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Vanderbilt football begins its spring practice Tuesday for one of the most-anticipated seasons in years.
The Commodores finished 2024 at 7-6, their first winning season since 2013, after a victory in the Birmingham Bowl. Vanderbilt also upset Alabama in October for arguably the biggest win in program history.
After that season, the Commodores were ranked eighth in the country in returning production, according to ESPN. That includes quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers, both All-SEC selections.
Unlike many schools that have done away with spring games, Vanderbilt is holding one April 12, and it will be at FirstBank Stadium for the first time since 2022, giving fans the opportunity to get a glance at the team.
Diego Pavia’s return
After getting a court ruling in his favor, Pavia will return as Vanderbilt’s quarterback in 2025. A bulldog on offense and the emotional leader of the team, Pavia led the Commodores to things that weren’t thought possible, including an upset of the Crimson Tide, who were ranked No. 1 in the country by the Associated Press at the time of the win.
Now, how much of Pavia fans will get to see in spring practice is unknown. Quarterbacks often don’t get tackled live, and Pavia is notable for being much better in games than he is in scrimmages or practices. Still, having him back is big.
Replacing CJ Taylor and De’Rickey Wright at safety
CJ Taylor and De’Rickey Wright were two of Vanderbilt’s top safeties in 2024, but both are out of eligibility and will pursue the NFL.
Now, the Commodores must look for other options. Returners at that position include Dontae Carter and Marlen Sewell, and transfer CJ Heard could get in that mix as well. Carter and Sewell combined for 31 tackles in 2024.
Can Vanderbilt find an outside threat at wide receiver?
Vanderbilt lacked production at wide receiver a season ago, with tight end Eli Stowers seeing the majority of the targets. Stowers is back, but it would serve the Commodores well to find more downfield threats so that defenses can’t focus all their energy on Stowers.
Quincy Skinner, Vanderbilt’s third-leading receiver, is gone. Reserve wideouts Loic Fouonji and Dariyan Wiley are also out of eligibility. Junior Sherrill (29 catches, 411 yards) and Richie Hoskins (11 catches, 131 yards) are both back, but each of them is more of a slot receiver than an outside threat.
Vanderbilt could see some younger players emerge, like redshirt freshman Joseph McVay or freshman Lebron Hill. The Commodores also added transfers, Chance Fitzgerald (Virginia Tech) and Trent Hudson (Mississippi State), though neither is a proven producer at the Power Four level.
Can Vanderbilt find another breakout star like Nick Rinaldi?
Nick Rinaldi was a pleasant surprise for Vanderbilt in 2024. Originally a preferred walk-on, Rinaldi went from 21 tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2023 to 52 tackles, six tackles for loss and a team-high six sacks in 2024. Rinaldi himself figures to make an impact on the edge, but if the Commodores can find another player like him, that would make a big difference.
Another Rinaldi could come from one of Vanderbilt’s many returning players. Perhaps Glenn Seabrooks or Yilanan Ouattara could take the next step on defense, or AJ Newberry on offense. It could also come from one of the Commodores’ transfers. Vanderbilt targeted a lot of players who were buried on the depth chart at other SEC schools, like Alabama’s Keanu Koht, Texas’ Aaron Bryant and Tennessee’s Jordan Matthews.
Clark Lea, DC no more
After spending one season as his own defensive coordinator, Clark Lea opted to no longer call the plays. Instead, he promoted Steve Gregory to defensive coordinator and Nick Lezynski to co-defensive coordinator.
This may not be a massive change, as both were already on staff at Vanderbilt and involved in the defensive scheme. But it will see a shift in Lea’s responsibilities and his ability to keep tabs on everything happening on both sides of the ball.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.
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