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Diego Pavia
Diego Pavia (born February 16, 2002) is an American football quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He previously played for New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State. Early lifePavia was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico[citation needed] and attended Volcano Vista High School, where he completed 108 of his 165 pass attempts for 1,485 yards and 14 touchdowns to five interceptions. He also rushed for 464 yards and nine touchdowns.[2] 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."[3] He committed to play JUCO football at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI).[4] College careerNew Mexico Military InstituteIn 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.[5] In 2021, Pavia's last season at NMMI, he led the Broncos to the NJCAA National Football Championship.[6] 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.[7] 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.[7] New Mexico StatePavia committed to play college football at New Mexico State.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] He had a career night against Liberty as the Aggies were 24.5 point underdogs; Pavia completed 16 of his 21 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns to help his team shock Liberty. He also rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns.[11] For his performance against Liberty Pavia was named the Manning Quarterback of the Week.[12] 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.[13] In their bowl game against Bowling Green, Pavia completed 17 of his 29 passing attempts for 167 yards and two touchdowns to just one interception, where he also rushed for 65 yards.[14] 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.[15] Pavia finished the season completing 101 of his 190 pass attempts for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns to six interceptions. He also rushed for 508 yards and six touchdowns.[16] For his performance on the year, he was named All-Independent first team by College Football Network.[17] On December 23, 2023, Pavia announced that he would be entering the transfer portal.[18] 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.[3] VanderbiltOn January 18, 2024, Pavia announced that he would transfer to Vanderbilt, following Kill there.[19] 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.[20] In the game, he went 16-of-20 for 252 yards and two touchdowns while running for 56 yards.[21] 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.[22] College statistics
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