Ranking College Football’s Top 50 Newcomers at Midseason
Vandy with 2 deserving contributors on this impressive list.
This includes transfers and freshman, or new starters. Anyone new on the scene.
Pavia's heroics -- and postgame charm -- in the Commodores' 40-35 win over Alabama in Week 6 alone were enough to justify his place on this list. Indeed, the upset of the top-ranked Crimson Tide cemented Pavia's place in Vanderbilt football history. But the 2023 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year has found a true home in Tim Beck's offense, where Pavia ranks 27th nationally and fifth among SEC quarterbacks with 13.1 yards per completion and has the Commodores averaging 34.7 points per game, 28th among FBS offenses.
A once-promising Texas A&M quarterback signee, Stowers converted to tight end last fall and then became one of the New Mexico State transfers who followed Jerry Kill to Vanderbilt in 2024. Only nine tight ends across the country have been targeted more than Stowers (38) this fall, and he was a handful for the Crimson Tide, hauling in six passes for 113 yards in the Commodores' upset of Alabama. Altogether, Stowers' 333 receiving yards are ninth most among FBS tight ends.
Vandy with 2 deserving contributors on this impressive list.
This includes transfers and freshman, or new starters. Anyone new on the scene.
8. QB Diego Pavia
Transfer: New Mexico State to Vanderbilt
Pavia's heroics -- and postgame charm -- in the Commodores' 40-35 win over Alabama in Week 6 alone were enough to justify his place on this list. Indeed, the upset of the top-ranked Crimson Tide cemented Pavia's place in Vanderbilt football history. But the 2023 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year has found a true home in Tim Beck's offense, where Pavia ranks 27th nationally and fifth among SEC quarterbacks with 13.1 yards per completion and has the Commodores averaging 34.7 points per game, 28th among FBS offenses.
49. TE Eli Stowers
Transfer: New Mexico State to Vanderbilt
A once-promising Texas A&M quarterback signee, Stowers converted to tight end last fall and then became one of the New Mexico State transfers who followed Jerry Kill to Vanderbilt in 2024. Only nine tight ends across the country have been targeted more than Stowers (38) this fall, and he was a handful for the Crimson Tide, hauling in six passes for 113 yards in the Commodores' upset of Alabama. Altogether, Stowers' 333 receiving yards are ninth most among FBS tight ends.
