Vanderbilt Commit Grant Haviland Talks Eli Stowers, Jared Curtis, and More – Sports Illustrated

In this story:
Tight end Grant Haviland is Vanderbilt’s second-highest-ranked commit in the recruiting Class of 2027 according to Rivals, only behind linebacker Omarii Sanders. The four-star in-state tight end from Milton High School is ranked as high as the best tight end in the country by ESPN.
He is listed at 6-foot-4 and a half, and the two-time state champion is ready to get to work in Nashville.
At Milton, he played his freshman and sophomore seasons with future Auburn tight end Ryan Ghea. However, he finally was able to be the main guy last season, and he had 343 yards and four touchdowns despite the team having inconsistent quarterback play after three-star quarterback Derrick Baker got injured in the Eagles’ first game of the season. Ironically, Baker is now committed to Tennessee, and the two will have one more season together before going on to their rival schools.
Haviland recently spoke with Vanderbilt on SI about the Commodores, Eli Stowers, and more.
Being a tight end, Haviland took note of how Eli Stowers developed and was eventually selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Stowers helped Vanderbilt land Haviland, and the two have had a few conversations together that the prospect enjoyed.
“I had dinner with him on my visit, and it went great," Haviland said. "He showed me some wisdom about his career and Vanderbilt, and before that. It was really cool to meet him and get some tips from him.”
Haviland committed to Vanderbilt over Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, and Tennessee. All of those schools besides Vanderbilt are usually regarded as “blue blood schools.” So it raised a few questions why he would want to go to the Commodores over, but believes that Vanderbilt will be a new “blue blood.”
“I think they have all the pieces when it comes to the coaches and the players," Haviland said. "We’ve seen in the past two seasons, everything the coaches are telling me about the future, they are showing me.”
Vanderbilt signed the top prospect in the country last season in five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, and Haviland is excited to start building a relationship.
“I talked to him on my visit a little bit, and I texted him when I committed," Haviland said. "I’m really excited to get to know him and play with him in the future.”
He will be making his official visit to Nashville on June 4-7.
Follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Threads and Blue Skyfor the latest news.
Loading recommendations… Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations
Wesley Powell contributes to a variety of On SI college sites including Vanderbilt Commodores On SI. "My passion is covering college sports with an emphasis on football recruiting." Powell is based in the Atlanta area.
© 2026 ABG-SI LLC – SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. – All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates, licensees and related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

source