As we approach the 2025 NCAA college football season, there is an unusual feeling in the Nashville and middle Tennessee area. Unlike many previous seasons, there is an aura of guarded optimism surrounding the Vanderbilt football program. Today, I will dive into what has brought about the sudden change and remind everyone that Vanderbilt fans have been here before.
Entering the 2023 season on West End, most Commodore fans felt like positive strides were made in 2022. In that season, the Clark Lea led Dores had won 2 SEC football games-their first conference wins dating back to 2019. Unfortunately, the black and gold took a gigantic step backwards in that new season, finishing 2-10 and on a ten game losing streak. What followed in 2024 was nothing short of remarkable. Now the task becomes following that up with another successful season. Let’s take a look the Commodores leading into the 2025 season and how that can happen.
The area of the team that is going to catch the most headlines in the upcoming season will be the offense. Led by a sensational quarterback in Diego Pavia and a player many view as the best at his position nationally, TE Eli Stowers, this unit has the potential to be one of the most effective units in the land. The Commodores will look to control the clock, be very deliberate in what they do, and limit turnovers.
Vanderbilt Tight End Eli Stowers Last Season:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 9, 2025
⚓️ 67 Targets
⚓️ One Drop@VandyFootball pic.twitter.com/1D53GgzHQN
The incredible duo of Pavia and Stowers will be assisted by returnees Sedrick Alexander at the running back position and Junior Sherrill at the WR spot. Along the offensive line, the Commodores add transfers Jordan White (Liberty), Isaia Glass (Oklahoma State), Sterling Porcher (Texas Tech), and Gunner Givens (Virginia Tech). The unit should be strong and have more depth than last fall.
On the defensive side of the ball, all eyes will be on LB Randon Fontenette, a junior who arrived in 2024 from TCU. He will be assisted at the LB spot by Langston Patterson, a third-year starter, Bryan Longwell, and Brycen Cowan. This unit should be the strength of the defense.
In the secondary, Martel Hight, Dontae Carter, Marlen Sewell, Kolbey Taylor, and Trudell Berry all provide extensive experience. Along the defensive line, Jaylon Stone, Bradley Mann, Khordae Sydnor, and Linus Zunk provide the experience. Two areas that must improve are QB pressures and sacks. That unit ranked near the bottom of the SEC in both areas.
Randon Fontenette : 8 tackles, 2.5 for loss & 1.5 sack
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) October 27, 2024
Miles Capers : 7 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sack & an INT
Martel Hight : 4 tackles & an INT pic.twitter.com/zgsyPnNqJ7
Should everything line up perfectly with the stars, this football team has the ability to reach a ceiling of 8-4. Should things go completely off the rails and disaster follow, this could be a 3 or 4 win team. If the later were to happen, all of the gains of 2024 would be lost and could quite possibly lead to changes. These young men cannot pretend that they have arrived-there is still work to do. It is imperative that these young men build on 2024 and work hard to improve on that.
