This is a list of every Vanderbilt Commodores football team quarterback and the years they participated on the Vanderbilt Commodores football team. Vanderbilt quarterbacks have led Vanderbilt to 624 wins, 8 bowl games, and 4 bowl victories. Clyde Berryman selected Vanderbilt for two National Championships.
Five Vanderbilt quarterbacks have been taken in the National Football League draft since 1936. Including the NFL, Vanderbilt quarterbacks have also played professionally in the Arena Football League and United States Football League. 7 Vanderbilt quarterbacks went on to be head coaches in Division I-A or professional football. 2 Vanderbilt quarterbacks are members of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Vanderbilt quarterbacks have played prominent roles in American society off the gridiron as well. Irby Curry, the starting quarterback for the "point-a-minute" 1915 Vanderbilt Commodores football team, served in World War I after graduating in 1916, dying in aerial combat in France. Rand Dixon was a decorated World War II veteran.
Main starting quarterbacks
1890 to 1894
The following players were the predominant quarters for the Commodores each season the team was a non-conference independent team, following the birth of Vanderbilt football. Name Years Started Notability References1890The quarterback of Vanderbilt's first game against Nashville (Peabody). He was later a law partner of state legislator Thomas James Tyne.1891First quarterback to play rival Sewanee.1892Said to be the first to dub Vanderbilt the Commodores in the Nashville Banner. First Vandy quarterback to play Tennessee.1893Son of Thomas H. Malone.1894He also coached the Vandy team in '93, and had before played for Amos Alonzo Stagg.
1895 to 1918
The following quarterbacks were the predominant quarters for the Commodores each season after the establishment of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association until the end of the war. Name Years Started Notability References1895–1896He won Bachelor of Ugliness, the most coveted award for a male Vanderbilt undergraduate.1897–1898Led team to its first conference title as Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion.1899–1900Transfer from LSU. Father of Frank Godchaux Jr.1901He weighed just 122 pounds.1902–1905First starting quarterback under coach Dan McGugin. 1912 All-time Vandy 2nd team. One time coach at Ole Miss.1906–1907All-Southern (1906) One time coach at The Citadel.1908–1911Considered one of the best quarterbacks in Vanderbilt's long history; he was the starter for the scoreless tie with defending national champion Yale at Yale Field. All-Southern (1910, 1911); All-American (1911). Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach. 1912 All-time Vandy 1st team. Associated Press Southeast Area All-Time football team 1869–1919 era. One of six players McGugin ranked as his best. 1934 All-time Vandy team. He was the head coach of Vanderbilt after McGugin, as well as during 1918.1912–1913Long time Memphis Tigers coach. Made drop kicks against Harvard and Michigan.1913All-Southern (1913). Kicked the field goal to beat Tennessee 7 to 6 in 1913.1914–1916 Known as "Rabbit". All-Southern (1915, 1916) and third-team All-American. Led the SIAA Champion "point a minute" team of 1915. A beloved player described as the one "who has most appealed to the imagination, admiration, and affection of the entire university community through the years." Curry was killed in aerial combat over France in the First World War. Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Namesake of Curry Field. Coach McGugin until his dying day had three pictures in his office, of Lincoln, General Lee, and Curry.19171918Won the Porter Cup
1919 to 1932
The following quarterbacks were the predominant quarters for the Commodores each season after the First World War and before the founding of the SEC in 1932. In 1922 the team joined the Southern Conference.
Name Years Started Notability References1919–1920All-Southern (1919).1921The first son to follow in his father's footsteps as a Vanderbilt football player. Godchaux was the second leading scorer on the SIAA champion team, behind only Rupert Smith.1921–1923He was captain of the 1923 football team and '22-'23 basketball team. Kuhn was quarterback for teams which won three straight conference titles, including the school's most recent. He was the starter for the scoreless tie with the Michigan Wolverines at the dedication of Dudley Field in 1922. Made Walter Camp's Honorable Mention in 1922, and Billy Evans's All-American. He was the recipient of the Porter Cup in 1923.1924Coached at Middle Tennessee State University when it was first dubbed the "Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders". Known as "Nig" due to his dark complexion. 1924–1925Starter for 1924 defeat of Minnesota, Vandy's first victory over a Western school. 1925–1927All-Southern (1926, 1927). All-American (1926, 1927). One of six players Dan McGugin ranked as his best he ever coached. College Football Hall of Fame (1962). Partly responsible for halfback James Armistead leading the nation in scoring in 1927. Spears was fast and rarely threw an interception.1928He took over the duties once Spears graduated. Formerly a running back, he led the nation in scoring in 1927.1929–1930Flipped three touchdowns in the 33 to 7 win over Minnesota in 1930.1930–1932He always played without a helmet.
1933 to 1955
The following players were the predominant quarters for the Commodores each season the team was a member of the Southeastern Conference, until its first bowl victory in the 1955 Gator Bowl. Name Years Started Notability References1933–1935Broke off an 80-yard run against Cincinnati in 1934. Decorated World War II veteran. Florida Gators assistant.1936–1937Known as "Lunny", was 5'6" and 145 pounds. Led the team over LSU in 1937.1937–1938193919401941–1942National Football League player. Drafted 10th overall in the 1943 NFL draft.194319441945He came to Vanderbilt on a football scholarship. He started the first Vanderbilt game he ever saw as a blocking back in its single wing offense. Successful businessman as founder of Delta Coals, Incorporated. Vandy Athletics Hall of Fame.1946–1947, 1949 19481950–19511st Overall pick of the 1952 NFL draft. SEC's Most Valuable Player (1951). 2nd-team All-American. He threw for 1,609 yards and 13 touchdowns in 1951. Twice All-Pro and twice a Pro Bowl selection. NFL champion (1963). Vandy Athletics Hall of Fame. SEC Football Legend (1994). 19521953–19541955Led Vandy to its first bowl victory in the '55 Gator Bowl, coached by Arthur Guepe. Orr was a long time NFL official.
1956 to present
The following players were the predominant quarterbacks for the Commodores each season after the team's first bowl victory in the 1955 Gator Bowl.