Commodore Brunch Week 1: No enjoyable within the solar? – The Vanderbilt Hustler

The 2025 Vanderbilt Commodores had been many issues — surprising, resilient and historic — however above all, they had been enjoyable.

The power round campus final fall, whether or not it was about College Gameday coming to city or the Diego Pavia Heisman marketing campaign, was undeniably optimistic.

And so, when Vanderbilt took the sector at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5 to open up its 2026 marketing campaign, the expectations on West End had been far-and-away aligned with a continuation of the 12 months earlier than. Commodore followers flooded tailgates round Greek row and Vandyville and packed like sardines into the newly expanded pupil part — coated in Black and Gold.

But as quickly because the soccer recreation truly began, it grew to become clear that the 2026 ’Dores should not the identical as their predecessor.

Maybe it was the 98-degree warmth that ruined the temper. Perhaps it was as a result of Vanderbilt bought off to a gradual begin, falling behind 6-5 early on, and failed to attain a landing within the first third of the sport towards a seemingly simple opponent. Or it’s doable that followers had been upset that the sport ended early as a consequence of lightning strikes. Either manner, one thing was off.

And although the house crew was successful and the sport appeared aggressive, followers left the stadium in droves at halftime. And although Vanderbilt beat Austin Peay handedly, the Commodores’ efficiency didn’t meet the expectations the fan base had.

This has nothing to do with the x’s and o’s. It comes all the way down to the truth that Vanderbilt’s efficiency versus the Governors was not enjoyable to observe.

Trix

Everybody is aware of the saying “Trix are for kids.” The rainbow, fruit-flavored cereal is represented by a “silly rabbit” and are synonymous with being one of many extra enjoyable manufacturers on the breakfast desk.

Against Austin Peay, Vanderbilt’s 19-year-old child, Jared Curtis, had a number of methods of his personal that had been placed on show in restricted snaps. The highest-rated recruit in Vanderbilt historical past accomplished 7-of-9 passes for 60 yards and ran for 22 yards on 3 makes an attempt. His pinpoint accuracy and spectacular run recreation had been showcased on high of his highlights — trucking a defender and evading a sack.

But Curtis didn’t begin the sport — that job went to Blaze Berlowitz.

And for what it’s value, Berlowitz performed effectively. The senior threw for 149 yards and ran for 45 which included a landing. But, when he was underneath heart, Vanderbilt’s offense was centered on controlling the clock, with run-heavy methodical drives.

Curtis’s two drives regarded way more just like the Pavia-led ’Dores: spread-out, throw the soccer and scramble when area is given.

Even head coach Clark Lea stated postgame that “[the team] definitely looks a little different with each quarterback,” and that with Curtis the offense can “sling it a little bit.”

And, as a consequence of his playstyle (and sure additionally due to the hype on him coming into the 12 months), the Vanderbilt crowd was way more responsive when Curtis got here into the sport. “Let’s go Jared [Curtis]” chants rang because the first-year drove down the sector, and there have been even some boos aimed toward Berlowitz.

“I appreciate the passion [of the crowd about Curtis],” Lea stated. “My job is to best organize the team and I’m going to do that the best of my ability. But [fans] aren’t going to bleed into our [quarterback selection] process.”

But let’s face the info: a crew is amplified by its crowd. The Pavia ’Dores actually confirmed that. And, if the Vanderbilt followers should not behind the choice to play two quarterbacks, that isn’t good for the outcomes of the crew.

And, sure, Lea is aware of that “There will be a point in time where it’s anti-strategic to play two quarterbacks.” But his remark postgame that “We’ll go as long as we need to [with two QBs] to keep the mission in focus; and that [mission] is winning,” must be regarding to the entertainment-factor of the Black and Gold.

Thus, the magic of “the Bank” from yester-year is not going to be there till there may be extra certainty on the helm of the offense — or perhaps not till Curtis is the full-time starter.

