The Vanderbilt Commodores come to Alabama as one of the SEC's top teams, led by multiple returning starters.
This Saturday afternoon, the Alabama Crimson Tide will welcome the Vanderbilt Commodores to Tuscaloosa for one of the most anticipated games in the history of the head-to-head series between the two teams.
A battle of ranked teams, Alabama comes into Saturday off a massive 24-21 road win at Georgia, while Vanderbilt is currently one of college football's remaining undefeated programs, sitting at 5-0 overall (1-0 SEC).
Alabama and Vanderbilt also met a year ago in what became one of college football's most surprising results where the Commodores upset the Crimson Tide in Nashville, 45-40. Many of those same names are back for Vanderbilt as well, making the Commodores a very dangerous opponent coming into Tuscaloosa on Saturday afternoon.
Here are five Vanderbilt Commodores to know in particular ahead of Saturday's game in Tuscaloosa, as well as what each did against Alabama a year ago.
Diego Pavia, Quarterback, Graduate Student
A graduate student, Diego Pavia is a returning starter at quarterback for the Commodores this season who had a big showing against Alabama a year ago, completing 16-of-20 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns to help propel himself into college football stardom. This season, Pavia has been one of the top quarterbacks in college football, as the graduate student is currently completing 74.6% of passes for 1,211 yards and a SEC-leading 13 touchdowns with a 184.6 passing efficiency rating, while also having rushed for 294 yards and two scores on 48 attempts.
Sedrick Alexander, Running Back, Junior
Sedrick Alexander is likely the biggest name to know in the Commodores backfield, as the junior rushed for 64 yards and two touchdowns on 21 attempts against Alabama a year ago, while also catching two passes for 24 yards. Up to this point in the season, Alexander is the Commodores second-leading rusher behind only Pavia with 243 yards and four touchdowns on 46 attempts, while also having caught five receptions for 67 yards and three more scores.
Eli Stowers, Tight End, Graduate Student
Vanderbilt has one of the SEC's top overall tight ends in Eli Stowers, a graduate student who had six receptions for a team-leading 113 yards against Alabama last season. The graduate student is Vanderbilt's leading receiver this year, hauling in 22 receptions for 301 yards and two touchdowns across five games.
Miles Capers, Edge Rusher, Graduate Student
Defensively, the Commodores are led by one of the top pass rushers in the SEC in Miles Capers, a graduate student whose lone tackle against Alabama last season was a sack. Capers currently leads with SEC with eight TFL so far in 2025, while also owning 15 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one pass defense, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Brock Taylor, Kicker, Junior
The final name to know in particular for Vanderbilt entering Saturday is Brock Taylor, a junior kicker who made both of his two field goal attempts against Alabama last season, while also going 4-for-5 on extra points. So far this fall, Taylor is a perfect 5-for-5 on field goal attempts, while also leading the SEC with 30 attempted extra points, 29 of which the junior has made.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football vs. Vanderbilt: Diego Pavia among top Commodores
Category: General Sports
