Vanderbilt heads to Lexington this weekend carrying a growing injury list into its fifth SEC game, and Wednesday night’s first availability report added a few more key names to watch before kickoff against No. 12 Kentucky.
The Commodores are already dealing with a rough stretch on the field. They’ve dropped four straight and are still searching for their first SEC win of the season. Kentucky, meanwhile, comes in as one of the country’s hottest teams and sits squarely in the College Football Playoff picture.
Before Saturday night’s matchup, the biggest question was who would actually be available. The SEC’s initial report answered some of that, and Vanderbilt’s list is not exactly short.
The Commodores already knew they would be without backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz, cornerback Jaylin Lackey, defensive lineman Aaron Bryant and offensive lineman Gunner Givens. Lea has already said Givens and Bryant are out for the season, while Berlowitz is dealing with a collarbone injury. Vanderbilt also remains without linebacker Jamison Curtis, wide receiver Kahden Smith and defensive lineman Nikhil Jefferson.
The new report clarified the status of three more players. EDGE Brian Allen Jr. is out, safety Dontae Carter is questionable and offensive lineman Mitchell Smith is probable.
That lines up with what Clark Lea said earlier in the week. On Tuesday, he said Allen Jr. missed practice because of an ankle injury.
Carter did practice, though he was wearing a no-contact jersey. As for Smith, Lea sounded optimistic that he could return after sitting out the last two games.
There are still more names to track beyond that trio. Linebacker Josiah Broxton is doubtful, while safety Davin Chandler is questionable. On the positive side, cornerback Cayden Daniels and defensive lineman Hayden Bray are both listed as probable along with Smith.
Lea is expected to provide another update Thursday with the next injury report, which should give a clearer picture heading into game day. Vanderbilt is banged up, no question, but this is also its final game before the bye week.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network. The game matters differently for both sides: Vanderbilt is trying to get some confidence back, while Kentucky is trying to avoid a slip at home as a heavy favorite.
In Other News...
Why Clark Lea Finally Reimagined Davin Chandlers Role
Davin Chandlers path has taken a meaningful turn in Vanderbilts secondary, where Clark Lea has formally shifted him from safety to cornerback and started using him as a nickel corner. It is the kind of move that says as much about a players adaptability as it does about a coachs willingness to rethink a roster, and Chandlers recent work has given the staff reason to keep leaning into it.
Lea has pointed to Chandlers strong play and the way he has handled the transition, with the junior carving out a useful role in recent games and adding needed depth behind a starter at cornerback. For Vanderbilt, the bigger question now is how far that versatility can carry him as the Commodores keep sorting out their defensive backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Curtis Is Carrying A Big Vanderbilt Question Into This Weekend
Jared Curtis is only a freshman, but Vanderbilt is already watching him grow into more than just a highly touted quarterback prospect. The five-star has started to settle into a leadership role in the huddle even with limited college experience, and head coach Clark Lea has seen veteran players respond to the way Curtis carries himself around the program. For a team still searching for steadier results overall, that kind of progress matters as much as anything happening on Saturdays.
What makes the next stretch interesting is how much the Commodores are willing to shape around him. Curtis brings a different skill set, and Vanderbilts staff has been adjusting the offense with that in mind as the post-Diego Pavia era takes hold. If Curtis keeps building trust while the system continues to evolve, the Commodores may have a young quarterback whose development can start to change the feel of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Still Has To Live With One Huge Quarterback Decision
Clark Leas recent comments on quarterback Kenny Minchey brought an old recruiting fork in the road back into view for Vanderbilt, and it is one the Commodores have no choice but to live with now. Minchey, a Nashville native who left Notre Dame for Kentucky, was once part of the discussion in Nashville before Vanderbilt moved on, and Lea made clear he still holds respect for the player and the person as the two programs head into another meeting.
For Vanderbilt, the bigger picture is tied to the quarterback path it chose instead. Leas confidence in Jared Curtis remains the programs long-term answer at the position, which is why the Minchey storyline matters less as a regret than as a reminder of how quickly these decisions can shape a rosters future. Saturday offers another chance for the Commodores to see a familiar local name on the other sideline, even if the more important question in Nashville is still whether Curtis can eventually steady the job for good. [Read more 🡒]