Vanderbilt got a boost Saturday against Auburn with tight end Cole Spence back on the field after sitting out the first three games because of a knee injury.
Spence entered in the first quarter and was wearing a brace on his right knee along with a compression sleeve. The expectation is that his workload will be limited, with Vanderbilt planning to use him sparingly, but even a partial return matters for an offense trying to ease freshman quarterback Jared Curtis into his first road start and first SEC start.
The timing is especially important because Spence is projected to be Vanderbilt’s starter at tight end and is set up for a bigger role after Eli Stowers’ departure from the program. In 2025, Spence posted career bests across the board with 15 catches, 233 yards and two touchdowns. He also started 10 games and appeared in all 13, and his absence left Vanderbilt short on both receiving help and blocking at the position.
“When you talk about playing tight end, there are two facets to the game: the blocking and the receiving. In the past couple years, the team has needed me to lean more into my blocking ability because we had such a talented guy in Eli," Spence told Vandy on SI in the summer. "I'm really excited to be able to just step into that other part of the game, because keep in mind I was a receiver first, so that was my bread and butter.”
Spence’s injury surfaced the Sunday before Vanderbilt opened against Austin Peay, and the initial concern was that it could keep him out for a long stretch. He later received better news after Vanderbilt’s game with Delaware and has now made it back into the lineup.
“Super excited,” Lea said Thursday when asked about Spence. “The injury he suffered, nine out of 10 people are gonna be out for the season.
But, here's a guy who has done everything the right way. We say sleep, hydration, consumption.
This guy takes care of his body, and his body takes care of him.”
In Other News...
Vanderbilts 3-0 Start Faces Its First Real Test At Auburn
Vanderbilt heads to Auburn with a 3-0 record, but the early unbeaten start has come with an asterisk. The Commodores have not exactly looked convincing yet, and this trip offers a clearer read on where the team really stands. Freshman quarterback Curtis is set to make his first SEC road start, adding another layer of pressure to a matchup that should reveal more about Vanderbilts ceiling than the first three games did.
Coach Lea has put the focus on cleaner execution, fewer mistakes and a more defined identity. For Vanderbilt, the challenge is not just surviving an SEC road environment, but putting together a more complete performance across all phases and finding a way to control the game. If the Commodores can do that at Auburn, the unbeaten start will begin to feel a lot more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilts SEC Hopes Now Ride On Mark Byingtons Toughest Task
Mark Byington has Vanderbilt positioned for a genuine follow-up act after a 27-win season and a trip to the NCAA Tournaments Round of 32. The Commodores are heading into the 2026-27 campaign with real momentum, and the return of All-SEC guard Tyler Tanner for his junior year gives the roster a proven centerpiece as the program tries to stay on that level in a league that rarely makes anything easy.
The challenge now is turning all that incoming talent into a team that can survive the losses of Duke Miles and Tyler Nickel, two departing scorers who helped drive last seasons offense. Vanderbilt has loaded up with a top-25 recruiting class, including Gabe Nesmith and Ethan Mgbako, and it also brings in five transfers to fill the gaps, but the SEC will quickly test how fast Byington can get all those new pieces moving in the same direction. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilts Special Teams Meltdown Just Put The Commodores In Trouble
For a Vanderbilt team that has spent plenty of time stressing special teams as a point of emphasis, the first quarter and a half at Jordan-Hare Stadium was about as rough as it gets. Auburn got into the backfield again and again, blocking three punts, while the Commodores also stumbled through a failed fake punt, a running into the punter penalty and a missed field goal in the opening stretch.
The result was a game that quickly tilted in Auburns favor, with the Tigers ahead 14-3 and Vanderbilt trying to steady itself before the second quarter got away entirely. When a phase of the game thats supposed to be a strength turns into a string of self-inflicted mistakes, the margin for error shrinks fast, and the Commodores were left searching for any kind of reset. [Read more 🡒]