Eli Stowers, formerly of Vanderbilt football, was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round with the 54th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Stowers was an All-American tight end for the Commodores. Draft-eligible in 2025 as well, he opted to instead return to Vanderbilt and had his best season. He helped lead the Commodores to their first 10-win season ever, though he opted out of the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Stowers is Vanderbilt’s highest-drafted player of the Clark Lea era and highest since Dayo Odeyingbo, who also went 54th overall in 2021.
Eli Stowers, a 6-foot-3¾, 239-pound athlete, was one of the best receiving tight ends in college football over the last three years. In 2025, he won the Mackey Award for the nation’s top tight end and was a consensus All-American and All-SEC selection.
Stowers was also known at Vanderbilt for his leadership abilities in the locker room and for his strong academic performance. He won the William V. Campbell trophy, which goes to the college football player with the best combination of academics, athletic performance and leadership. He showed a strong work ethic to overcome injuries early in his career and convert from a quarterback at Texas A&M to a tight end, first at New Mexico State, then at Vanderbilt.
Stowers is a proven and polished pass-catcher who was Vanderbilt’s top target in his two years there. He has 1,773 receiving yards between Vanderbilt and New Mexico State. He was a reliable red-zone threat who could also occasionally take the ball on end-around plays or throw the ball on trick plays.
Where teams have questions about him is as a blocker. The Commodores tended to use multiple-tight end formations in their offensive scheme, with Stowers being asked to serve as a pass-catcher and other tight ends functioning as blockers. Vanderbilt’s coaching staff has said that Stowers’ lack of run blocking was because he wasn’t asked to do it in the Commodores’ scheme. He has had injuries in the past, though he was largely healthy throughout his Vanderbilt career.
Eli Stowers played two seasons at Vanderbilt. In 2025, he had his most productive season, playing in 12 games and catching 62 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns. In his career, including one year at New Mexico State, he has 146 catches for 1,773 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Eli Stowers is 6-foot-3¾.
Eli Stowers is 239 pounds.
Eli Stowers had a 45.5-inch vertical jump, an 11.3-foot broad jump and ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash.
Stowers’ vertical jump was the highest ever recorded for a tight end at the NFL combine.
Eli Stowers attended Texas A&M, then transferred to and graduated from New Mexico State. He then attended Vanderbilt as a grad transfer.
Eli Stowers attended Denton Guyer High School in Denton, Texas.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
