2024 was certainly a year to remember for Commodore Nation. Vanderbilt went 6-6 in the regular season with SEC wins over Kentucky, then-No. 1 Alabama and Auburn. A victory in the Birmingham Bowl was also a sweet ending to a memorable season. Head coach Clark Lea and Co. went to work in the transfer portal in the offseason, earning commitments from 20 new players to bolster the roster. Now, the Commodores are getting plenty of media and fan attention as they try to build off a stellar 2024 campaign. Let’s answer some of the biggest questions hanging over Vanderbilt ahead of its season opener against Charleston Southern on Aug. 30.
Who is the biggest projected impact transfer on each side of the ball?
Henry Oelhafen, Sports Editor: Vanderbilt brought in a variety of transfers this offseason that are expected to make an immediate impact on the field. Safety CJ Heard, nicknamed the “Sea Snake,” showed great promise in his one season at FAU as a first-year, racking up 82 total tackles to earn Third Team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Heard should make an immediate impact in the secondary with fellow safeties Dontae Carter and Marlen Sewell. On offense, Vanderbilt should be improved in the trenches. Particularly, Liberty transfer Jordan White is the highest-graded returning interior offensive lineman in the SEC this fall. He’s already been named to the Dave Rimington Award watch list, given to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I football. He also earned a Pro Football Focus run block grade of 89.0 in the 2024 season with Liberty.
Eli Landers, Lead Sports Analyst: Washburn University transfer Tre Richardson, with his quickness and sharp route running, will be a major weapon for Diego Pavia on offense. Though a natural slot receiver, Richardson could see snaps on the outside, like what Quincy Skinner did last year– stretching the field with his speed and creating mismatches on deep routes. Defensively, cornerback Jordan Matthews brings the size and skill set to be a problem for any receiver in college football. He showcased elite hands and ball-tracking in limited action at Tennessee. His presence should provide an instant boost to a Vanderbilt secondary that struggled at times last season.
What unit gives you the most concern (depth, talent, injuries, etc.) going into the season?
Tristan Rutman, Sports Podcast Producer: The Commodores’ wide receiver room concerns me the most of any position unit on the roster. While Lea and Co. have worked hard to bring in a number of transfers to bolster the receiving corps, these players have yet to show the ability to produce at a high level in the fiercely competitive SEC. Despite a seeming lack of talent, however, the depth of this crew is not to be dismissed. Projected starters Junior Sherrill, Trent Hudson and Richardson will be backed up by plenty of familiar and new faces who have shown their value. If one of Lea’s top dogs goes down with an injury, there should be no problem sending in another guy to fill his role.
Dylan Tovitz, Deputy Sports Editor: While the wide receiver room was certainly a concern for me going into camp, I’m more skeptical about the pass defense than offense. This cornerback group was forced to start true freshman Jaylin Lackey by midseason last year, and the portal additions just don’t inspire me enough. The return of Marlon Jones will certainly make an impact, but there’s still no clear starter opposite Martel Hight, who could take less snaps if he plays both offense and defense. Matthews has been sidelined for most of camp with an injury while Lackey and Kolbey Taylor are competing for the other spots, both outside and in the nickel. The depth is certainly better than a year ago, but it remains to be seen whether the Commodore cornerbacks will be trusted in one-on-one man coverage against some of the country’s top wide receivers.
What can we expect from Vanderbilt’s pass-catching group this season?
Tovitz: Vanderbilt’s pass-catchers have certainly provoked a lot of questions this offseason. But after a particularly strong camp, I’m fairly confident in the group entering the season. In addition to Sherrill, who appears ready to take on the WR1 role in Tim Beck’s offense, Hudson and Richardson opened eyes in camp. Hudson was sidelined for much of the fall but played well when he was on the field and is expected to be a vertical red-zone option for Pavia. Richie Hoskins also returns as an option in the slot. And, of course, Eli Stowers headlines the group as he looks ready to emerge as the premier tight end in college football. Overall, I think the Commodores’ pass catchers will surprise a lot of people this season.
