Diego Pavia

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Diego Pavia
Diego Pavia 2022 Quick Lane Bowl MVP (cropped).jpg
Diego Pavia after being named most valuable player in the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl
Vanderbilt Commodores–No. 2
Position Quarterback
ClassGraduate
Personal information
Born: (2001-04-30) April 30, 2001 (age 24)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight207 lb (94 kg)
Career history
College
High school Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Career highlights and awards

Diego Pavia (born April 30, 2001) is an American college football quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He previously played for New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State.

Contents

Early life

Pavia attended Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he completed 108 of 165 pass attempts for 1,485 yards and 14 touchdowns to five interceptions. He also rushed for 464 yards and nine touchdowns. [1]

Pavia received no scholarship offers from any NCAA Division I school, and only two Division II schools — Western Colorado and Western New Mexico — offered him a chance to play quarterback. In a 2024 ESPN story, Pavia recalled, "I just think they were scared of my height. People like to focus on height, weight and 40-yard dash times. I like to go off film. I move well. I feel like I throw the ball well. I feel like I run well. I just don't have God-given height and weight." [2] He committed to play JUCO football at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI). [3]

College career

New Mexico Military Institute

In Pavia's career at NMMI, he completed 189 of his 323 passing attempts for 2,644 yards and 31 touchdowns to just four interceptions. He also rushed for 1,107 yards and 15 touchdowns. [4] In 2021, Pavia's last season at NMMI, he led the Broncos to the NJCAA National Football Championship. [5] He threw for 21 touchdowns in the championship season while being intercepted only once, and threw for two touchdowns and ran for one in the Broncos' 31–13 championship game win against Iowa Western. [6]

Going into the championship game, New Mexico State University head coach Jerry Kill and offensive coordinator Tim Beck had decided to offer a scholarship to Iowa Western quarterback Nate Glantz. They had even called Iowa Western's head coach before the game to tell him that they planned to make their offer on the day after the game, and then went to a local Hooters to watch the game. According to CBS Sports journalist Dennis Dodd, "Besides greasy fingers from the wings, they also came out transformed. The quarterback for the winning team that day, New Mexico Military Institute, changed their minds." In Dodd's story, Beck recalled, "As we're watching the game and we're looking at each other ... we say, 'We're recruiting the wrong guy.'" Kill and Beck then told Iowa Western's coach that they were no longer interested in Glantz, who went on to play at FCS Lindenwood. [6]

New Mexico State

Pavia committed to play college football at New Mexico State. [7] He got his first start with the Aggies in the team's season opener against Nevada, but struggled heavily, turning the ball over four times in the first half, and was benched in a 23–13 loss. [8] Pavia got his next start against UTEP and had a chance to tie the game at UTEP's 13 yard line but he was strip-sacked with three seconds left to end the game. [9] He had a career night against Liberty as the Aggies were 24.5 point underdogs; Pavia completed 16 of 21 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns to help his team shock Liberty. He also rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns. [10] For his performance against Liberty Pavia was named the Manning Quarterback of the Week. [11] In the season finale against Valparaiso, Pavia went nine for 13 on his passing attempts for 323 yards and four touchdowns, along with one rushing touchdown as he left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, as New Mexico State won 65–3 to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2017. [12] In the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl against Bowling Green, Pavia completed 17 of 29 passing attempts for 167 yards and two touchdowns to just one interception, where he also rushed for 65 yards. [13] Pavia recovered his own fumble late in the fourth quarter to give the Aggies a first down and clinch the 24–19 win, earning Quick Lane Bowl MVP honors. [14] Pavia finished the season completing 101 of 190 pass attempts for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns to six interceptions. He also rushed for 508 yards and six touchdowns. [15] For his performance on the year, he was named All-Independent first team by College Football Network. [16]

On December 23, 2023, Pavia announced that he would be entering the transfer portal. [17] He returned to NMSU for the spring semester to graduate. During a visit to Nevada, Pavia verbally committed to play for the Wolf Pack, and called Beck to let him know. A few minutes later, with Pavia still on the campus, Kill called to tell Pavia that he would be joining the Vanderbilt staff, and that he expected to see Pavia there. [2]

Vanderbilt

2024

On January 18, 2024, Pavia announced that he would transfer to Vanderbilt, following Kill there. He was also joined by offensive coordinator Tim Beck and teammate Eli Stowers. [18] Upon arriving at Vanderbilt, he entered a quarterback position battle with Nate Johnson, a transfer from Utah. [19] At the end of fall camp, Pavia was named the starting quarterback for the home opener against Virginia Tech. Drew Dickey was named his backup and Johnson fell to third-string. [20] On August 31, Vanderbilt opened the season at home as underdogs against Virginia Tech. Shockingly, Vanderbilt jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first half with Pavia throwing a touchdown to Quincy Skinner Jr. Virginia Tech managed a comeback, however, and the Commodores found themselves trailing 27-20 late in the fourth quarter. Pavia managed to the tie the game in the final minutes with a touchdown pass to Sedrick Alexander, forcing overtime. In the first overtime period, Pavia scored a rushing touchdown, securing a 34-27 win. [21] [22] Pavia finished the game 12-of-16 for 190 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 104 yards and a touchdown. [23] On September 7, Pavia went 10-of-13 for 83 yards while rushing for another 51 yards and a touchdown as Vanderbilt blew out Alcorn State 55-0. [24]

