Vanderbilt fans have a new kind of hero to put on a jersey. In December 2025, tight end Eli Stowers won the William V. Campbell Trophy, the award often called the academic Heisman, and became the first Vanderbilt player to receive it. His story mixes production on the field with work in the classroom, which makes it a strong theme for a custom Commodores football jersey.
What the Campbell Trophy recognized
The National Football Foundation presented the award at its annual dinner in Las Vegas. The trophy comes with a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. Stowers was the 36th recipient, the 10th from the SEC and the first from Vanderbilt. Sports Illustrated's Vanderbilt coverage called it the biggest national single-season award in the program's history.
The academic side is part of the story. Stowers graduated from New Mexico State in May 2024 with a 3.92 GPA and earned a master's degree in finance from Vanderbilt in May 2025.
The numbers on the field
- 2023 at New Mexico State: 35 catches, 366 yards, two touchdowns.
- 2024 at Vanderbilt: 49 catches, 638 yards, five touchdowns, First Team All-SEC.
- 2025 at Vanderbilt: 62 catches and 769 receiving yards, the most of any tight end in the country, with four regular-season touchdowns.
His time in Nashville also lined up with several team firsts: Vanderbilt's first win over a No. 1-ranked team, a first road win at Auburn, the program's first 10-win season and its first bowl victory since 2013.
Custom number ideas
- 9: the number on Eli Stowers jersey listings, a direct tribute.
- 36: for the 36th Campbell Trophy winner.
- 10: for the first 10-win season.
- 62: for his 62 catches in 2025.
A jersey for the student-athlete in your life
The Campbell story makes a custom Vanderbilt jersey a good graduation gift. Put the graduate's last name on the back and pair it with a number that means something to them, such as a class year or 36 for the Campbell connection. It works for a Vanderbilt alum or for a high school player heading to college with both books and football in mind.
Choosing the style
Vanderbilt jerseys are listed in black, white and gold, including 2025 Limited designs. Black and gold are the school colors, so either is a natural base for a custom design.
Before you order
- Check the spelling of custom text twice.
- Compare your measurements with the size chart on the product page.
- Allow extra time if the jersey is for a graduation date.
You can start designing with these custom Vanderbilt Commodores jerseys.