Jay Cutler Enters South Carolina Game
Second Among Frosh QBs in Total Offense 9/27/02

Vanderbilt redshirt freshman quarterback Jay Cutler ranks among the best of his class in total offense entering the Commodors’ Southeastern Conference home opener against South Carolina Saturday.

Cutler, a native of Santa Claus, Ind., trails only one freshman quarterback, Brad Smith of Missouri, in total offense, according to NCAA statistics. After four games, Cutler has compiled 812 total yards with 615 passing and 197 rushing. Only Smith, with 919 total yards, has been more productive.

FRESHMAN QB, SCHOOL	PASSING	RUSHING	TOTAL
Brad Smith, Missouri	662	257	919
Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt	615	197	812
Brett Basanez, Northwestern	737	61	798
Banick Nealy, Houston	542	190	732
Paul Pinegar, Fresno State	453	-56	397
Kyle Matter, Stanford	367	2	369
Tate Wallis, SMU	535	107	642
Zac Dahman, Army	588	-20	568

In his brief stint as a starter, Cutler has ascended to sixth place for passing yardage by freshman quarterback at Vanderbilt. With 615 passing yards, Cutler has an excellent chance of moving into the top three after this weekend’s contest against South Carolina. He needs just 81 yards to surpass David Wallace (1998), Tim Richardson (1985), and Watson Brown (1969).

FRESHMEN QBs PASSING YARDS

John Gromos, 1985	1,483
Greg Zolman, 1998	969
Watson Brown, 1969	696
Tim Richardson, 1985	684
David Wallace, 1998	678
Jay Cutler, 2002	615
Whit Taylor, 1979	609
Mike Healey, 1989	574
Ardell Fuller, 1981	407
Ronnie Gordon, 1993	400
Kurt Page, 1981	311

Miscellaneous Vanderbilt Statistical Leaders

Freshman running back Kwane Doster had the best performance of his young career last Saturday against the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford. Doster compiled 344 total yards of offense with 243 yards at kickoff returner and 101 at tailback.

Doster’s 243 return yards on eight kickoffs is the highest single-game total ever in the Southeastern Conference, eclipsing the 197-yard total by Alabama’s Kerry Goode in 1984. The performance propelled him to the top of the league’s all-purpose performers, and ninth nationally, with 684 total yards (225 rushing, 3 receiving, and 456 returning kicks).

Doster set personal highs in rushing yards (101), rushing attempts (15) and longest carry (25) against the Rebels. He also scored his first collegiate touchdown. Doster became just the sixth Commodore freshman to surpass the 100-yard mark in a single game.

Senior Hunter Hillenmeyer, who has moved to middle linebacker this season, is leading the SEC in solo tackles (36) and is third in total tackles (49). Hillenmeyer also has two of the top seven single-game tackle performances in the SEC. His 15 tackles against Auburn ranks fifth in the league while his 13-tackle effort at Georgia Tech is good for seventh best.

Hillenmeyer is fourth in the SEC in tackles for losses with four. Fellow Commodore linebacker Moses Osemwegie is fifth in the category