Vanderbilt Commodores football has added a significant piece to its future special-teams roster with the verbal commitment of Ben Brewer, a five-star kicker from Fayette Academy in Somerville, Tennessee, to the 2027 recruiting class.
A Boost for Commodores’ Special Teams
Ranked No. 26 among kickers nationwide and the second-best prospect in the state, Brewer chose Vanderbilt over several other programs, marking the 17th pledge for the Commodores in that cycle.
The commitment comes at a time when the program is looking ahead to the departure of senior kicker Brock Taylor, who will cap his college career this fall. Taylor, already a record-holder for the longest field goal in school history at 57 yards, has been a cornerstone of the kicking unit under coordinators Jeff LePak and Shane Gallant.
Vanderbilt will also retain backup Justin Dewers for the upcoming season, but the arrival of Brewer is being viewed as a strategic move to ensure depth and competitiveness at the position.
Brewer’s credentials received a boost at the Kohl’s National Scholarship Camp, where he posted 24 points on field goals and a 109.52 rating on kickoffs, figures that the Kohl’s Kicking scouting report highlighted as evidence of strong leg strength and the potential to thrive at the FBS level.
Coaches and analysts alike see the addition as more than a recruiting win; it signals Vanderbilt’s intent to compete more aggressively for top talent in the Southeast and to reinforce a unit that has already produced some of the most reliable leg work in college football.