Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers planning to return in 2025

Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers will be back in Music City next fall. That was the news that came in on Thursday morning.

Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Stowers will return to the Commodores rather than entering the 2025 NFL Draft in order to stay a part of what they’re doing right now at Vandy.

“First-team All-SEC tight end Eli Stowers tells ESPN that he plans to return to Vanderbilt for the 2025 season,” Thamel tweeted on Thursday. “Stowers said he thought “a lot” about the NFL, as he was projected as a mid-round pick. But he stayed because “we’re building something special” at Vanderbilt.”

Stowers has since made the announcement of his return to Vandy on social media.

“My time here at Vandy has been a blessing and what God is allowing us to build here is something special,” Stowers wrote. “After a lot of prayer on what my future should hold, I’ve decided that I’ll be returning to Vanderbilt for my final year of eligibility! Love y’all Commodore Nation! Let’s run it back!!”

Stowers just finished his first season at Vanderbilt and fourth in total after one at New Mexico State, following two at Texas A&M. Over 33 games played, Stowers has 84 receptions for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns. That includes 49 catches for 638 yards and five scores this year for the Commodores.

That production earned recognition for Stowers on the All-SEC First Team as he was also a semifinalist for The Mackey Award. He also received All-SEC and All-American votes from multiple media outlets.

With that, Stowers had been one of the better prospects ahead of the NFL Draft. ESPN rated him as such last month while Thamel mentioned the range for him as being a mid-round pick on the second day of the draft.

This comes after Vanderbilt went 7-6 overall this season with their most wins in just over a decade since 2013. They started at 5-2 before ending the year with a victory in the Birmingham Bowl. Now, multiple players plans to be back in Nashville, including Stowers along with QB Diego Pavia.

Stowers could have gone pro this offseason with where his stock is after a career-best collegiate season. Instead, though, he’ll be returning to Vanderbilt for his fifth year in 2025.