Hold onto your helmets, Vanderbilt fans, because the Commodores are shaking things up after their historic 10-win season—a first in the program's 135-year history. But here's where it gets interesting: as Clark Lea's team looks to build on that success, they're making some bold moves on the offensive staff. FootballScoop has the inside scoop: Garrett Altman is out, heading to Arkansas State to lead Butch Jones' offense, and Lea is promoting from within for the quarterbacks coach role.
Enter Trenton Kirklin, a familiar face with deep roots in both Vanderbilt and Tennessee football. Kirklin, a four-year veteran of the Commodores' offensive staff, is stepping into the spotlight as the new quarterbacks coach. And this is the part most people miss: Kirklin isn't just another coach—he's a former high school offensive coordinator for Trent Dilfer at Lipscomb Academy, where they dominated the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Championships. Before Nashville, Kirklin honed his craft in Texas, coaching at his alma mater, Borger, and other high schools like McKinney and New Braunfels. His playing days as a high school quarterback in the Lone Star State were cut short by injury, but his coaching career has been anything but.
Kirklin joined Lea's staff in 2022 as an offensive analyst, working closely with Altman and the quarterbacks. Now, he’s taking the reins as Vanderbilt prepares for a new era under center. The 2026 season will mark the end of the Diego Pavia era, the undersized quarterback who defied the odds to become a Heisman Trophy finalist and lead the Commodores to an average of 38.5 points per game. Here’s the controversial question: Can Kirklin help the next quarterback replicate that success, or will the offense take a step back?**
Vanderbilt’s 2026 schedule isn’t for the faint of heart. They open at home against Austin Peay, an FCS powerhouse led by Jeff Faris, before hosting Delaware and North Carolina State. Then, it’s straight into the SEC gauntlet, starting with Alex Golesh’s Auburn squad. The Commodores will also face reigning SEC Champion Georgia and a Pete Golding-led Ole Miss team fresh off a CFP Semifinals run. Bold prediction: With Lea’s long-term contract extension and a new state-of-the-art facility in the works, Vanderbilt is betting big on its future. But will these changes pay off? Let us know what you think in the comments—is Kirklin the right man for the job, or is this a risky move for the Commodores?
