Headline: Vanderbilt to Start Blaze Berlowitz at Quarterback in Season Opener
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt has announced that senior Blaze Berlowitz will start at quarterback in the Commodores’ season opener on September 5 against Austin Peay, with coach Clark Lea indicating that freshman Jared Curtis will also see playing time.
Lea clarified that this starting decision is specific to the season opener, noting that the best-performing players will take the field throughout the season. Last year, Vanderbilt finished with a strong 10-3 record and a ranking of 15th in the nation. Lea mentioned that the competition for the starting position has been intense.
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“It’s best for our offense to organize in the first game around Blaze taking the first snaps,” Lea stated. “He has earned the right to do that. I think he has had a consistent camp, and Jared’s earned a right to play. This guy’s been ascending.”
Berlowitz is set to step in as the starter following Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia, having followed him from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-3 quarterback from Cushing, Oklahoma, did not play during his sophomore year in 2024 but appeared in six games last season, completing 9 of 17 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown.
The highly regarded Curtis made headlines when he switched his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt, becoming the highest-ranked recruit ever to sign with the program last December. According to the 247Sports Composite, he was the No. 4 overall recruit in his class.
Curtis accumulated over 9,500 yards passing and more than 2,100 yards rushing during his time at Nashville Christian Academy, where he received recognition as Tennessee’s Gatorade player of the year. He is making the transition from private school competition to the Southeastern Conference but has a 30-pound advantage over the 200-pound Berlowitz.
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Lea expressed enthusiasm about seeing both quarterbacks in action. Vanderbilt aims to provide Curtis with game experience rather than solely designating Berlowitz as the starting quarterback and having him carry the entire workload with the first-team offense. There is no predetermined number of snaps for either player.
“All I know is Blaze will go out first and that Jared will play, and I’m excited to see them both,” Lea remarked.
Lea emphasized the importance of Berlowitz maintaining ball security, playing within his capabilities, and seizing opportunities for big plays. Meanwhile, Curtis needs to demonstrate his ability to manage the game and control the pace of the offense.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt will start senior Blaze Berlowitz in the Commodores’ season opener Sept. 5 against Austin Peay, with coach Clark Lea saying freshman Jared Curtis also will play.
Lea also said this decision only is for the opener. The best 11 will start each game during the season for a program that finished last season ranked 15th with a 10-3 record. Lea said the competition has been close.
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“It’s best for our offense to organize in the first game around Blaze taking the first snaps,” Lea said. “He has earned the right to do that. I think he has had a consistent camp, and Jared’s earned a right to play. This guy’s been ascending.”
Berlowitz gets the first chance to replace Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia after following him from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt. The native of Cushing, Oklahoma, didn’t play as a sophomore in 2024 and appeared in six games as a junior when he was 9 of 17 for 131 yards and a touchdown.
The 6-foot-3 Curtis got a lot of attention for flipping his commitment from Georgia to his hometown school, becoming the highest-ranked recruit ever to sign with Vanderbilt last December. He was the nation’s No. 4 overall recruit in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Curtis threw for more than 9,500 career yards and rushed for more than 2,100 yards at Nashville Christian Academy, where he was Tennessee’s Gatorade player of the year. He’s dealing with the jump from playing in a private school division to the Southeastern Conference, but has a 30-pound edge on the 200-pound Berlowitz.
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Lea said he’s excited to see both quarterbacks play. Vanderbilt wants to give Curtis more time to develop in games rather than simply tab Berlowitz the starter and give the senior all the work with the first-team offense. Vanderbilt has no set number of snaps for either quarterback.
“All I know is Blaze will go out first and that Jared will play, and I’m excited to see them both,” Lea said.
Lea wants to see Berlowitz protect the ball, play within himself and find chances to make big plays. Curtis will have to show how he operates and is able to slow down the game to run the offense.
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