How much of Vandy’s 2025 10-win success was Diego Pavia and how much was Clark Lea? We have our suspicions.
The tenth installment of wild blind dart-throwing takes us to the least Nashville part of Nashville.
Coach: Clark Lea (can you believe he is starting his 6th seasons at Vandy? 26-36 overall, 11-29 SEC)
2025 VU record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC; lost Tampa Bowl to frickin’ Iowa. 🙄)
CB 2025 Prediction: 5-7; I mean, really. Who saw that season coming?
Looking back: The Commodores were the darling of college football when they reeled off five straight wins to start the season. Three foes were cupcakes with the other two being Virginia Tech who would fire their coach and South Carolina who had a disappointing losing season. Then October hit and Alabama served Vandy a big slice of humble pie 30-14. That was followed by wins over LSU and Mizzou at home, but a trip to Texas saw a bold comeback fall short in the end. An overtime win over Auburn and a rout of Kentucky raised some spirits, just in time for a trip to Knoxville where VU obliterated the Vols 45-24. Unfortunately, that was their Super Bowl as the ‘Dores fell to a meh Iowa team in Tampa.
Returning starters: 4 on offense, 5* on defense, kicker not the punter
* NT Issa Ouattara was named team captain last year before suffering an injury in the second game of the season. He is technically a returning starter (from 2024) but not included in the total above.
Key losses: QB Diego Pavia (UDFA), TE Eli Stowers (2nd round pick, Eagles), WR Tre Richardson (Louisville; 806 yds, 7 TD), LB Langston Patterson (UDFA, Cowboys), DE Khordae Sydnor (UDFA, Browns), WR Richie Hoskins (grad)
Top returnees: Consultant Jerry Kill, offensive coordinator Tim Beck, WR Junior Sherrill (54 rec, 784 yards, 7 TD), QB Blaze Berlowitz named the starter on Tuesday, RB Sedrick Alexander (567 yds, 11 TD), RB Makhilyn Young (414 yds, 6 TD), leading tackler SAF CJ Heard (46 solo, 25 asst), 2nd leading tackler LB Bryan Longwell (36 solo, 34 asst), EDGE Miles Capers (4.5 sacks), PR/CB Martel Hight (4 INT), LB Nick Rinaldi, PK Brock Taylor (13-14 FGs),
Top newcomers: 5-star freshman QB Jared Curtis (from Nashville), C Lyndon Cooper (2-yr starter at Pitt), WR Ja’Cory Thomas (Old Dominion; 719 yds, 5 TD), projected starting slot WR Cole Adams (Alabama), projected starter OG Micah DeBose (Alabama), SAF Ricardo Jones (Clemson; 6 INT), DE Brian Allen (Iowa), TE Jayvontay Conner (ECU), Tyler Ebel (South Dakota; 45.8 yards per punt).
Strengths: Outside of Tre Richardson, Vanderbilt managed to keep most of their best players from transferring out and picked up some nice pieces as well… Skill players are solid (RB, WR)… Veteran linebackers… Coaching braintrust… Don’t have to deal with Pavia’s unruly behavior/family/posse… Construction renovations on their stadium has finally wrapped up…
Weaknesses: Starting QB for Game 1 is a guy named Blaze Berlowitz… The other QB option is Jared Curtis. Throwing a true freshman quarterback into the fire could have some growing pains… Patchwork offensive line… Many returning players on defense, but they were not so great last year… Pass defense needs to improve. New safety Ricardo Jones will help some… After a 10-win season, could the ‘Dores be a little complacent or over-confident?… Did they lose some swagger with Pavia’s departure?…
Outlook: I have never been a big believer in Clark Lea. His program was trash (9-27, 2-22 SEC), until he struck gold in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was able to convince NMSU coach Jerry Kill, OC Tim Beck, QB Diego Pavia, TE Eli Stowers, and a handful of other Aggies to join him in Nashville. If not for some health issues, Kill would be a solid FBS head coach somewhere. With that dynamic quartet by his side, Lea’s last two teams went 17-9 (9-7). Kill and Beck are still there, but Pavia and his favorite target Stowers are gone. Don’t be fooled. 24-year-old Pavia was the straw that stirred this drink. With those two stars gone, some of their toughest opponents at home (OM, Bama, Tenn), and some easier ones on the road (Aub, UK, MSU, Fla), it feels like Vandy goes back to being Vandy this fall.
[ED.NOTE: Lea to a six-year contract extension in November. Good luck with that.]
ODDS
2026 VANDERBILT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
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