Vanderbilt football isn’t the SEC’s punching bag anymore. If you haven't been paying attention, Clark Lea just steered this program to a historic 10-3 season in 2025, capped off by a dominant 45-24 thumping of Tennessee in Knoxville. It was the first 10-win season in the program’s 135-year history. But now comes the hard part. The magic of the Diego Pavia era is officially over, and the 2026 Vanderbilt football depth chart looks like a jigsaw puzzle that’s been shaken up and dumped on the floor.
Pavia is gone. He’s headed for the NFL after a season that saw him land as a Heisman finalist and win the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He technically could have fought for another year of eligibility through a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA, but he shut that down early. "This is my last year," he told everyone who would listen. So, who takes the keys to the most improved offense in the country?
The Jared Curtis Era Begins (Probably)
The headline of the offseason is Jared Curtis. If you’re a Vandy fan, you’ve probably been tracking this kid’s flight path since he was at Nashville Christian. He’s a five-star talent, the No. 1 overall quarterback in the 2026 class, and he flipped from Georgia to Vanderbilt just hours before early signing day in December 2025.
It was a shockwave. Massive.
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Lea didn't use a "glitz and glam" sales pitch. He basically told Curtis he could be the next Pavia, but with a better arm. Curtis is already on campus as an early enrollee. Honestly, he is the heavy favorite to start Day 1. But don't tell that to Blaze Berlowitz.
Berlowitz spent the last year as the primary backup. He’s a 6-foot-3 junior who knows Tim Beck’s system. He’s got the "safe" vote, while Curtis has the "superstar" ceiling. We’ve also got Whit Muschamp and Jack Elliott in the room, but this is a two-horse race. The new QB coach, Trenton Kirklin—who was just promoted from offensive analyst—has a hell of a job deciding whether to start the true freshman or the veteran.
Skill Positions: Who is actually left?
The transfer portal has been a revolving door this January.
Vanderbilt lost some speed. Tre Richardson is gone to Louisville. AJ Newberry and Chase Gillespie hit the portal too. It feels like a lot, but the depth chart actually has some meat on the bones.
Running Back
Sedrick Alexander is the undisputed RB1. He’s a 207-pound bruiser who has earned every yard in this league. Behind him, it’s going to be a battle between junior Makhilyn Young and a few fresh faces. Keep an eye on incoming freshman Izayah Lee; Lea has a history of letting young guys run if they show they can pass-protect.
Wide Receiver and Tight End
Junior Sherrill is the heartbeat here. He’s a Nashville kid who stayed home, and he’s basically a lock for the WR1 spot. Trent Hudson returns as a graduate threat, and the staff is high on Joseph McVay and Boski Barrett.
The tight end room is where things get interesting. Eli Stowers and Cole Spence were a lethal duo, but the roster is leaning on new blood.
- Maurice Veney: Transfer TE (6'4", 270 lbs)
- Jayvontay Conner: Transfer TE (6'4", 231 lbs)
- Walter Taylor: Transfer TE (6'5", 240 lbs)
Beck loves multiple-TE sets. Expect to see at least two of these guys on the field at the same time during the opener against Austin Peay.
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The Trenches and the "Micah DeBose" Factor
Vandy’s offensive line used to be where SEC dreams went to die. Not anymore.
The big get this winter was Micah DeBose, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle from the portal. He’s a plug-and-play starter. Pairing him with Cade McConnell and Jordan White gives the Commodores an interior that can actually hold up against the Georgias and Alabamas of the world.
On the defensive side, Clark Lea (who is still calling the defense) has been hunting for "EDGE" players. He landed three big ones in the last two weeks:
- Edwin Kolenge: From Boston College. He’s a 225-pound senior with ACC experience.
- Brian Allen Jr.: Another portal addition to bolster the pass rush.
- CJ Jackson: A twitchy 6-foot-3 rusher who should see rotational snaps immediately.
Losing Randon Fontenette to Colorado hurt. He was a "STAR" in this defense. Now, the staff is looking at Jailen Ruth or maybe even moving safety CJ Heard into that hybrid role.
Special Teams: The Hidden Weapon
Most people ignore special teams when talking about the Vanderbilt football depth chart, but Brock Taylor is a weapon. He was nearly perfect in 2025, hitting 13 of 14 field goals. In a league where games are won by three points, having a guy who can hit from 50+ is a luxury.
Nick Haberer is back for his graduate year at punter. He’s an Australian leg who can flip the field. When you’re rebuilding a defense after losing key starters, field position is everything.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
Vanderbilt opens 2026 with a three-game home stand: Austin Peay, Delaware, and North Carolina State. If Jared Curtis is the real deal, they should be 3-0 heading into the Auburn game.
The biggest misconception is that Vanderbilt will regress to 2-10 without Pavia. But the 2026 recruiting class is ranked No. 30 in the nation. That’s unprecedented for this school. Lea has built a culture where kids actually want to be in Nashville. They aren't just here for the degree anymore; they're here to win rings.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors:
- Monitor the QB Battle: Follow spring practice reports closely. If Curtis takes the majority of first-team reps by April, the "over" on Vandy's win total might be the smartest bet in the SEC.
- Watch the EDGE Rotation: With Kolenge and Allen Jr. coming in, Vandy’s pass rush could be significantly more productive than last year’s unit.
- Portal Deadlines: The window for players to enter the portal is closing. Check the final roster spots on January 20th to see if Lea adds one more veteran cornerback.
Vanderbilt is no longer a "trap game." They are a program with a five-star QB and a coach who was just named the 2026 AFCA President. The depth chart is younger, faster, and—for the first time in a generation—genuinely competitive.
To stay ahead, keep an eye on the official spring game roster release in March. That's when we'll see if the "Pavia hangover" is real or if Jared Curtis is ready to take the SEC by storm.