Former Vanderbilt players were spread across NFL training camps this summer, and after the Aug. 30 roster cutdown deadline, several of them survived to make 53-man rosters.
Among the ex-Commodores who opened the regular season with their teams are RB Ray Davis of the Bills, DT Adam Butler of the Raiders, LB Oren Burks of the Bengals, LS Julian Ashby of the Patriots, OT Justin Skule of the Buccaneers, DE Dayo Odeyingbo of the Bears, TE Eli Stowers of the Eagles and OG Tyler Steen of the Eagles. Davis finished his college career at Kentucky, while Steen finished at Alabama.
Not every former Vanderbilt player got through cutdowns, though. WR Quincy Skinner was cut by the Jets, WR Trent Sherfield was cut by the Bills, DL Khordae Sydnor was cut by the Browns, CB Kolbey Taylor was cut by the Ravens, P Matthew Hayball was cut by the Falcons, OL Bryce Henderson was cut by the Rams, OL Devin Cochran was cut by the Lions and finished his college career at Georgia Tech, LB Langston Patterson was cut by the Cowboys, OL Isaia Glass was cut by the Panthers, LB Anfernee Orji was cut by the Giants, S Jaylen Mahoney was cut by the Eagles, DB Marlen Sewell was cut by the Bears and CB Marlon Jones was cut by the Packers.
Almost two dozen former Vanderbilt players had taken part in training camps around the league, and this group shows how many were still in the mix once the NFL got down to the required 53-man limit.
In Other News...
Former Vanderbilt Players Face Very Different NFL Futures After Cut Day
Cut day in the NFL left a mixed postcard for several former Vanderbilt players, with tight end Eli Stowers landing on the Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster and giving the Commodores a headline-worthy result as teams trimmed down after preseason play. Defensive lineman Khordae Sydnor and offensive lineman Isaia Glass also found next steps, each earning a spot on a practice squad, which at least keeps them inside the league conversation as the regular season approaches.
The picture is less certain for linebacker Langston Patterson, offensive lineman Bryce Henderson and safety Marlen Sewell, all of whom were waived and have not been reported on a practice squad since. For a Vanderbilt program that continues to send players into pro football, the aftermath of roster cuts serves as a reminder of how quickly those careers can split into very different paths, with some settling in for the season and others still waiting for the next opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]