Ensworth corner on why he recommitted to Vanderbilt

For Donovan Sheffield, recommitting to Vanderbilt wasn't a question of if, but when.

The Ensworth junior cornerback did so Monday, becoming the second member of the Commodores' 2015 recruiting class.

"When the transition happened, I didn't officially have a (scholarship) offer from them," Sheffield said, referring to James Franklin's departure to Penn State and Derek Mason's subsequent hiring. "I was a little concerned, but then I saw who the hire was."

Sheffield, who originally committed to Vanderbilt in June 2012, also had offers from Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Ole Miss and Stanford. The new staff extended an offer to Sheffield about a month ago.

"Coach Mason was defensive coordinator at Stanford when I was offered," he said. "I'd heard so many great things about him, I wasn't really concerned. I just waited for them (Vanderbilt) to offer me again and then I began establishing a relationship with them. I probably went over there five times between then and now, and I just got comfortable with them."

A second-team Tennessean all-Midstate selection, Sheffield (5-11, 170) joins Josh Crawford, a 5-11, 214-pound running back from Edgewood Academy in Elmore, Ala., as 2015 commitments for Vanderbilt. Crawford announced his commitment via Twitter over the weekend.

Sheffield's father, Robert, played for Vanderbilt during the mid-1990s.

"It was really a family decision," Donovan said of his original commitment. "I was kinda young. But I was really comfortable with what Vanderbilt had to offer at that point as far as the academics. The football was really starting to accelerate at that point.

"I believe coach Mason will do even bigger things."

Reach Maurice Patton at 615-259-8018 and on Twitter @mopatton_sports. Contributing: Jeff Lockridge.