Earlier this week, Vanderbilt’s first year head coach Derek Mason said he is playing close attention to Missouri defensive end Shane Ray.  At his weekly press conference on Wednesday, he was impressed with Ray’s ability to create havoc.

“Shane Ray is one of the top sack makers in the country. He’s unbelievable in terms of being able to come off the edge and creating havoc. They do it most of the time out of a four-man front so that matchup between him and Andrew Jelks will be a feature matchup this week in terms of what we look to do and how we have to stand up. Our guys have been challenged as to what Missouri is, they have been a better road team than home team, but this is a team that will be fired up to play us and we’ll be fired up to play them. We are looking forward to the matchup.”

The other interesting story is this game will feature two of the SEC’s top return players and both wear the number six.  Marcus Murphy and Vandy’s Darrius Sims.  Both average over 30 yards on kick returns and both have run two back for touchdowns.

Chris Lee of VandySports.com takes us through those two matchups as the Tigers face the Commodores on Saturday at 3 p.m.