“This attitude, this program, and the biggest win on the West End. Vanderbilt takes down the number-one Alabama“. As the ESPN announcer announced Vanderbilt’s win against another heavyweight, Alabama, the crowd swelled in numbers in the field of FirstBank Stadium. Celebrating their hero, Diego Pavia, and were awestruck by their team’s valor as they had their first win over the Bama in 40 years. Clark Lea finally had his season first winning season and things looked well on from there.
The team went on to beat Auburn and then Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl, and Vanderbilt’s future looked bright after almost a century of mediocrity. The cherry on top? Diego Pavia won his lawsuit against the NCAA and is coming back for the 2025 season for an extra year of eligibility. Then there are players like Sedrick Alexander who are coming back. Looking to build on the previous season’s heroics. However, that being said, there are still some concerns that can plague Clark Lea’s squad.
Cole Thompson in a recent episode of ‘College Football Addiction’ discusses things Vanderbilt will have to be wary of. “They are losing guys like Quincy Skinner, on to the defensive side they’re losing CJ Taylor and Rickey Wright. But they were able to bring in decent guys in terms of the transfer portal. I mean the recruiting class four-star safety Carson Lawrence, they also brought in Vanzale Hinton, they also brought in, George Okorie, however, their schedule is going to be really interesting. I’m not sure what to make of it entirely I think there’s an opportunity for them to still be able to control their destiny“.
Oct 5, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Clark Lea walks the sidelines against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Well, players like Quincy Skinner, CJ Taylor, and Ricky Wright will surely be missed at Vanderbilt. Rickey Wright had an exciting season last year and had 48 total tackles as a safety and CJ Taylor was another safety with 64 registered tackles in 2024. Then there is Quincy Skinner, who received 367 yards and scored 3 TDs. Can the new incoming crop of players provide the momentum? Well, replacing all these players will be easier said than done.
Their 2025 transfer class has some prospects like the 20th-ranked national safety Carson Lawrence, who at 6’2″ and 185 lbs has the ability to fit in the place of the defensive departures. Even Vanzale Hilton (CB) is someone at 6’1/2″ and 185 lbs will help in the gradual transition. However, there are some very good transfer additions, too, like Keanu Koht (LB) coming from Alabama. Then there is Jordan Matthews (CB) joining from Tennessee. Furthermore, players like Aaron Bryant (DL) from the Longhorns and Chance Fitzgerald (WR) from Virginia Tech are some of the players looking to support Clark Lea in filling holes in the squad.
Vandernilt’s 2024 schedule a recipe for disaster?
There is no doubt that after the type of season Vanderbilt had and especially that win against Alabama, recruits will surely give Vanderbilt serious consideration now. Think of those Nike commercials selling dreams, not products. Vanderbilt, with their historical win against Alabama, gave a full-blown invitation for top prospects to dream. However, their schedule is something that still can lead to many surprises.
Cole Thompson provided games where Vanderbilt will have to tread cautiously and be wary of the opponents. “They (Vanderbilt) start off the season with Charleston Southern. Then they go to Blacksburg to play against Virginia Tech, and I can tell you right now that is going to be a game where Brent Pry can not afford to go 0 and 2. Remember Virginia Tech opens the season against South Carolina down in Atlanta so that is a big-time game for Brent Pride to kind of save his job. October 4th against Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium. I promise you the Crimson Tide are salivating at the mouth to have that opportunity“.
Well, Alabama and Virginia Tech are the two games initially that will give Clark Lea and Diego Pavia a stern test. Brent Pry surely is in a hot seat after giving 2 losing seasons in the three he has been in charge. Alabama, on the other hand, under Kalen DeBoer, has improved a lot. They have roped in a 3rd ranked class nationally with some of the top prospects like Keelon Russell and Dijon Lee. However, Vanderbilt’s games later in the season against Auburn, Tennessee, and Kentucky will be some of the winnable games and hopefully, they can build on with another winning season under Clark Lea and Pavia.
The post Diego Pavia Hit With Tough Reality as Insider Drops Harsh SEC Verdict on Clark Lea’s Vanderbilt appeared first on EssentiallySports.
