It’s not often that a 7-6 record is a cause for immense celebration and praise, but, in the case of the 2024 Vanderbilt Commodores, it was. Not only was it their first winning season since 2013, but it was only possible because of the unlikeliest of results on Saturday, the 5th of October, 2024. On that all-important day, the Commodores stunned the nation with a miraculous 40-35 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Ultimately, this result would help Vanderbilt log their first winning season in over a decade, and would remove Alabama’s shot at playoff football, even with the newly expanded 12-team structure. It was a stunner, and one that Alabama will need to right the wrong of when the two teams meet in 2025. So, how do the Commodores stack up after the 2025 offseason?
Introducing the Vanderbilt Commodores
Everything went right for the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2024. For producing the program’s first winning season since 2013, coach Clark Lea won the SEC Coach of the Year Award. His team ranked 78th in the nation on offense (25 points per game) and 60th on defense (25.3 points per game conceded), so, not exactly anything to write home about. Still, their 40-point explosion against the Crimson Tide produced one of the most memorable moments in the school’s entire sporting history, and they also managed to snag wins over Virginia Tech, Kentucky, and Auburn, while only losing by 3 points to Texas, and taking Missouri to a second overtime. This was a very well-coached unit that fought hard each and every week, capping off the year with a 35-27 win over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl.
The leader on the field was quarterback Diego Pavia, who completed 60% of his passes for 2,293 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Not only that, but he also led the team with 800 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing, proving himself as a legit dual-threat quarterback and a nightmare for opposing defenses. He will forever be a Vandy hero for his 300 total yards and 2 touchdowns against Alabama, and he will be returning in 2025, much to the joy of local fans.
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Leading the team in receiving was tight end Eli Stowers, another returning weapon, who had 638 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2024. Next best was Junior Sherrill with 411 yards and 3 touchdowns, supported admirably by running back Sedrick Alexander, who popped up with 238 yards and a touchdown through the air. All of these key offensive playmakers are returning in 2025, along with the vast majority of defensive talent. That’s good news from a continuity perspective, but heavy departures on the o-line are a concern. So, what have the Commodores done to plug those gaps and keep this team going on an upward trajectory?
2025 Vanderbilt Commodores Depth Chart and Roster Changes
The biggest issues facing Vanderbilt this season are the departures along the offensive line. Chase Mitchell is the only returning lineman, with Isaia Glass, Sterling Porcher, Jordan White, and Bryce Henderson all projected to have starting jobs in 2025, having not been with the team in 2024. White is the standout arrival of the group, coming from Liberty, performing as a first-team All-Conference USA selection in 2024.
Even if all of these guys are good players, continuity and chemistry along the o-line are crucial, meaning it would be fair to expect a downgrade in performance, at least for the early stages of the season. Nevertheless, protecting Pavia and giving the run game a chance is key, and the Commodores will at least be pleased to have brought in some additional firepower to mitigate the losses.
The wide receiver room got a boost through the arrival of Tent Hudson, whose last on-field action took place in 2023, when he teamed up with Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia for New Mexico State. There, he corralled 35 receptions for 551 yards and 10 touchdowns in an impressive season. Standing at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, he is an enticing big-bodied target for Pavia, working well alongside Junior Sherrill, and the Commodores’ other wide receiver transfer, Chance Fitzgerald.
The standout addition for Vanderbilt this offseason comes on defense, in the form of Florida Atlantic safety C.J. Heard. He contributed 80 total tackles, 1 pass breakup, and 1 forced fumble for the Owls as a freshman in 2024, earning third-team All-AAC honors for his efforts. That’s not a bad start to your college career, and he will now try to build on that for the Commodores in 2025. Nose tackle Aaron Bryant and linebacker Keanu Koht are also expected to make an impact for this team in 2025.
Vanderbilt Commodores @ Alabama Crimson Tide Preview
Losing to Vanderbilt in 2024 was undoubtedly one of the low points for Kalen DeBoer in his first year as Alabama’s head coach. It was one of three losses that deprived the team of playoff action, and, considering the expansion to 12 playoff teams, missing them again in 2025 could be very bad news for his wishes to hold onto the head coaching role. With that knowledge and the pain of last year’s loss to Vandy still fresh in his mind, DeBoer and his Crimson Tide will feel extra pressure to secure a win here, in a game where they will enter as heavy favorites.
For Vanderbilt, they will be buoyed by last year’s success and will enter this game fearless. They have managed to retain many of the team who did so much damage to Alabama last year, and will fancy their chances again, particularly if the offensive line have rounded into form by gametime.
Vanderbilt are eager to continue the good form that arrived in 2024 and earn just their second winning season in 12 years, and the Crimson Tide will be desperate to avoid another embarrassing loss that could impact their playoff hopes again. At home, they will be heavy favorites, but last year’s result will be weighing heavily on their mind, and we know what pressure can do to young athletes.
