UPDATED: C. Cybele Raver to leave Vanderbilt to become the University of Michigan’s 17th president
Campus Dining: New in
Record-low 2.8% of applicants admitted to Class of 2030 regular decision
Chancellor’s Scholarship to end after 2026-27 admissions cycle
BREAKING: Blaze Berlowitz named Week 1 starter over five-star true freshman Jared Curtis
Vanderbilt reinstates standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants beginning fall 2029
TOLEDANO: You’re addicted to inspiration
Top 10 love songs of all time
The emotional journey of Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Lost Weekend’
LUCE: The person Vanderbilt admitted doesn’t exist anymore
Expectations may be higher than ever for the Vanderbilt football team this fall. After one of the most electric years in program history, which included an undefeated record at home and a Heisman runner-up quarterback leading the way (we’ll never forget you, Diego Pavia), the words “Vandy Football” had a positive connotation rarely seen before.
But the team is no longer led by the fiery Pavia. Instead, leadership will fall on quarterbacks Blaze Berlowitz or freshman phenom Jared Curtis, whoever ends up being the long-term starter. It means that the rest of the roster will need to step up if Vanderbilt hopes to match last year’s success. That includes the Commodores’ additions from the portal.
Vanderbilt landed a total of 17 transfer players this offseason — some of whom are expected to start right away. They are the exact thing the team needs after losing other key starters to the NFL Draft and portal itself, and such new additions will likely provide pivotal roles as long-term questions at quarterback remain. The only downside of the group is its lack of game experience, making the class a bit top heavy in terms of immediate impact.
Perhaps the most exciting transfer this season is sophomore safety Ricardo Jones: a ball-hawking defensive back coming from Clemson. In 12 starts last year, Jones recorded six interceptions — including one returned for a touchdown — and a recovered fumble. His knack for getting his hands on the ball makes him a dangerous addition to a secondary that has struggled to create turnovers, as the entire unit had just eight picks last year. Jones is quick and has good range in coverage, allowing him to be around the ball and capitalize on offensive mistakes.
However, there are also areas Jones needs to improve in. When tackling, he has a tendency to stop his feet — taking a hard hit rather than chopping his feet and delivering the blow. This tendency allows the runner to gain unnecessary yards after contact. Luckily, Vandy’s other starting safety excels in this area, the hard-hitting CJ Heard, so the players’ strengths will likely complement each other well.
When a unit loses 80% of its starters in the offseason, finding strong replacements becomes a high priority. This priority was the case for the Vanderbilt offensive line, with only Cade McConnell returning to Nashville, Tennessee. This situation opens the door for offensive tackle Beau Johnson, who was one of the best linemen in the entire FCS last year while playing for North Dakota State, to step into a primary role in a much larger conference. And in the eyes of Vanderbilt’s coaching staff, Johnson is up for the challenge. Johnson only allowed one sack in 674 snaps for the Bison and was an All-American. At 6’6, his long reach gives him the ability to effectively protect from fast outside pressure and climb to the second level in the run game.
The other big name brought in this spring to revamp the offensive line is Pittsburgh transfer Lyndon Cooper. Cooper is an interior lineman who has experience starting both for Pitt and North Carolina State, and his versatility may be his most useful trait. His ability to play both center and guard will be super important as Vanderbilt looks to find starters for the rest of its line.
Without stars like Eli Stowers (you’re welcome, Eagles fans) and Tre Richardson, wide receiver Junior Sherrill is expected to become the No. 1 receiving option in the Commodore offense. Beyond Sherrill, head coach Clark Lea will likely lean on incoming transfers Ja’Cory Thomas (wide receiver) and Jayvontay Conner (tight end) to step up.
At 6’3 and 210 pounds, Thomas has the body of the typical physical “X” receiver. However, what sets him apart is his agility and quick feet for his size. Unlike other players that would rely on their strength in the open field, the transfer’s ability to make a move in the open field led to highlight-reel plays for Old Dominion last season. His versatility to elevate to the ball but also bring in toe-tap grabs should give the Vanderbilt quarterback, whoever it may be, a reliable target, especially in the end zone.
With tight end Jayvontay Conner, Vanderbilt is getting a raw prospect. Listed at 6’4 and 235 pounds, Conner is adequately athletic to be a threat in the pass game (though not quite as explosive as Stowers). Conner showed flashes of brilliance at East Carolina University, including a 98-yard game against NC State, proving he can produce against larger opponents. However, almost a third of his season’s production came in that one game, meaning that if the Commodores plan on relying on Conner as a legit option in the pass game this year, he will need to prove that those flashes were not just flukes.
Overall, Vanderbilt fans have good reason to be excited about this transfer class, as they’ll play a crucial role in the Commodores’ 2026 campaign.
Vanderbilt opens the season Saturday, Sept. 5, at FirstBank Stadium against Austin Peay at 6 p.m. CDT.
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University
Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Enter the destination URL
Or link to existing content
