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, with five-star freshman Jared Curtis taking over as the starting quarterback following Diego Pavia’s departure. Curtis signed as the program’s highest-ranked recruit. At running back, Sedrick Alexander and Makhilyn Young return, while Junior Sherrill returns after recording 54 receptions last season. Alabama transfer Cole Adams joins the receiving corps. On the offensive line, Cade McConnell is the lone returning full-time starter, and the unit features several new starters. Pitt transfer Lyndon Cooper brings considerable experience after making 13 starts last season.

Steve Gregory returns as defensive coordinator, and Vanderbilt brings back seven of its top eleven tacklers from last season, including co-leading tacklers Bryan Longwell and C.J. Heard. In addition, Longwell, Heard, Miles Capers, and Martel Hight return as full-time starters, giving the Commodores plenty of experience at every 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. At linebacker, Longwell returns, 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. Jackson Foster takes over at punter. In the return game, Martel Hight brings punt-return experience, while Junior Sherrill and Alabama transfer Cole Adams are among the primary kickoff-return options. Offensively, the Commodores begin a new era with Curtis at quarterback while returning experience at running back and receiver. Vanderbilt enters 2026 with considerable continuity on defense, returning seven of its top eleven tacklers, including both co-leading tacklers from last season.