League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Vanderbilt football prepares for the 2026 season with a new linebacking corps

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 31, 2026, 11:00 PM

Last updated Aug 31, 2026

Vanderbilt football prepares for the 2026 season with a new linebacking corps

Summary

Vanderbilt enters the 2026 season with a stable core of linebackers despite the departure of Langston Patterson. Bryan Longwell, Nick Rinaldi, and Bryce Cowan return as the primary options for the defensive scheme. Longwell returns as a veteran presence after recording significant tackle numbers last season. Rinaldi and Cowan are expected to see expanded workloads as the coaching staff rotates personnel in the base defense. Other players including Austin Howard, Tate Hamby, and Jamison Curtis are competing for depth roles. The team aims to maintain the strength of its defensive group as the season schedule begins.

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Status Watch

•Bryan Longwell remains the primary linebacker after recording strong tackle totals in 2025.
•Nick Rinaldi and Bryce Cowan are positioned for larger roles in the defensive rotation.
•Tate Hamby moved from safety to linebacker to provide additional coverage versatility.
•Austin Howard and Jamison Curtis are competing for depth minutes in the linebacker room.

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