Vanderbilt shocked the nation last season with an upset win over top-ranked Alabama. The Commodores enter this year’s matchup as more than a scrappy underdog. They have cruised through their first five games and sit at 16th in the AP Poll. A win in Tuscaloosa on Saturday gives Vanderbilt a real chance to make its first SEC championship game. The Commodores surge is thanks in large part to a pair of New Mexico State transfers. Diego Pavia and Eli Stowers have played a massive role in turning the program around. Both have experience playing quarterback, but Stowers transitioned to tight end and has found plenty of success. He’s arguably the best tight end in college football, but how does he fit within an NFL offense?
2026 NFL Draft: Eli Stowers Player Profile
Background
Stowers was initially a quarterback coming out of high school. He was a four-star recruit and the 12th-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2021 coming out of Guyer (Texas). While Stowers was recruited to play under center, he swapped between playing quarterback and tight end at Texas A&M. Stowers eventually settled in at tight end, having just 10 pass attempts in his college career. After two seasons in College Station, he transferred to New Mexico State and emerged as a premier weapon offensively. He caught 35 passes for 366 yards and two touchdowns, while also having 28 carries for 108 yards and a pair of scores.
Following his breakout season in 2023, Stowers followed his offensive coordinator, Tim Beck and transferred to Vanderbilt. He improved in 2024, finishing with 49 receptions for 638 yards and five touchdowns. Stowers had three games with over 100 receiving yards last season. He’s picked up right where he left off, hauling in 22 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns through five games in 2025.
Strengths
Stowers is an excellent receiving threat at the position. He has incredibly reliable hands, and he routinely makes catches in traffic. He is a nightmare for defenses after the catch, as his combination of speed and physicality makes him difficult to bring down. His impressive speed for a tight end makes him a dangerous vertical threat. Stowers displays great spatial awareness, consistently finding the soft spots in zone coverage to get open often. He’s a smooth route runner who creates separation in man coverage. Stowers is a size mismatch when lined up against defensive backs and a speed mismatch when lined up against linebackers. His experience at quarterback also allows offensive coordinators to draw up trick plays with him as a passer.
Weaknesses
While Stowers is an incredible receiver at the position, his blocking leaves a lot to be desired. His frame is certainly on the smaller end for tight ends, meaning he isn’t a player who will line up and hold up defensive ends in protection. He plays primarily out of the slot and is productive doing so. The ceiling as a blocker means Stowers is unlikely to be used as an in-line tight end in the NFL.
Overview
Stowers is one of the most fascinating prospects in the 2026 class. His transition from blue-chip quarterback prospect to productive tight end is an interesting path in college football. He’s an excellent receiver, with his combination of hands, route running, and prowess after the catch. While he isn’t dominant as a run blocker, Stowers should translate to a productive tight end playing out of the slot. Whichever team drafts Stowers is getting a dynamic pass catcher, as long as they utilize him properly. His game is similar to Brock Bowers, who was a First-team All-Pro as a rookie. While being the best tight end in football immediately may be a stretch, Stowers’ playing style is similar to Bowers’. His floor should be an early day-three selection, but Stowers can play his way into a comfortable day-two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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