Diego Pavia — recently named SEC Player of the Year, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner and a Heisman Trophy finalist — has drawn most of the attention among Vanderbilt’s national award candidates, but tight end Eli Stowers earned some hardware of his own Wednesday when he was named the recipient of the 2025 William V. Campbell trophy.
The Campbell trophy is one of the most respected and widely sought-after awards in college football, recognizing an individual for his leadership and off-the-field achievements, as well as his performance on the field. The honor comes with a large bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. Stowers becomes the first Commodore to ever win the prestigious award in its 36-year history.
Transferring from New Mexico state with Pavia ahead of the 2024 season, Stowers has been the quarterback’s go-to option in the duo’s two seasons on West End. Stowers hauled in 62 passes for 769 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025, headlined by a 146-yard, two-score performance in a comeback that fell just short against Texas in early November. Leading the nation in receiving yards among tight ends, Stowers profiles as a NFL-ready tight end with a legitimate chance to be selected on Day 1 in April. The Commodore captain is also a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding tight end.
More than just being a threat between the hashes, Stowers has excelled in the classroom and as a leader in the community. In 2024, he was a member of the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll, and he completed his master’s degree in finance from Vanderbilt in the spring. This fall, Stowers has been pursuing a master’s in legal studies to pair with his finance degree. The Denton, Texas, native has volunteered frequently at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital while also consistently sharing his faith with the community.
Joined by head coach Clark Lea, offensive coordinator Tim Beck, senior advisor Jerry Kill and others at the National Football Foundation (NFF) dinner, Stowers was presented the award Tuesday evening.
“It’s such an honor just to be able to experience this and to be in the presence of the people on this stage,” Stowers said. “Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to experience this. It’s a once in a lifetime moment.”
Stowers and the ‘Dores will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
