Clark Lea enters his sixth season after Vanderbilt finished 10-3 overall and 6-2 in SEC play in 2025. Tim Beck returns for his third season as offensive coordinator, while Vanderbilt will feature a new starting quarterback following Diego Pavia’s departure. Five-star freshman Jared Curtis joins the quarterback room after signing with Vanderbilt as the highest-ranked recruit in program history. Sedrick Alexander and M.K. Young return at running back, while Junior Sherrill returns after recording 54 receptions last season. Alabama transfer Cole Adams joins the receiving corps. Cade McConnell is the lone returning full-time starter along an offensive line that will feature several new starters, while Pitt transfer Lyndon Cooper brings considerable experience after making 13 starts last season.
Steve Gregory returns as defensive coordinator with Vanderbilt bringing back seven of its top eleven tacklers from last season, including co-leading tacklers Bryan Longwell and C.J. Heard. Longwell, Heard, Miles Capers, and Martel Hight return as full-time starters, giving the Commodores considerable experience at each level of the defense. Capers returns along the defensive front, while Boston College transfer Edwin Kolenge joins the group after making 10 starts last season. Longwell returns at linebacker, while Heard and Hight provide considerable experience in the secondary. Clemson transfer Ricardo Jones adds another experienced option to the defensive backfield after making 12 starts in 2025.
Jeff LePak returns as special teams coordinator with Brock Taylor back at placekicker. Martel Hight returns with experience in the punt return game, while Junior Sherrill and Alabama transfer Cole Adams are among the primary options on kickoff returns. Vanderbilt will feature a new contributor at punter. The Commodores enter 2026 with significant turnover at quarterback and along the offensive line but return considerable defensive production. Vanderbilt brings back seven of its top eleven tacklers while adding experienced Power Conference transfers on both sides of the ball.