Runny eggs

With uncertainty on the quarterback place, Vanderbilt’s run recreation has change into the middle of the crew’s offense. Against Austin Peay, Vanderbilt ran the ball 38 occasions in comparison with simply 18 passing makes an attempt — and that gameplan paid off.

Senior and four-year Commodore Sedrick Alexander led the cost, operating for 60 yards and a landing on 10 makes an attempt. His explosiveness and persistence round approaching defenders is what makes him one of many best running backsin faculty soccer.

“It’s not really scripted,” Alexander stated postgame in regards to the run-heavy playcalling. “I think my coaches just believe in me and the running backs.”

Indeed, the teaching workers believed in the remainder of the unit too. Senior MK Young had eight carries — totally on third down units, whereas Jamezell Lassiter bought 5 touches of his personal.

Lassiter, together with receiver Kayleb Barnett, excelled in jet contact cross conditions, too — which aren’t runs on the field rating however are very comparable. This duo, gifted with unimaginable pace, torched Austin Peay in these units and mixed for 64 yards on 8 carries.

And, whereas there may be loads of comparability in regards to the arm abilities of Berlowitz and Curtis, each have “wheels” and may break the sport large open with designed runs of their very own.

Behind a stout offensive line which didn’t permit a sack in Week 1, Vanderbilt’s run recreation is a flexible, high-powered weapon that may be anticipated to get a bigger share of snaps than it did final 12 months.

And, as offensive coordinator Tim Beck likes to do, it’s a car to manage time of possession in a recreation, which actually helped Vanderbilt in its overcome Austin Peay.

Same outdated menu, model new specials

While the Commodore offense actually seems to be totally different from final 12 months’s, the protection appeared very comparable.

Like the final couple years, Vanderbilt’s line of defense was epic. Black jerseys had been pressuring Governor quarterback Chris Parson all night time, because the crew sacked him 5 occasions. Interior lineman Issa Ouattara led the way in which with 1.5 of these hits, as his 6’7 body overwhelmed the FCS offensive line in entrance of him.

As a part of his effort, Vanderbilt held its opponent scoreless within the second half — one thing it excelled eventually season, when defensive coordinator Steve Gregory’s group was 2.8 factors higher within the latter interval of video games.

“In the second half, we trusted our technique, got back to the basics and played Vanderbilt Football,” Ouattara stated after the sport.

Gregory additionally put loads of strain on Parson from additional exterior, as linebacker Nick Rinaldi stood out with 6 tackles, 3 solo and 0.5 sacks. Safety CJ Heard additionally picked up the place he left off in 2025 — as among the best tacklers within the nation — nabbing six of his personal within the season opener.

The largest defensive battle for Vanderbilt was on the cornerback place. Sound acquainted?

The ’Dores allowed 116 passing yards and a landing to Governor receiver Denver Harper, who smoked sophomore nook Cayden Daniels on a go-route. Martel Hight, who’s the lead on the place for Vanderbilt this 12 months, had some struggles towards Austin Peay’s Marvin Sims, too, as Sims had six receptions on the day.

While the secondary was irritating in passing protection, the unit got here collectively very properly throughout particular groups units.

In the primary quarter, Hight returned a blocked further level for a security, and linebacker Josiah Broxton had the play of the sport with a landing return on a skibbed punt.

The remainder of the particular groups unit — particularly kicker Brock Taylor and punter Tyler Ebel — additionally did their jobs very effectively.

“When you have a guy [like Taylor] you can lean on to get you points, we’re going to lean on that,” Lea stated. “Tyler Ebel showed up and his average was off the charts. The blocked extra point was important. It’s going to take three phases for us and I’m proud of the guys on special teams.”

So, whereas there may be loads of consideration on how Vanderbilt’s offense performed, there was loads of optimistic to remove from the opposite two phases of the ball within the Austin Peay recreation.

The 2026 Commodores don’t have to imitate final 12 months’s crew. But when Delaware visits FirstBank Stadium subsequent Saturday at 3:15 p.m. CDT, they should start constructing an id of their very own — and ideally one which makes West End imagine, keep previous halftime and have enjoyable once more.