Clark Lea gives latest update on where Vanderbilt quarterback battle stands

Vanderbilt is still undecided on their starting quarterback with just a week left before the season starts.

Clark Lea gave the latest on that competition between Nate Johnson and Diego Pavia during a media availability on Thursday. He said he and his offensive staff have discussed several positions and where they stand, including at quarterback.

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“Yeah, we talked about all positions and, certainly, quarterback is one of them,” said Lea.

Johnson (Utah) and Pavia (New Mexico State) both transferred this offseason to Vandy. They’ve been battling one another ever since to be the Commodores’ QB1.

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One of Lea’s previous updates shared the pair were still splitting snaps through their scrimmages. However, regardless of who wins out in the beginning, it’ll be a constant evaluation with all their quarterbacks factoring in at some point in the fall.

Vanderbilt wants to get this decision right, though, with how important it obviously is for their team.

“That’s the, you know, singular, most important position on the field. I mean, the offense runs through the quarterback. He has got to be the problem solver. He has got to be the guy that is the coach, the coordinator on the field. He’s also, you know, a leader in your locker room,” Lea said. “We definitely have, you know, given that the attention it needs and kind of honed in on where we’re headed that way.”

The Commodores have continued evaluating their entire depth chart, especially with game week now here in Music City. That’s all in preparation for their opener against Virginia Tech.

“We’ve also done that for all positions. That has been part of the exercise of the last few days,” said Lea. “Just preparing this team to get to game week.”

Lea offers injury update from Vanderbilt practice

Vanderbilt has kept a generally clean bill of health throughout the offseason and into the back stretch of training camp.

However, the injury bug did catch one of the Commodores in a minor sense according to Clark Lea.

“We held Cole Spence out today,” Lea said on Thursday. “He’s going to be fine. He’s dealing with just a sprain and it shouldn’t be anything that lingers, honestly, beyond Sunday when we start our prep. But, you know, everything else we’re in good shape.”

Spence missed the entire 2023 season after seeing time on the field in four games for the Commodores as a true freshman in 2022