Vanderbilt will be without Blaze Berlowitz for a while after the quarterback broke his collarbone in Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss and is scheduled to have surgery Monday, according to a Facebook post from his mother, Melanie Berlowitz, on Saturday night.
Berlowitz entered late in the fourth quarter and gave Vanderbilt a spark in limited action. He completed 2 of 5 passes for 18 yards, added 23 rushing yards on four carries, and finished off a touchdown drive on the Commodores’ final offensive series of the night. On one of his last snaps, he absorbed a heavy hit and appeared to realize immediately that something was wrong.
“Not sure why life has to be so complicated, but the hits just keep on coming,” Melanie Berlowitz posted. “We appreciate all the support from everyone that has continued to follow him. I know he will come back stronger after this is all over.”
The injury lands on a quarterback who has already had a notable role in Vanderbilt’s season. Berlowitz started the first two games while locked in a battle with five-star freshman Jared Curtis, before Curtis pulled ahead and won the job in the second half of the Delaware game. Berlowitz then returned in the road loss to Georgia and delivered a 12-for-23 line for 190 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
For Vanderbilt, Berlowitz has been more than just another quarterback in the room. He’s in his third season as a Commodore and his fourth with offensive coordinator Tim Beck, and his experience with the scheme has long been one of his biggest strengths.
Even after losing the starting job, Berlowitz tried to find a way to help. He went to coach Clark Lea and asked to move to wide receiver so he could contribute however possible.
Vanderbilt used him at receiver against Auburn, where he was targeted twice and caught one pass for no yards. Lea said the experiment was worthwhile because of Berlowitz’s athletic ability, while making clear the staff still viewed him as the backup quarterback.
“Obviously also just in total support of Blaze Berlowitz,” Lea said. “This guy is been an incredible leader for us and such a tough individual and someone I have a ton of respect for and obviously anytime you're dealing with the quarterback position in particular making a change that way, we are we're full in support of Jared, but we're also full in support of Blaze.”
Lea also said before Vanderbilt’s game against NC State that the Commodores would need Berlowitz and that he had 100% belief in him.
With Berlowitz out, Vanderbilt now turns to junior Whit Muschamp or sophomore Jack Elliott behind Curtis. Muschamp entered fall camp with the lead for the backup job.