Despite starting 2-0, Pavia and the Commodores began to struggle. On September 14, Vanderbilt went on the road at Georgia State and found themselves trailing 22-10 in the fourth quarter despite Pavia having a touchdown pass to Junior Sherrill. The Commodores scored 22 points in the fourth quarter in a late rally, including Pavia's touchdown pass to Eli Stowers, but a late Georgia State touchdown on busted coverage sealed a 36-32 loss. [25] In the loss, Pavia went 18-of-33 for 270 yards and two touchdowns with 40 rushing yards, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback. [26] On September 21, the Commodores went on the road yet again to face No. 7 Missouri as massive underdogs. Pavia opened the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Joseph McVay in the first quarter, putting Missouri on potential upset alert. Missouri managed to rally in the second half, forcing Pavia to lead a game-tying drive in the third quarter. Heading into overtime at 20-20, Pavia threw a touchdown to Gabe Fisher to take a 27-20 lead. Missouri answered and Brock Taylor missed a field goal in double overtime to seal a heartbreaking 30-27 loss. [27] [28] Pavia finished the game 14-of-23 for 178 yards and two touchdowns, adding 84 yards rushing. [29]

On October 5, 2024, Pavia led Vanderbilt to an upset victory over No. 1 Alabama, Vanderbilt's first win over a top-5 team in program history. [30] In the game, he went 16-of-20 for 252 yards and two touchdowns while running for 56 yards. [31]

In November 2024, while playing at Vanderbilt, Pavia filed a lawsuit against the NCAA alleging that NCAA NIL policies for redshirts and Juco years violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. [32]

College statistics

SeasonTeamGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2020 New Mexico Military884–46811360.29168.1103152.2864495.28
2021 New Mexico Military 131312–112121556.31,7288.0211155.11106586.07
2022 New Mexico State 1284–410119053.21,4507.6136133.5935085.56
2023 New Mexico State 151510–522136660.42,9738.1269147.11769235.27
2024 Vanderbilt 13137–617729859.42,2937.7204143.51938004.18
2025 Vanderbilt 111–0202580.027511.030212.08445.50
SWJCFC Career 212116–518932857.62,6448.1314154.11961,1075.615
Career 413722–1551987959.06,9918.06219144.84702,2764.921

References

  1. ↑ "Diego Pavia's Stats". MaxPreps. Retrieved July 24, 2023.[ better source needed ][ better source needed ]
  2. 1 2 Schlabach, Mark (October 8, 2024). "How Vanderbilt turned to New Mexico State for the coaches and QB who helped beat Alabama". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ Benson, Bradley (May 18, 2022). "Albuquerque native is Aggies top quarterback, per coach". KRQE. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Diego Pavia". NMMI Athletics. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. ↑ Ortega, Brandon (December 21, 2021). "Catching up with National Champ Diego Pavia". KOB.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Dodd, Dennis (October 9, 2024). "Diego Pavia's rise: The QB who once peed on a rival's logo leaves his mark after wild journey to Vanderbilt". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ Tate, Van (January 13, 2022). "Diego Pavia chooses New Mexico State". KRQE. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  8. ↑ Schad, Chris (August 28, 2022). "What did the Gophers learn from New Mexico State's opener?". Bring Me The Sports on SI. SI.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ Bloomquist, Bret (September 10, 2022). "UTEP Miners get defense sorted out, top New Mexico State Aggies". El Paso Times. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Pavia accounts for 6 TDs in NMSU's 49–14 win over Liberty". CBS Sports. Associated Press. November 26, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Diego Pavia Earns Manning Award Quarterback of the Week Honor". allstatesugarbowl.org. November 30, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ Groves, Jason. "New Mexico State beats Valparaiso to close 6–6 regular season". Las Cruces Sun News. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Groves, Jason. "New Mexico State beats Bowling Green in 2022 Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit". Las Cruces Sun News. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  14. ↑ Graham, Andrew. "New Mexico State holds off mistake-prone Bowling Green to win Quick Lane Bowl". Detroit News. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Diego Pavia". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  16. ↑ Mellor, Cam (December 26, 2022). "2022 All-Independent College Football Team and Individual Honors". College Football Network. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  17. ↑ Rudolph, Justin (December 23, 2023). "New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia enters NCAA Transfer Portal". On3.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  18. ↑ Barral, Kevin (January 18, 2024). "Transfer Portal: New Mexico State QB Diego Pavia Commits to Vanderbilt". G5 Football Daily on SI. SI.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  19. ↑ Analyst, By David Hernandez, Lead Sports; Hernandez, David (August 13, 2024). "Film Room: The 'Maniac' Diego Pavia - The Vanderbilt Hustler" . Retrieved August 26, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ↑ "Vanderbilt football: Diego Pavia expected to start at QB in season opener vs. Virginia Tech". 247Sports. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Vanderbilt 34-27 Virginia Tech (Aug 31, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  22. ↑ Walker, Teresa M. (August 31, 2024). "Diego Pavia makes winning debut helping Vanderbilt stun Virginia Tech 34-27 in OT". AP News. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Vanderbilt 34-27 Virginia Tech (Aug 31, 2024) Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Vanderbilt 55-0 Alcorn State (Sep 7, 2024) Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Georgia State 36-32 Vanderbilt (Sep 14, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Georgia State 36-32 Vanderbilt (Sep 14, 2024) Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Missouri 30-27 Vanderbilt (Sep 21, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Blake Craig overcomes 3 FG misses, hits in 2OT to deliver No. 7 Missouri 30-27 win over Vanderbilt". CBSSports.com. September 22, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Missouri 30-27 Vanderbilt (Sep 21, 2024) Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Vandy upsets Bama for first win vs. No. 1 team". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Alabama at Vanderbilt Box Score, October 5, 2024". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Vandy QB Pavia suing NCAA over eligibility rules". ESPN.com. November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.

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