Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers continues to hone blocking skills after move from QB

Eli Stowers started his faculty profession as a quarterback at Texas A&M. He appeared in 5 video games in two seasons as a backup earlier than transferring to New Mexico State.

He performed quarterback and tight finish one season there earlier than transferring to Vanderbilt, the place he remodeled himself into the nation’s finest tight finish.

Among his many awards in 2025, Stowers was a first-team All-American and gained the Mackey Award as the highest tight finish.

“If you would have told me even three, four years ago that I was going to be playing tight end, I would have thought you were crazy,” Stowers stated. “I was a quarterback through and through. . . . But playing quarterback was pivotal in my transition to tight end, just making it easier because I understood the game. Like, as a quarterback, you have to understand what everyone’s doing on offense, what everyone’s doing on defense.”

Stowers led the crew with 49 receptions for 638 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2025. His receiving skills are unquestioned, however his run blocking, which has come a good distance, nonetheless wants work.

“That was the newest thing to me, newest technique, newest movement, coming from quarterback,” Stowers stated. “That was one thing you by no means did as a quarterback. I believe that is one thing that I’ve gotten so much higher [at doing]however I would like to proceed to attempt to study and watch movie and hone in on my method.”

While he acknowledges he nonetheless has room for enchancment, Stowers calls himself a “good” blocker.

“I think that people don’t give me enough credit for the strides I’ve already in my blocking game,” Stowers took stated. “I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’m not saying there’s [not] a whole lot more I can continue to grow [in]but I think I’m a good blocker at this point.”