Vanderbilt’s defense has spent the first few days of fall camp making a strong early impression, and the tone around the group sounds upbeat. By Sunday morning, the fourth day of camp, the energy in Nashville was noticeably different, especially on that side of the ball.
The Commodores have seen a few defenders separate themselves early in practice, and the coaching staff likes what it’s seeing from the line through the first stretch of camp. For Vanderbilt, the bigger message is that the defense is where it wants to be at this point, even with plenty of work still ahead.
“I like where we’re at. We’re progressing, we’re getting better each and every day.
The guys are really working hard. There’s still a long way to go.
There’s still a lot of training camp left,” Gregory said of his defense’s performance through four days of camp.
That defensive optimism comes with a roster that blends experienced pieces and newcomers. Every room has at least some veteran presence, but several groups are still working through the process of building comfort, trust and chemistry as the days pile up.
Gregory thinks that, based on what Vanderbilt has shown so far, the defense is tracking well toward where he wants it to be when the 2026 season opens.
One of the clearest examples of that mix of familiarity and new blood is the EDGE room. Miles Capers anchors that group, while Brian Allen Jr. arrived from Iowa and Edwin Kolenge came over from Boston College. Mason Carter is also in the mix and appears positioned for a meaningful role this season.
In the spring, the emphasis was on getting everyone aligned and helping the group mesh. Much of the spring and summer centered on making players comfortable with the scheme while also pushing effort, attitude and the standard Vanderbilt wants to see.
Defensive ends coach Adam Morris said that phase is starting to fade into the background. That, he said, has opened the door for more detailed coaching.
“I think the thing that’s been the most fun so far in camp is the guys are gaining confidence in the scheme and what they’re supposed to do. So, as coaches, we can spend more time on the ‘How.’ I think you probably felt that if you were watching practice today,” Morris said.
The positive signs haven’t been limited to the front. Vanderbilt has also liked what it has seen from the secondary over the first four days, and Gregory singled out cornerback Jordan Matthews as a player who has stood out.
Coaches believe Matthews has shown a stronger grasp of the defense and the kind of scheme Vanderbilt wants to run. On Sunday, he backed that up with a solid practice and a couple of good plays.
Gregory sees a player who is gaining confidence and has room to keep climbing.
“He’s playing with a lot of confidence, but he’s got to continue to strive to become even better and continue to improve and work on it each and every day,” Gregory said. “But I think this can be a really good year for him if he continues to progress the way he is going.”
There’s still a long way to go in camp, with three weeks left before the work is done and the staff can fully judge where the defense stands. Even so, the early returns have been encouraging.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction and I’m really positive about what we’ve been doing,” Gregory said.
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