Vanderbilt will be without tight end Cole Spence when it opens the season against Austin Peay on Saturday, with injury keeping the projected starter out of the lineup.
Spence was already tagged as questionable by coach Clark Lea in Thursday’s press conference after the injury surfaced early in the week, but the situation never really sounded encouraging. He was later seen in street clothes before Saturday’s game, confirming he would not play.
“It’s a situation where I don’t want him to push,” Lea said Thursday. “I’ve got hope for him in the short term, but it’s not something that we’re going to take a lot of risks with.”
That’s a tough break for a Vanderbilt offense that was counting on Spence to take on a bigger role. With Eli Stowers gone from the program, Spence was set to see a major jump in targets, and his absence leaves a real void in the downfield passing game.
Spence put together the best season of his career in 2025, catching 15 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He started 10 games and appeared in all 13, with every one of those numbers marking a personal high. When he’s back, he’s expected to reclaim the starting job and give quarterbacks Blaze Berlowitz and Jared Curtis a reliable outlet as they work through the early part of their development.
That comfort matters. Both Berlowitz and Curtis are inexperienced, and Spence offers more than just a safety valve in the passing game. He’s also valued for what he brings as a blocker.
There’s still no clear timeline for his return, and it’s possible Vanderbilt holds him out until it gets through its non-power five stretch.
For Spence, this is another frustrating setback in a career that’s already been interrupted by injuries. He was beginning to emerge after his freshman year before a torn ACL cost him the 2023 season, and he’s also dealt with a string of smaller injuries since arriving at Vanderbilt in 2022.
With Spence sidelined, Vanderbilt is expected to lean on East Carolina transfer Jayvontay Conner as its top receiving tight end. Conner posted 23 catches, 333 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 before entering the portal, and while consistency has been an issue for him through spring and summer, tight ends coach Brendan Flaherty has said he is one of the best-conditioned players on the roster.
Even without Spence, Vanderbilt remains a heavy favorite. The Commodores are still 28.5-point favorites against Austin Peay.
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