Touted recruits take you inside Vanderbilt's historic win over No. 1 Alabama

It was a historic day for Vanderbilt football on Saturday. One for the ages in college football history.

The Commodores upset No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in a game they led the entire way. Fans rushed the field, the goal posts were ripped out of the stadium and carried down Broadway en route to the river.

It was Vandy’s first win in 50 tries against a top five program and first victory over the Crimson Tide in 40 years.

Soaking in the scene, several high-profile recruits that head coach Clark Lea and his staff would love to have help them win games like this down the road.

Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman On300 safety and Kentucky commit Martels Carter is one the Commodores have never lost touch with. He saw Tennessee beat Alabama two years ago, another game where the goalposts were carried out and found the river. This was another special experience.

“To witness history and see something done like that is always special and gets you thinking,” Carter said. His teammate cornerback Vanzale Hinton is one of nine current commits for Vanderbilt in the 2025 cycle. Perhaps Carter will join him.

“Just really knowing I can be a true freshman and seeing the way their defense and environment is, it’s a good fit.”

Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy defensive lineman Stephon Shivers backed off his verbal to Georgia on Saturday. Vanderbilt is a major factor moving forward.

“They’re good in my heart,” Shivers said. “I like what Coach (Larry) Black and Coach (Jovan) Haye are doing with the defense. Coach Lea he’s building a good program. They’re coming up. It was surprising to see. It goes to show you, you can’t ever count nobody out.”

Vanderbilt had some talented younger prospects on campus as well.

“This atmosphere at Vandy right now is crazy,” Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth On300 2026 cornerback Justin Hopkins said. “It’s electric in here and you can see the energy and shift going on and it looks like a new Vandy.

“Their staff they reach out a lot to me. They do a good job staying consistent with me. They tell me how I can fit into their defense as a freshman. We love seeing stuff like that. Play early freshman year. That’s almost something you can’t pass up on.”

De’Aries Holland is a local 2028 prospect to know.

“They looked great,” Holland said. “Showing they can compete.”

Stay tuned to On3 as more reaction comes in.