Vandermade prepped at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. He was a 1998 Super Prep All-American, USA Today All-USA honorable mention, Prep Star Dream Team Top 100, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-Western, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West honorable mention, Orange County Register Fab 15 second team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, All-CIF Southern Section first team, All-CIF Division I first team, Los Angeles Times All-Orange County, Orange County Register All-Orange County first team and All-South Coast League first team as a senior at Mater Dei. He did not allow a sack in 1998 as a left offensive tackle. On defense, he had 26 tackles with 2 sacks. Mater Dei went 13-1, won the CIF Division I championship and was ranked No. 2 nationally by USA Today. As a 1997 junior, he made the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass first team, All-CIF Southern Section second team, All-CIF Division I first team, Los Angeles Times All-Orange County first team, Orange County Register All-Orange County second team and All-South Coast League first team. He made the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomore first team and All-South Coast League second team as a 1996 sophomore as Mater Dei went 14-0, won the CIF Division I title and was named national champion by USA Today. He earned at least a 90% blocking grade in all of his games as a junior and senior. He also posted 78 career tackles. A 3-year starter, Mater Dei went 40-2 during that time. Fellow Trojans Matt Grootegoed, Matt Leinart and Will Collins also prepped at Mater Dei.
College career
Vandermade played college football at the University of Southern California. 2003: The steady, reliable Vandermade started at left offensive guard as a senior in 2003, his fourth season as a line starter. He was slowed during the early part of 2003 spring practice while recovering from a biceps injury. He won USC's Co-Lifter of the Year award. 2002: Vandermade started for his third season on the offensive line, this time at left guard as a junior in 2002. He tore his right biceps tendon at Stanford, which required surgery and sidelined him the rest of the 2002 season. 2001: Vandermade started for his second season at center as just a sophomore in 2001. He started 8 games and appeared in 11 contests. He also saw some action at guard in 2001. He was on the "Watch List" for the 2001 Dave Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's top center. 2000: As just a redshirt freshman in 2000, Vandermade did an exceptional job while starting all season, the first 5 games at left offensive guard and then the final 7 contests at center. He was named to the 2000 Freshman All-American first teams by The Sporting News and Football News.
