With 2 established starters and a clear 3rd option, the interior of the defensive line is a bit better of a known quantity than the EDGE players. Teams have some what given up on trying to define OLB versus DE. The fronts used in college football right now are extremely situation specific and often have teams morphing from 4 to 3 to even 2 down linemen with others standing up. It is intentionally messy to make blitz identification and pickup harder, and teams also want to use player-specific strengths
and weaknesses based on what formation an opponent is in and what types of plays are expected. For the EDGE players, they may occasionally drop into coverage for exotic looks, but their main goal is feast on QBs while not being a liability against the run.
The Known Quantity
Miles Capers has one of the most important defensive plays in Vanderbilt history thanks to a strip sack to seal the win over Alabama in 2024. He led the team in TFLs (9.5) and sacks (4.5) in 2025. He also had 59 total tackles (17 solo), 2 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 forced fumble. Capers is a solid player on the edge. He is not elite, but he is a perfectly fine SEC starter.
The Assumed Transfer Starter
First and foremost, Brian Allen Jr shocked Vanderbilt’s most recent opponent, the Iowa Hawkeyes, when he decided to transfer. Allen had played 4 games in 2023, 11 in 2024, and all 13 in 2025. He had 16 tackles, 0.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, and a pass defended. At Iowa, he was stuck behind 7th round pick Max Llewellyn and other high-end talent. Allen should, at the very least, adequately fill the shoes of Zaylin Wood across from Capers.
Potentially Good Depth
Another impressive transfer is Edwin Kolenge from Boston College. He played in 12 games as a redshirt junior in 2025 with 31 tackles (17 solo) and a sack. His previous 3 seasons at BC involved playing 25 games (3 a true freshman to redshirt), 19 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble.
A surprising late addition to the team is 5th year Khalil Poteat from Temple who was granted an injunction as part of the 2022 class who wants to play a 5th year like everyone will be allowed going forward. I guess it remains to be seen if Poteat will be eligible afterall with ever-shifting legal rulings. The New York native spent 2 years at Dodge City Community College and 2 at Temple. Poteat played in 10 games with 29 tackles (15 solo), 2 TFLs, and a sack. He also forced two fumbles.
The Potential
Mason Carter appeared in one game as a freshman in 2024 then played in all 13 games in 2025. He only had 3 tackles. Carter was a middling 3* prospect out of high school at 6’5” and 200 pounds but has since packed on the pounds to 251. Anyone who has seen him can attest that almost all, if not all, of that weight has been lean muscle. The extra physicality turning into production is the next step.
Yet another transfer, this time from LSU, is CJ Jackson. Jackson was a 4* by every service except 247’s internal rankings. Their composite still had him at 4*. On3 and Rivals both ranked him in the Top 20 of EDGE players whereas ESPN and 247 had in the 30s. Jackson was also 6’3” and 220 pounds as a recruit and has bulked up to 250 pounds. At LSU, he redshirted as a freshman by playing in just the Texas Bowl then played 5 games in 2025 with 2 tackles. It is another case like Brian Allen Jr where the hope is he has been stuck behind elite defenders and is now free to blossom.
Reserves and a Freshman
Myles Miller, a sophomore, transferred in from Northwest Mississippi Community College. Miller was not rated by 247 out of high school. He started 6 games and played in 10. He had 35 tackles (15 solo), 9.5 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks. It is an encouraging amount of productivity, but I am hesitant to expect any contribution in 2026.
Jake Stanish was ranked in the 100-150 range for EDGE rushers in the 2025 class. He played in 2 games without registering statistically. He is another heavy gainer as he has gone from 230 pounds as a recruit up to 270 pounds.
Jace McCallum is a more promising freshman. He was a Top 60 EDGE in the 2026 class. He does need to grow into the position at the college level as he only tipped the scale at 220 pounds at 6’4” as a recruit. Vanderbilt lists him as up to 243 pounds, so there is hope for the future if it is good weight.
Final Verdict
Like the interior, I like what the Commodores have at the top end. Capers and Allen should be a good starting duo. Kolenge, Poteat, and Carter should offer enough immediate depth, but the team really needs one of them to step up and be an impact player off the bench or situationally. Beyond those 5, if they get anything from any others then it is all gravy.
