Sidelined by Injuries, Vanderbilt’s Andrew Jelks Tackles Life After Football
Andrew Jelks is a relentless, tough, and intelligent Vanderbilt Man. There is a poem called “The Dash” written by Linda Ellis. It defines life by two dates: the date you were born and the date of your death, and specifically “the dash” in between those two dates is the most important part. Life, or “the dash”, is a series of dates and moments. Ordinary moments. Defining moments. Game-changing moments. And Andrew Jelks is currently living his “dash” to the fullest.
VFL = Vandy For Life
Wise beyond his years, Jelks knew his football career would not last forever. As a four-star recruit, Jelks was a 6’6”, 260 lb. tackle ready to make an impact on any of the SEC offensive lines. He was born and raised a Tennessee Volunteer, but in spite of family history, he followed his head. He knew he wanted a world-class education to carry him through life.
“Competition brings excellence. I compete with the best students in the country Monday through Friday and the best athletes in the country on Saturday”
On November 12, 2011, Jelks made a life-changing decision by committing to Vanderbilt University. Jelks was a senior captain on the Henry County High School football team in Paris, Tennessee. A starter for three years, he led his undefeated team to their first-ever state championship. He collected numerous honors on the football field, as well as being ranked in the top ten percent of his class off the field. Jelks was ready to tackle the world.
Traveling Team
The year 2012 was his first season on West End. Jelks quickly settled into classes and into football. He had excellent agility and technique in fall camp, and as a result he earned a spot on the two-deep roster and the traveling team. “The experience I gained traveling that first year was great. Being able to travel and see what happens on the road is an experience like no other.” Jelks recalled. He ended up red-shirted; all the while he was spending plenty of time in the weight room bulking up.
Living Up to the Hype
In 2013, Jelks was named to the Coaches’ SEC All-Freshman squad. He earned Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America. Jelks played in 12 games in 2013, eventually earning a starting spot at right tackle the fourth game of the season. The Commodores went 7-2 with Jelks in the starting lineup. Notably, he had 42 blocks that directly led to Vandy first downs or touchdowns. Jelks also recorded 26 knockdown blocks. Vanderbilt went on to beat the Houston Cougars in the BBVA Compass Bowl, their third bowl appearance in three years. With an impressive season, Jelks lived up to the pre-season honors. The classroom was no different, as he was named to his first of three SEC Academic Honor Rolls.
The Business of Football
On January 17, 2014, Vanderbilt hired Derek Mason as their new head coach. With a new head coach comes new position coaches. Ultimately, the head coaching change led to three offensive coordinators, three offensive line coaches, and three strength coaches in five years. Jelks spoke about the changes “Football is a business. I knew that but don’t think I fully understood it until I went through it” Jelks continued, “It was tough when it happened. But, I truly believe Mason is the best man for this job and for Vanderbilt. He is building a program the right way. He has changed the culture. I was one of 22 recruits in the 2012 class; there are just seven of us left. He didn’t care who you were or if you were a starter if you didn’t buy in you were not going to play for him…Everyone on this team is 100% behind Mason.”
Rough Start
Jelks started all 12 games in the 2014 season, but the season was nothing short of a let down. After three straight bowl appearances, the Commodores struggled to find their identity. Jelks contributed as best he could on the field and in the locker room. Vanderbilt limped through the season 3-9 overall, 0-8 (SEC) and finally came to a disappointing end on chilly night in Nashville on November 29, 2014 against Tennessee.
This would be the last football game that Jelks would ever play in. He just didn’t know it yet.
Important to realize, there was a tweak or two to the coaching staff after the ’14 season, including two key hires, Andy Ludwig as the offensive coordinator, and James Dobson as the strength and conditioning coach. It was the second season with Mason as head coach, and his first season as defensive coordinator. It was an earlier than usual spring ball and spring game. Summer started, as did the workouts with Dobson. “I believe Dobson has been Mason’s best hire. We spend most of our time with the strength coaches, and Dobson has the same philosophy as Mason in life and in football” raved Jelks. Spring and summer came and went, and finally it was time for the boys of Fall.
Blindsided
It was August 19, 2015. Jelks went down with a season-ending ACL tear. Blindsided by Jelks’ injury, Mason had to rework his game plan accordingly. “Mason was with me the entire time. He never left as I went through the 45-minute MRI. He stayed in the waiting room with Bos (Tom Bossung, Head Athletic Trainer). I cried when they told me it was my ACL, and my season was over. Time is precious for coaches in fall camp, and Mason stayed with me through the whole process. It says a lot about him as a man to be there for his players. That is how he is with everybody not just myself” Jelks recalled.
He struggled with the guilt of letting his teammates down. Jelks got through the pain and guilt with the support of his football family in addition to building a stronger relationship with Christ. Which led him to an active role in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Senior Season Begins
On February 22, 2016, spring ball kicked off Jelks red-shirt senior season. The anticipation for the 2016 season was truly electric. Jelks dressed out for spring practice but was still ‘no contact’; his knee was healing nicely. In any event, Mason ultimately made the call that Jelks would not practice during spring ball, so Jelks worked to get his conditioning and strength levels back up.
Will Not Give Up
It was June 13, 2016, the second week of summer training. As Jelks is lifting weights, his left knee shifts and buckles. By the end of the day, he learned he had torn his ACL again. Distraught and overwhelmed by the news, Jelks had questions. His love for his teammates and the university compelled him to ask if there was anyway he could play his senior year. There were options and Jelks had hope. “I gave it my all. I gave everything I had to this team and this university.” The coaches, doctors, and trainers informed him of all the risks. He insisted on playing. Despite their efforts to sideline him, Jelks would not be deterred. He knew it was his last chance to play football, and he was willing to sacrifice it all for one last season.
After much hesitation and a lot of resolution from Jelks, they said they would let Jelks play. Taped up with a new knew brace, he was back at practice the next morning. No one knew Jelks was injured, none of the other coaches, none of the players. The only people who knew were the ones in the initial meeting, as well as Ludwig, and Jelks’ parents and siblings. He survived summer workouts. However, not without pain, he refused to give up on his left knee or his team.
All Out of Options
On August 4, 2016, Vanderbilt kicked off fall practice. Jelks felt his left knee shift yet again. He only made it through three practices before discovering that his left ACL and meniscus were torn. His season was over. On August 11, 2016 after practice Mason simply said Jelks’ was out for the season with a knee injury. Above all, Jelks did not want a big story or to be a distraction. Mason praised him for his handling of the injury and the situation. A medical red-shirt is still an option, although Jelks has not made a final decision. As he goes through his senior season, he is ever present on the sidelines during the games. As a result, Jelks is an extra set of eyes for the coaches and an encouraging word to his teammates.
Graduation
On December 17, 2016 Andrew Moore Jelks will graduate from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Human and Organizational Development. His career path is undecided, but at the same time, his options are limitless. He would like to work with developmentally and mentally-challenged individuals. However, this injury has opened his eyes to the exciting challenges of coaching, another path he would enjoy.
As Andrew Jelks continues his “dash” through life, there will continue to be a series of dates and moments. Ordinary moments. Defining moments. Game-changing moments. Surely he will continue to be relentless and tackle them with the same heart and passion he has for the past five years. Jelks is making the most of his “dash”. By and large, he is living the life of a relentless, tough and intelligent Vanderbilt Man.
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