Vanderbilt’s defense will be shorthanded again this weekend, and one of the biggest blows is already season-ending.
Head coach Clark Lea opened his Tuesday press conference with the injury news, and the first update centered on defensive lineman Aaron Bryant. Bryant suffered an ACL injury in Vanderbilt’s 35-26 win over Delaware on Saturday and will need knee surgery, ending his 2026 season. He had been part of the rotation up front and had given the Commodores some useful depth on the defensive line.
“I am just so heartbroken for him. He has worked so hard and was having a great start to the season.
He will be missed. Obviously, we’re in full support of him in his recovery.
But unfortunately, he won’t be with us this fall on the field,” Lea said.
Vanderbilt also expects to be without tight end Cole Spence against NC State. Spence has missed both games to start the 2026 season because of a lower body injury, and Lea said he remains week-to-week. Still, there’s at least some optimism that he could be back down the road.
“He’s still week-to-week, not going to be with us this week. But if he continues to move forward the way he has, there’s a chance that he could be available for something against Auburn.
So, I'm really hopeful for that. And again, all that’s contingent on his continued development.
But we’ve seen really positive signs,” Lea said.
There were more injury updates on the defensive side, too. Linebacker Jamison Curtis and cornerback Jaylin Lackey are both dealing with soft tissue injuries, and Lea said each is week-to-week. He does not know how long Curtis will be out.
Lackey missed the Delaware game with a persistent hamstring issue and will sit again this weekend.
“I think I mentioned last week, soft tissue, persistent hamstring that I just don’t - this is going to take a little time. So even week-to-week on him, but he won’t be available this weekend,” Lea said on Lackey.
EDGE Brian Allen Jr. also did not practice Tuesday because of an ankle injury, though Lea said his status is moving in the right direction.
Vanderbilt closes out its nonconference slate Saturday against NC State. Kickoff is set for 11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network.
In Other News...
Vanderbilt Is Handing The Offense To Its Most Hyped Freshman Yet
Vanderbilt is turning the offense over to Jared Curtis, the freshman quarterback who won the competition with Blaze Berlowitz and then handled every offensive snap in the second half of the Commodores win over Delaware. Curtis will make his first college start against NC State, a notable next step for a player whose arrival already carried unusual weight in Nashville.
Curtis is Vanderbilts first five-star recruit and the highest-ranked commit in program history, which helps explain why this decision feels bigger than a routine depth-chart move. The Commodores are now asking their most hyped newcomer to take on the job from the outset, and the early returns from his brief relief outing suggest the staff sees a path forward even if the real test is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Curtis Gives Vanderbilt A 2-0 Jolt With Bigger Tests Ahead
Vanderbilt got the kind of early-season lift it wanted in Nashville, beating Delaware 35-26 behind a balanced performance from quarterback Jared Curtis. Curtis was efficient through the air and dangerous on the ground, completing 14 of 22 passes for 210 yards while running for two touchdowns and throwing another, giving the Commodores a clean second win to build on.
Delaware made it more of a game than the final margin might suggest, especially after quarterback Nick Minicucci was injured during the contest and still came back to finish with 182 passing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. For Vanderbilt, the result was useful, but the next stretch will tell much more about how real this start is and how much the offense can lean on Curtis as the schedule toughens. [Read more 🡒]