DIEGO PAVIA WILLING COMMODORES TO BE WINNERS
DIEGO PAVIA WILLING COMMODORES TO BE WINNERS
By Joey Johnston
In its 40-game history, the ReliaQuest Bowl has hosted All-Americans, future first-round draft picks and some of college football's most familiar names.
But there has not been anyone quite like Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
Pavia, the Heisman Trophy runner-up who helped transform the Commodores from 2-10 before his arrival to a breakout 10-2 finish, will lead Vanderbilt against the Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4) in the Dec. 31 game at Raymond James Stadium.
If you look at Pavia, barely 6-feet tall, he might not catch your eye. But with a mix of athleticism, charisma, outrageousness and sheer force of will, he has become one of the game's most interesting players.
Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea noticed something special when examining Pavia's performance in New Mexico State's 2023 upset of Auburn, which also featured another eventual Vanderbilt import, tight end Eli Stowers. Lea watched the film nine or 10 times. Pavia, a lightly regarded prospect who began in junior college, was a compelling performer.
Lea reached out in the transfer portal and Vanderbilt football has never been the same.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime team for Vanderbilt University and Diego Pavia has brought so much attitude,'' SEC Network analyst Roman Harper said. "I give Clark Lea so much credit because of his ability to humble himself and say, 'I need this player to be all of who he is, and we're going to accept him for who he is.' They have leaned on other players in that locker room, but Diego Pavia has been the show horse.''
Entering the bowl season, Pavia was No. 3 in total offense (4,018 yards, including 826 on the ground) and No. 4 in passer rating (171.5) with 36 total touchdowns. Before Pavia's arrival, Vanderbilt's program had three winning seasons in 40 years. Now it has two straight (7-6 and 10-2).
"Diego Pavia is the best player in the country,'' Lea said flatly, before Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was voted winner of the Heisman Trophy.
Both Pavia and Mendoza have done amazing things in turning around programs that were not associated with winning. Pavia has accomplished his feats with panache and a devil-may-care glint in his eyes.
"I just hope everyone looks at the stats,'' Pavia said before the Heisman announcement. "You know, I think numbers speak for themselves, and obviously the best player in the country goes off the numbers and tape. Go look at that. That's not me being cocky or arrogant, I just feel like that's point blank, and I hope they see it that way.''
Regardless of awards, Pavia will always have a special place in recent college football lore, especially when his legend truly began in 2024 with a 40-35 upset of Alabama.
"Diego has such a great competitive personality,'' Lea said. "When people watch him play, they can feel it. He's a great creator. He's a great facilitator. He improvises as good as anybody in the country and you're holding your breath every time he takes a snap. Those process elements make him really special, but he puts a lot of work into his performance and that has allowed him to be as good as he is.
"It's all something unique to Diego. There's probably not a more polarizing personality in our conference, which says a lot, right? We've got to some away stadiums and there has been some real hatred there. But when we're at home, it's a total party and celebration. He has created a real celebrity for himself, not that it's his focus. But I'm excited for the people of Tampa to see it, too. I mean, this kid is really special and he needs to be celebrated.''
Unless you're the Iowa Hawkeyes.
"A good friend of mine who lives down here (in the Tampa Bay Area) said Diego Pavia reminds him of Baker Mayfield (former Heisman Trophy winner, now of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers),'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "I was like, 'Oh crap.' But yeah, I know that Diego is a total winner.
"The impact he has had on the Vanderbilt team is very obvious. That's what great quarterbacks do, no matter their style of play. They impact the program and the team. He has clearly done just that - with a ton of personality. He will be a real challenge for us.''