Vanderbilt safety CJ Heard named to AP midseason All-America second team
The Atlanta native leads the Commodores with 52 tackles; Vanderbilt plays at Kentucky on Saturday.
NASHVILLE - Vanderbilt safety CJ Heard was named to the Associated Press midseason All-America second team, Vanderbilt Athletics announced Monday, Oct. 19.
Heard leads Southeastern Conference safeties with five pass breakups and two forced fumbles, according to the school's release. His 52 tackles are the most on the team and the second most among the league's safeties, and he has one interception.
Heard, who is from Atlanta, has led the Commodores in tackles in four games this season, the release says.
Vanderbilt is 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the SEC after a 31-21 home loss to Arkansas on Saturday, according to the team schedule. The Commodores play at Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in Lexington, Ky., on SEC Network.
Source: Vanderbilt Athletics, football release, Oct. 19, 2026 (https://vucommodores.com/news/2026/10/19/midseason-honor-for-heard); 2026 football schedule (https://vucommodores.com/sports/football/schedule).