Heisman hopeful QB, a towering tight end, and a muscle-bound pass rusher stand between Texas and victory. Brace for impact.
When the No.9 Vanderbilt Commodores travel down to Austin to play the Longhorns on Sunday, they’ll come as the second-best team in the Southeastern Conference in terms of scoring. They’ll be led by a potential Heisman candidate who's a threat on the ground and in the air. He’ll be slinging the rock to a 6-foot-4 tight end who leads the team in receiving yards. All that while the Longhorns' offense can expect to get pressured by a Commodore who put on 14 pounds of muscle over the offseason.
Here are three Vanderbilt players Texas fans should keep their eyes on come Saturday.
Diego Pavia - QB
For the first time since 1947, the Vanderbilt Commodores are a top-ten team, and it’s ultimately because of one man, Diego Pavia. In eight games, he’s totaled 1698 yards in the air with a career high completion percentage of 68.8%. Similar to Texas quarterback Arch Manning, he’s been known to make opposing defenses pay on the ground, leading the Commodores in rushing yards with 485 yards on 85 carries (5.4 YPC)
On top of that, Pavia’s mindset is unmatched. He’s confident in his abilities and isn’t afraid to share it. When asked if he believes he should win the Heisman this season, he kept his response brief. “Hell yeah,” Pavia said, “I believe it.”
Eli Stowers - TE
After initially playing quarterback, Stowers made the switch to tight end when entering the 2023 season. Listed as 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Stowers is a headache for opposing defenders. He currently leads the team with 401 yards on 32 receptions (12.5 YPR). Stowers's large frame and exceptional abilities after the catch make him a threat on any part of the field. Expect to see him be Pavia’s favorite target come Saturday.
Miles Capers - Edge
Miles Capers has emerged as arguably the most disruptive defender for the Vanderbilt Commodores this season. He’s already totalled 4.5 sacks, leading his team and improving on last year’s total of three sacks. Over the offseason, he added around 14 pounds of muscle, and that extra strength is showing up at the edge.
Capers has also forced and recovered a fumble, making him a momentum-changing player who could flip the script at any moment. With Texas’ recent struggles on the offensive line, expect either Arch Manning or Matthew Caldwell to be doing some extra cardio when Capers is on the field.