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Vanderbilt Football Top 20 Player Rankings: No.
2 NASHVILLEVanderbilt football is in a new era under head coach Clark Lea as it moves forward after a program-best 10-3 season, but does so while replacing star Nov 2, 2024; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores place kicker Brock Taylor attempts an extra point from the hold of punter Jesse Mirco during the fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect NASHVILLEVanderbilt football is in a new era under head coach Clark Lea as it moves forward after a program-best 10-3 season, but does so while replacing star quarterback Diego Pavia and star tight end Eli Stowers.
Lea and company believe that the program can move forward as winners, though, and the amount of experience they bring back is at the forefront of the reasons why.Lea has the 34th most experienced offense in the country, the No.
4 defense in the country, is No.
2 in game experience in the country and No.
12 in returning starts.Just in terms of quality depth, I mean, this is probably the best team we've had, Lea told Vandy on SI.
Obviously, we have some big gaps to fill, and some of those gaps were our production leaders from a year ago, but I like this team.
I like where we are.
This Vanderbilt team doesnt appear to have the elite names at the top of the roster that Leas 2025 team did, but he believes hes got a capable group at every level.
Vanderbilt kicker Brock Taylor kicks a field goal during Vanderbilt Football's Black and Gold Spring Game in FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, April 18, 2026.
| USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectHes dependable.
He has range.Hes confident.
Hes consistent.
At this point, hes one of the best kickers in the SEC and is one of the best players on this Vanderbilt roster.
Taylor went 13-for-14 on kicks a year ago, 6-for-6 from 30-to-39 yards, 1-for-1 from 50+ yards and had a long of 51which isnt concerning because of his 2024 long being 57 yards.Theres really not much more for Taylor to prove at this level at this point, outside of him providing more proof of concept for his in-game range.
Taylor is the only player on Vanderbilts roster who has proven to be truly elite relative to the rest of the players in the league at his position.The only reason hes not No.
1 is because of his position and the way it limits his ability to impact the game on a down-in, down-out basisparticularly because he doesnt handle kickoff duties.
Taylors case for No.
1 is real, though, and him being named an All-SEC player in the preseason isnt all that difficult to fathom.
Joey Dwyer is the lead writer on Vanderbilt Commodores On SI.He found his first love in college sports at nearby Lipscomb University and decided to make a career of telling its best stories.
He got his start doing a Notre Dame basketball podcast from his basement as a 14-year-old during COVID and has since aimed to make that 14-year-old proud.
Dwyer has covered Vanderbilt sports for three years and previously worked for 247 Sports and Rivals.
He contributes to Seth Davis' Hoops HQ, Basket Under Review and Mainstreet Nashville.