Vanderbilt’s defense has earned plenty of attention for the right reasons, but the Commodores know there’s still a missing piece. The run defense was one of the stronger units in the country last season, yet the pass defense left room for growth - and that has to tighten up this fall if Vanderbilt is going to build on last year’s historic run.
For Glenn Seabrooks III, that challenge starts with creating more chaos from the middle of the defensive line.
The Vanderbilt lineman has spent the offseason and fall camp zeroing in on his pass-rush impact, not just his work against the run. As he put it, the goal is bigger than occupying space.
“I’ve talked to my coaches, I don’t just want to be a run stopper. I want to be someone that causes havoc in the backfield. And I’ve started to do more on that, whether it’s disengaging blocks or just coming off the ball, especially focusing on get off,” Seabrooks III said.
That shift didn’t happen overnight. When the offseason began in January, Seabrooks III already knew he needed to bring more to the table. By the time summer rolled around, his focus had turned toward the role he could play in 2026 and the kind of disruption he could create.
The answer was clear: become a more active problem for opposing offenses.
Every day starts with the same kind of work for Seabrooks III and Vanderbilt’s defensive line, as the group attacks four-man sled drills to sharpen get-off, pad level and the way they move with their hands and feet. For Seabrooks III, those reps are aimed at one specific fix.
“That’s one thing I struggled with is that I would get into double teams and just sit in there. And sometimes you do necessarily need to do that, but my feet would just stop a majority of the time. And so I was really emphasizing on running my feet after contact,” Seabrooks III said.
The numbers from last season show why the push matters. Vanderbilt ranked 108th nationally in third down conversion percentage on defense and 116th in passing yards allowed. In plain terms, the Commodores need more pass rush and more pressure when the play is on the line.
The staff has made that message clear, especially for the interior of the defensive line. Seabrooks III said he’s a “bull rush” type of lineman, not necessarily the kind with a deep bag of edge-rusher moves, which is exactly why the pass-rush work has become such a major offseason focus.
If Vanderbilt can get more heat from the inside, it changes the entire feel of the defense. It gives opponents another problem to solve, and it makes life easier for the rest of the unit.
That’s the part Seth Payne is watching closely.
“I’m really excited because I think our pass rush game is coming along. I think we’ve made really good strides as a unit, which is hard because of the timing that you need for those things to work out.
So it’s been good. I’m really excited about the group,” Vanderbilt defensive linemen coach Seth Payne said.
How much the interior line can affect the quarterback will be one of the key things to monitor for Vanderbilt’s defense this season. It may not define everything, but it can go a long way toward easing the load on the rest of the unit.
In Other News...
Vanderbilt Is Near A Quarterback Decision That Could Shape Everything
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Lea has made clear what the staff is weighing, with ball security, playmaking ability and the best chance to win all sitting near the top of the list. For Vanderbilt, this is about more than choosing a name atop the depth chart. It is the kind of decision that can shape the tone of an entire season, and the final call will say plenty about what the staff believes this offense needs most right now. [Read more 🡒]
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Across the board, the offense turned in a mixed showing, with some quarterbacks and running backs flashing in limited action while others either had quiet days or were not available. For a team still trying to define roles, that kind of uneven afternoon is part of the process, and it leaves the real intrigue in how the pecking order settles over the next stretch of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Tanner Just Raised The Stakes For Vanderbilt This Season
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For Vanderbilt, the bigger takeaway is what Tanners rise could mean for the months ahead. He is already drawing attention as a potential mid-to-late first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, which says plenty about the level he is approaching. His size may ultimately shape where he lands, but if this season builds on what he already showed, the Commodores may spend plenty of time with Tanner at the center of everything they do. [Read more 🡒]