Vanderbilt’s second fall camp scrimmage gave Clark Lea a longer look at his team, and it sounded like the coach got plenty of what he wanted.
Saturday was the closest thing to a full game the Commodores have seen so far, even if the workout still included situational periods and wrapped after two and a half hours. Lea said the staff will take Sunday off before getting back to work Monday as the team tries to lock down its depth chart. He also seemed to suggest Wednesday’s practice next week will include more.
The quarterback battle remained murky. It was hard to sort out exactly how each passer was deployed, and even harder to get a clean read on the performances.
Berlowitz had one of his better days of camp and moved the ball more consistently than any other Vanderbilt quarterback, but he still couldn’t finish drives and mixed in some of the day’s worst throws. Curtis took a step back from the first scrimmage and showed some freshman mistakes, especially when he threw off platform or failed to step up in the pocket when a better throw was there if he had taken his time.
Even so, his operation was fairly smooth and his offense kept moving, with flashes of excellence still showing up. Lea said Curtis was at his best for the longest stretch of any Vanderbilt quarterback on Saturday night, and he added that Berlowitz has put together a good camp.
At running back, Evan Hampton may have wrapped up his case as fall camp MVP. He produced the biggest ground play of the night and the biggest play of the scrimmage overall, backing up what had already been a strong month.
There were real questions about where he fit in the room heading into August, but he has been exceptional and should be Vanderbilt’s fourth highest-usage back, with Izayah Lee potentially handling short-yardage work. Hampton’s speed case is strong, and his receiving ability only helps.
Lee also flashed with a few chunk plays and looked like one of the more physical backs on the roster. He may not be ahead of sophomore Gabe Fields, but his style is different enough from Fields and Hampton that he could carve out a role.
The freshman class at the position, the source said, is Vanderbilt’s best since Sedrick Alexander’s in 2023. Alexander and MK Young didn’t see significant work Saturday, though neither really needed to prove much.
The receiver group was tougher to evaluate because Vanderbilt’s likely top three options - Junior Sherrill, Ja’Cory Thomas and Cole Adams - didn’t play. Even so, Brycen Coleman continued to stand out over the last few days of camp, and Kayleb Barnett made the best catch of Saturday.
Coleman looks like he’s starting to put it together again and has returned to the kind of highlight grabs he made in earlier camps. Freshman Owen Cabell, a flip from Alabama, also had one of his most meaningful days yet and seems to be trending upward even if he may not play much this season.
Tight end was uneven. Cole Spence didn’t rep much, and the rest of the room had a mixed showing.
Jayvontay Conner kept building on a steady camp and looks like a dependable target for whichever quarterback settles in. He’s not quite a safety blanket because of how often he’ll be used, but he’s reliable.
Walt Taylor had some good moments earlier in camp, but Saturday was rough, as he didn’t capitalize on the few chances he got. His playing time will depend heavily on how much he improves as a blocker, and he’ll need to be better as a receiver if he wants to play alongside Spence and Conner.
Vanderbilt’s freshman tight ends both had relatively quiet camps.
The offensive line looked cleaner than it did a week ago. The small mistakes that caused problems earlier in camp showed up less often, and Lea and Beck seem to have their five on the line at this point.
They also appear confident in the group. There were still some breakdowns, but Curtis and Berlowitz had more time than they did in the previous scrimmage, and the run game had a mix of spotty blocking and a few big openings.
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Vanderbilt Is Near A Quarterback Decision That Could Shape Everything
The quarterback battle in Nashville is moving toward its finish line, and Clark Lea said Vanderbilt is expected to name a starter within the next few days after fall camp wraps up. The race has centered on freshman Jared Curtis and veteran Blaze Berlowitz, two very different options as the Commodores sort out who gives the offense the steadiest path entering the season.
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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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 🡒]
Vanderbilt Defense Just Sent A Mixed But Intriguing Message Before Week 1
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Behind that front, the scrimmage gave the Commodores a chance to sort through both veterans and depth players at linebacker and in the secondary. Getting those live reps mattered as much as the snaps themselves, because the staff is still learning which combinations hold up best when the season starts to count. The message from the day was less about a finished product than about a defense that has pieces in place, even if a few spots are still waiting to be clarified. [Read more 🡒]