Grace Hall, Deputy Sports Editor: I agree with Dylan’s sentiment that the Commodores’ pass catchers will surprise a lot of people this season. I would, however, add one amendment to that: expect this group to surprise only if they stay healthy. Vanderbilt’s few key pieces to its passing group — Stowers, Hight, Sherrill and Hudson — are a clear cut above the rest of the group. If Vanderbilt runs into injury problems, whether they have remaining talent needed to win in the SEC is questionable. Hight already suffered a concussion this summer — although he is recovered now — while others, such as Hudson, have been injury–prone in the past.
Do you expect Vanderbilt’s success in the turnover margin to repeat this season?
Rutman: I’m expecting a similar outcome for Vanderbilt regarding its turnover margin this season. Beck runs a creative yet conservative offense, and Pavia showed steady decision-making ability in 2024. After throwing 15 interceptions in two seasons at New Mexico State, Pavia limited himself to just four turnovers through the air under Beck’s play calling in Nashville. On the other side of the ball, while Vanderbilt’s defensive back room doesn’t necessarily showcase itself as the most talented in the conference, they are trained to not make mistakes. That said, when the Commodores face off against more aggressive and air raid-oriented offenses, expect guys like Hight and Heard to be ready to get their hands on poorly thrown passes. Better yet, a strong linebacker corps headlined by Langston Patterson with Randon Fontenette and Miles Capers on the edges will be pouncing on loose balls at every opportunity.
David Hernandez, Deputy Sports Editor: Vanderbilt’s turnover margin will more than likely be on the positive side due to its style of play. Three other teams with similar run-heavy styles — Army, Navy, and UNLV — all finished in the top 15 of turnover margin, with Vanderbilt sitting right behind tied at 17th. Especially with a sure-headed Pavia taking charge, it is to be expected that Vanderbilt will possess the ball for long periods without turning it over. On the other hand, the defensive line and linebacker groups are where I expect some extra turnovers to be created. The linebacker group returns a slew of experienced vets between Patterson, Bryan Longwell and Nick Rinaldi, while Capers now has a partner on the edge with Alabama transfer Keanu Koht. Not to mention, the interior defensive line looks incredibly deep, headlined by Yilanan Ouattara and Glenn Seabrooks III.
Do you expect Pavia to take a step up or down from last season?
Landers: It became clear that defenses had started to figure Pavia out as the schedule toughened last year. Early in the season, his dual-threat ability gave opponents fits, but by the time the Commodores faced LSU and Tennessee, defending Pavia had become obvious: keep him in the pocket and send extra defenders to eliminate his scrambling lanes. Both defenses executed it perfectly, and Pavia looked far less comfortable without the freedom to extend plays. Pavia’s skill set isn’t catching anyone off guard anymore, even with improved weapons around him. Coaches know he thrives when the play breaks down, and their game plans will focus on neutralizing his mobility. I doubt he can recreate his magic from 2024.
Hernandez: People may think they have Diego Pavia figured out. Yet, that “magic” that characterizes quarterbacks like Pavia can’t be contained permanently nor perfectly. While game plans against him did improve, Pavia was hobbled by injuries for the latter half of the season. A fresh and healthy Pavia coming off a season of experience in the SEC has the potential to make a jump if the weapons around him are properly utilized. With his ability and the scheme around him, I don’t foresee him regressing.
What’s your record prediction for the 2025 season?
Oelhafen: This team seems improved from last season, but the schedule is a brutal one. Road games against South Carolina, Alabama, Texas and Tennessee will be extremely challenging for the Commodores. That said, the nonconference slate is favorable, albeit with a tough away game against Virginia Tech. Kentucky, Auburn and Missouri are winnable games at home and perhaps they can pull off an upset elsewhere on the schedule. I’ll predict 7-5 this year, a one game improvement from 2024.
Vincent Xu, Managing Editor: I’m not going to fall prey to anybody’s opinions but my own. I’m not listening to the doubters who say that Vanderbilt won’t catch anyone off-guard, and I’m ignoring the die-hards who think Vanderbilt is playoff-bound. Frankly, I don’t project a lot of growth for this team – but I also don’t think they’ll be quite as manageable as some experts are making them out to be. Wins: Charleston Southern, Georgia State, Utah State, Mizzou and Kentucky. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ‘Dores found a win in another game, but for now, I have them ending up bowl-ineligible at 5-7.
