The NFL’s cut-day dust has settled, and former Vanderbilt players are splitting into a few different paths as the regular season approaches.
Eli Stowers is the headliner. The former Commodore tight end made the Philadelphia Eagles’ 53-man roster after being selected with the No. 54 pick in the NFL Draft back in April.
Stowers boosted his stock with a strong showing at the NFL Combine in the spring, then got a look in two preseason games in August. Against the Baltimore Ravens, he caught three passes for 12 yards on three targets.
Against the New England Patriots, he was targeted twice but did not record a reception.
Now, Philadelphia is hoping Stowers can grow into a future piece in its tight end room. He’ll be behind starting tight end Dallas Goedert, but the question now is how much he’ll be involved once the games count.
Khordae Sydnor also made his presence felt in the preseason before ending up on the outside of the Browns’ roster bubble. The defensive lineman posted one sack and three solo tackles for Cleveland, but he did not land on the team’s 53-man roster. The Browns reportedly signed him to their practice squad Monday afternoon.
Isaia Glass followed a similar route. The offensive lineman, who helped Vanderbilt’s front become one of the best in college football, spent the preseason with the Carolina Panthers. Glass did not make the 53-man roster on cut day, but Carolina announced that he was signed to its practice squad.
The other three former Commodores who were in preseason action - Langston Patterson, Bryce Henderson and Marlen Sewell - were waived by their teams. Patterson had five tackles with the Dallas Cowboys.
Sewell finished the preseason with three tackles for the Chicago Bears. Henderson played for the Los Angeles Rams during the preseason.
As of Tuesday morning, there were no reports that any of those three had been added to an NFL practice squad.
In Other News...
Clark Lea Sends Vanderbilt A Clear Message Before The Opener
With the season opener closing in, Clark Lea used Tuesdays practice to deliver a pointed reminder that Vanderbilt still has work to do before the games start counting. The Commodores head coach said the teams effort dipped in the heat, and he made clear he wanted more from the group than what he saw in that session, especially from the units that did not bring the level of intensity he expects.
Leas response was to take the team indoors for the next two days, a move meant to keep preparations moving while also setting a higher standard for the stretch run into game week. For Vanderbilt, the message was less about the weather than the mindset, with Lea challenging his players to raise their energy and effort before the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilts Quarterback Battle Still Clouds An Offense Taking Shape
Vanderbilts offense is starting to take shape as fall camp winds down, and the clearest sign of progress is that most of the two-deep now looks settled enough to sketch out a projected depth chart for 2026. Around the roster, there are spots where the pecking order seems fairly defined, giving coach Clark Lea and his staff a better sense of where they stand as the season approaches and an official announcement looms.
The lingering uncertainty sits under center, where the quarterback competition remains the most closely watched part of camp and the biggest variable in how far this offense can go. Berlowitz and Curtis have both stayed in the mix, and until that battle is sorted out, the rest of Vanderbilts offensive blueprint will carry a little extra uncertainty no matter how much else is coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Fans Got A Tough NFL Reality Check On Cutdown Day
NFL cutdown day brought a familiar mix of relief and disappointment for several former Vanderbilt players as teams around the league trimmed rosters ahead of the regular season. A handful of Commodores survived the deadline and earned spots on 53-man rosters, a reminder that Vanderbilts reach in pro football still runs through plenty of locker rooms this time of year.
Others were not as fortunate, getting released as teams made their final decisions before opening weekend. For Vanderbilt fans, it was a quick snapshot of how spread out the programs NFL presence has become, with some alumni celebrating a place on the team while others now face the uncertainty that comes with waiting for the next call. [Read more 🡒]