How Vanderbilt football's special teams can improve in 2026
Vanderbilt football looks for a step forward in 2026 from its special teams, including kicker Brock Taylor and its return game.
Brock Taylor set records in his first year playing college football. The Vanderbilt kicker, as a redshirt freshman in 2024, set a school record for most career 50-plus yard field goals. Expectations were high in 2025, but the Commodores' offense was so good that Taylor barely needed to do much.
He went from 21 field goal attempts in 2024 to 14 in 2025. He performed well on those attempts, making 13 of 14 as well as 60 of 61 extra points. Vanderbilt still believes Taylor has more in the tank entering the 2026 season.
"The things we work on with Brock now are kind of back to the fundamentals," assistant special teams coordinator Shane Gallant said April 16. "I think some things we focus on with Brock have been those short space field goals in tight ... so balls on the six-yard line, on the left hash, those are kicks that often get lost in the shuffle.
" Taylor is also working on developing chemistry with a new long snapper, Kaden Schickel, a transfer from Michigan State. His expected holder, transfer punter Tyler Ebel, hasn't arrived on campus yet while he finishes up classes at South Dakota. He's also healthier.