Pete Thamel, senior college sports specialist
A tight end for the All-SEC first team Eli Stowers told ESPN he plans to return Vanderbilt for the 2025 season.
Stowers said he “thought a lot” about the NFL because he was projected as a mid-round draft pick, but stayed because “we’re building something special” at Vanderbilt.
This season, Stowers caught 49 passes for 638 yards and five touchdowns. He had a season-high 133 rushing yards to lead the Commodores to the No. 1 spot at the time. 1 Alabama October 5.
Stowers started his career in Texas A&M as quarterback and came to Vanderbilt State of New Mexico in 2024. By shining again in the SEC in 2025, he could continue to increase his draft numbers.
Stowers told ESPN he wants to become “the best version of himself.”
Stowers’ return is significant for Vanderbilt, who will also return to the field at quarterback Diego Pavia next year. Pavia was named the 2024 SEC Newcomer of the Year and received a landmark ruling granting an additional year of eligibility, challenging the NCAA’s stance on middle school eligibility rules. He will now have Stowers, his close friend and the team’s leading receiver, at cornerback in 2025.
In recent seasons, Vanderbilt was not as prepared, from an NIL perspective, to retain top talent. They lost players to other power conference schools or were unable to pay players enough to come back, which meant they went to the NFL with an uncertain future.
The combination of improved NIL resources and the momentum of a 7-6 season and the school’s first bowl victory since 2013 put Vanderbilt in a good position to build on in 2025.
Stowers told ESPN he wants “to be part of a Vandy team that can change the culture and reputation of the program and make history for years to come.”
