NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt graduate student Eli Stowers added to his preseason recognition Wednesday with the announcements that he has been selected preseason first-team All-America by The Sporting News as well as placed on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
It’s the fourth preseason first-team All-America honor for the Denton, Texas, resident—he’s also been recognized by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Athlon and Phil Steele—as well as the second time in three days that he has been named to a watch list after making one for Walter Camp’s Player of the Year Award on Monday.
The Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football’s outstanding receiver at any position, not merely wide receiver, and is sponsored by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.
In his first season as a Commodore, Stowers led the team after making 49 catches for 638 yards and five touchdowns as he was both a first Phil Steele third-team All-America and first-team All-SEC selection. The tight end had the most receptions on the squad in six outings and paced Vandy in receiving yards five times, highlighted by three games with 100 or more yards including 113 in a five-point victory over top-ranked Alabama.
Stowers and Vanderbilt open the 2025 campaign with the first of seven games at FirstBank Stadium when the Commodores play host to Charleston Southern at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30. Season tickets, mini-plans and single-game tickets remain available for the fall with information on each option available here.