Vanderbilt’s first full scrimmage of fall camp gave the offense its longest and most revealing look yet, and the clearest takeaway was that the quarterback battle still isn’t close to settled.
The Commodores went more than two hours on Saturday morning at FirstBank Stadium, getting as much live work as they’ve had at any point in camp. Coach Clark Lea said the group could have brought more energy, but he still came away encouraged overall.
“I was pleased on the whole with the play," Lea said. "I think there's some operational stuff we've got to cllean up and what's why you scrimmage."
At quarterback, Jared Curtis made the biggest splash. Blaze Berlowitz opened with a few strong throws, but Curtis was the more dynamic player throughout the day and, by the end, looked like the quarterback who changed the feel of the offense most.
He had a couple giveaways, but he also delivered the best two or three throws on the field and moved his groups more consistently than Berlowitz did. Lea said Saturday was Curtis’ best day of camp.
That performance fit the broader picture of Curtis’ camp. He has produced the most eye-catching throws, especially on the perimeter, but he has also had the roughest misses. On Saturday, he looked like a player capable of making something out of nothing, then turned around and reminded everyone why this remains a competition.
Berlowitz, meanwhile, keeps getting opportunities. He didn’t make the costly mistake on Saturday, but the offense with him under center wasn’t nearly as explosive.
Curtis still hasn’t had that one run of practices that puts the job on ice, so the separation remains minimal. How Vanderbilt weighs that is still the big question: Curtis offers more ceiling, while Berlowitz gives Tim Beck a chance to lean deeper into the playbook.
The backfield also produced one of the day’s brighter storylines. With Sedrick Alexander and MK Young load managed, freshman Evan Hampton took full advantage of the extra work and turned in by far his best practice of camp. Lea even singled him out in the first minute of his press conference.
Hampton looked like a true depth back with burst, the ability to get vertical, and the knack for making defenders miss in space. His receiving may be the trait that gets him on the field fastest. Freshman Izayah Lee continued to flash physicality, Gabe Fields still seems to have Beck’s attention, and Hampton’s performance gave him a stronger case than he’d had earlier in camp.
At receiver, Vanderbilt looked more stable than expected entering camp. Junior Sherrill looked the part while he was on the field, and Ja’Cory Thomas continued his strong fall after a better start than he had in the spring. Lea said Thomas got behind the defense a few times on Saturday, which only added to the sense that Vanderbilt may have some depth behind its top options.
There are still open questions in that room, though. Alabama transfer Cole Adams didn’t get much of a look on Saturday, Tristen Brown was quiet, Brycen Coleman has been trending up over the past few days, Kahden Smith has put together an excellent camp despite a quieter Saturday, and Joseph McVay has bounced up and down over the course of Vanderbilt’s nine practices.
The clearest, steadiest groups on offense right now appear to be tight end and running back. Vanderbilt seems to have its three rotation backs and its three tight ends already taking shape. Cole Spence looks like the leading receiver at tight end, Jayvontay Conner appears set to be the best complement to him, and Gabe Fisher and Morehouse transfer Maurice Veney should both matter as blockers.
Walter Taylor remains one of the biggest variables on the offense. He wasn’t a major factor as a receiver on Saturday, though he has shown he can contribute there. The bigger test is whether he can keep improving as a blocker.
Up front, the offensive line did not stand out for the wrong reasons, and that alone marked progress compared with previous fall camps. There were a penalty or two, but the line was not a liability.
There still seems to be a battle for one or two spots, though Micah DeBose being off to the side makes the picture harder to read. Even so, the group looks farther along than it did a year ago, despite the turnover.
One of the more intriguing questions coming out of Saturday is how Vanderbilt’s staff really views Beau Johnson and how best to use him. That remains one of the offense’s most interesting decisions as camp continues.
In Other News...
Vanderbilts Depth Picture Looks Better Than Fans May Have Expected
Nick Rinaldi has quietly become one of the more important pieces in Vanderbilts defensive mix, carving out a steady role at linebacker and drawing some outside buzz for his pro upside. His production last season gave the Commodores a reliable tone-setter in the middle of the defense, and it fit with a broader sense that the roster may have more useful depth than expected as the team looks to build consistency across the board.
There are other encouraging signs, too, with Thomas working his way back from a hamstring injury and showing progress, while Blaze Berlowitz has taken steps forward in system awareness and positioning at quarterback. For Vanderbilt, those developments matter because depth is only meaningful if the next layer of players can stay available and keep growing, and right now there are enough small positives to suggest that picture is getting clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Clark Leas First Vanderbilt Defensive Read Leaves One Clear Concern
After Vanderbilts first fall camp scrimmage, Clark Lea came away with a defense that looked mostly sound in coverage, but there was one area that clearly bothered him. The Commodores head coach said the unit handled the passing game well enough overall, while also pointing to the need for cleaner work against outside rushing plays as the staff sifted through what the opening scrimmage revealed.
Lea also had praise for running back Evan Hampton after a strong showing and noted how hard the defensive staff has been pushing quarterbacks Jared Curtis and Blaze Berlowitz in practice to make sure they are ready for game-like situations. With two weeks left in camp, Vanderbilt still has time to tighten up the edges of its defense, but the first live look gave Lea a useful reminder of where the biggest work remains. [Read more 🡒]