This overlooked quality could be a key to Vanderbilt football's success

There's an aspect of Vanderbilt football's recent success that some players feel has been overlooked: Since the start of Clark Lea's tenure with the program, the culture has improved.

Specifically, the Commodores have come to love football more than before.

"I feel like the guys now have such a love for the game," Vanderbilt linebacker Bryan Longwell said. "I feel like sometimes we had some guys who, they were here, but they weren't really here. We heard guys forecasting what games were going to be like. And now everybody has such a love, such a competition."

That culture has only grown over the years, and it hasn't diminished without Diego Pavia. Practices are faster-paced now, with players who embrace a fight to win their spot. That's shown up on the field, where Vanderbilt has gone from 2-10 to 7-6 to 10-3.

Linebacker Nick Rinaldi has seen that transformation happen himself as he's gone from walk-on to scholarship contributor.

"I'm new to the game still, compared to the other guys," Rinaldi said. "The love has grown so much since I got to college, and you'd be surprised. It's been exponential as I've started to play more, become a leader in all these little things."

Linebackers coach Nick Lezynski described both Rinaldi and fellow linebacker Bryce Cowan as students of the game who can act akin to additional coaches at times.

The linebacker core is one of the most experienced on the team. Rinaldi and Cowan are both fifth-years while Longwell is a senior. All three of them have been on the team their entire college careers without ever transferring, giving them the chance to grow in coach Clark Lea's system.

In 2025, Longwell was the team's co-leader with 71 total tackles and also recorded nine tackles for loss, one sack and one pass breakup. Rinaldi recorded 47 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also led the team with nine quarterback hurries. Cowan recorded 31 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks.

"(Rinaldi could) maybe have a career in this after," Lezynski said. "He's knocking at the door of that right now, and I think that he's grown so much in terms of his love of the game. He loves the game now. … I don't know if he always loved it. But he loves it, and so that's been really cool to see because he's watching as much tape, more tape than I'm watching. He's in my office all the time. … Like Bryce, he's coaching the younger players now. So he's become a voice and an extension of the coaches."

For Rinaldi, who is pursuing a master's degree in finance and has primarily been intending on pursuing a career in finance, coaching has become more of a thought for what he could do after his career is over.

"It is a thought," Rinaldi said. "Five years ago, I would not be thinking that, but as time goes on, I get more and more connected with the game. So it's definitely in the back of my mind. Maybe it's coming towards the front a little bit."

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: This overlooked quality could be a key to Vanderbilt football's success