C INSIDE THE SEC

Vanderbilt Football

SEC16

Head Coach Clark Lea

Overall 0-0

SEC 0-0

AP Rank —

CFP / National —

Nashville, TN

Team Breakdown

Vanderbilt enters a new era at QB following Diego Pavia’s departure, handing the offense to five-star-plus freshman Jared Curtis. He will work behind a solid offensive line featuring NFL-caliber G Cade McConnell with dynamic targets Junior Sherrill and East Carolina transfer TE Jayvontay Conner. Defensively, DT Yilanan Ouattara returns from injury alongside LB Bryan Longwell and EDGE Miles Capers, while dependable safeties Ricardo Jones and CJ Heard anchor the back end. Clark Lea has built an impressive culture, making Vanderbilt a potential sleeper in the SEC.

Strengths

Jared Curtis’ upside; Solid offensive line; Cade McConnell; Yilanan Ouattara’s return; Experienced safeties; Clark Lea’s culture

Questions / Concerns

Inexperienced QB replacing Diego Pavia; Cornerback weakness; Curtis adjusting to SEC play

Players to Watch

Jared Curtis

2026

Vanderbilt Schedule

Sep 5 6:00 PM CT

vs Austin Peay Nashville, Tenn. (FirstBank Stadium)

SEC Network+

Sep 12 3:15 PM CT

vs Delaware Nashville, Tenn. (FirstBank Stadium)

SEC Network

Sep 19 11:45 AM CT

vs NC State Nashville, Tenn. (FirstBank Stadium)

SEC Network

Sep 26 Afternoon

at Auburn Auburn, Ala. (Jordan-Hare Stadium)

Scheduled

Oct 3 Early

at Georgia Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)

Scheduled

Oct 10 Flex

vs Ole Miss Nashville, Tenn. (FirstBank Stadium)

Scheduled

Oct 17 Flex

vs Arkansas Nashville, Tenn. (FirstBank Stadium)

Scheduled

Oct 24 Night

at Kentucky Lexington, Ky. (Kroger Field)

Scheduled

Nov 7 Flex

at Mississippi State Starkville, Miss. (Davis Wade Stadium)

Scheduled

Nov 14 Early

vs Alabama Nashville, Tenn. (FirstBank Stadium)

Scheduled

Nov 21 Early

at Florida Gainesville, Fla. (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium)

Scheduled

Nov 28 Night

vs Tennessee Nashville, Tenn. (FirstBank Stadium)

Scheduled

2026

Vanderbilt Roster

# Player Position Class Hometown

Cayden Daniels CB Redshirt Freshman

Cobey Sellers CB Redshirt Freshman

Collin Flanigan CB Freshman

Jaylin Davies CB Redshirt Senior

Jeremy Garner II CB Freshman

Jordan Matthews CB Redshirt Junior

Martel Hight CB Senior

Mason Lewis CB Freshman

Mustafa Dannett CB Redshirt Senior

Brian Allen EDGE Redshirt Senior

CJ Jackson EDGE Redshirt Sophomore

Edwin Kolenge EDGE Redshirt Senior

Jace McCollum EDGE Freshman

Jake Stanish EDGE Sophomore

Mason Carter EDGE Redshirt Sophomore

Palmer Riley EDGE Freshman

Aaron Bryant iDL Redshirt Senior

Bradley Mann iDL Redshirt Senior

Darryl Campbell iDL Freshman

Jaylon Stone iDL Senior

Michael Diatta iDL Redshirt Senior

Nate Fleming iDL Freshman

Nikhil Jefferson iDL Sophomore

Simeon Boulware iDL Junior

Yilanan Ouattara iDL Redshirt Senior

Brock Taylor K Redshirt Junior

Justin Dewers K Sophomore

Mason Rohmiller K Redshirt Senior

Austin Howard LB Sophomore

Bryan Longwell LB Senior

Bryce Cowan LB Redshirt Senior

Daniel Vollmer Jr. LB Freshman

Jamison Curtis LB Redshirt Sophomore

Josiah Broxton LB Sophomore

Nicholas Rinaldi LB Redshirt Senior

Kaden Schickel LS Redshirt Senior

Keegan Wechsler OC Senior

Lyndon Cooper OC Redshirt Senior

Cade McConnell OG Redshirt Senior

David Siegel OG Redshirt Senior

George Williams-Haseotes OG Freshman

Gunner Givens OG Redshirt Senior

Micah DeBose OG Redshirt Freshman

Michael Smith OG Freshman

Pulelei'ite Primus OG Freshman

Ted Gregoire OG Senior

Beau Johnson OT Junior

CJ Williams OT Junior

Clinton Azubike OT Redshirt Junior

Mitchell Smith OT Freshman

Orion Irving OT Redshirt Senior

Tripp Skewes OT Freshman

Tyler Ebel P Redshirt Senior

Blaze Berlowitz QB Redshirt Junior

Jack Elliot QB Redshirt Freshman

Jared Curtis QB Freshman

Walter Taylor III QB Redshirt Senior

Whit Muschamp QB Redshirt Sophomore

Dominic Rezac RB Redshirt Senior

Evan Hampton RB Freshman

Gabe Fields RB Sophomore

Izayah Lee RB Freshman

Jamezell Lassiter RB Junior

Makhilyn Young RB Redshirt Junior

Sedrick Alexander RB Senior

Antione Baker SAF Freshman

Bradley Brown SAF Freshman

Carson Lawrence SAF Sophomore

Chris Tangelo SAF Freshman

CJ Heard SAF Junior

Davin Chandler SAF Sophomore

Dontae Carter SAF Junior

Jalen Gilbert SAF Redshirt Junior

Payne Daniel SAF Senior

Ricardo Jones SAF Junior

Tate Hamby SAF Redshirt Sophomore

Vanzale Hinton SAF Sophomore

Adam Gehm TE Freshman

Brycen Coleman TE Redshirt Sophomore

Cole Spence TE Redshirt Senior

Elijah Rooney TE Junior

Gabe Fisher TE Senior

Jayvontay Conner TE Redshirt Junior

Maurice Veney TE Redshirt Junior

Tilden Riley TE Freshman

Cameran Dickson WR Sophomore

Cole Adams WR Redshirt Junior

Ja'Cory Thomas WR Senior

Joseph McVay WR Redshirt Sophomore

Junior Sherrill WR Senior

Kahden Smith WR Freshman

Kayleb Barnett WR Sophomore

Lebron Hill WR Sophomore

Owen Cabell WR Freshman

Trent Hudson WR Redshirt Senior

Tristen Brown WR Junior

No Louisiana high school players are currently listed on this roster.

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