturity and toughness. He will likely end up being one of the team’s most-used corners in 2025.
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It may have been a year later than expected, but Jones and Davis are set to become the contributors Vanderbilt hoped they would be.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cornerbacks Marlon Jones, Mark Davis returning to Vanderbilt football
