The 2-10 Vanderbilt Commodores had another disappointing season in the SEC, finishing last in the SEC East.
Their offense struggled, finishing 112th in yards per game with 318.9 and 103rd in points per game with 22.8.
They lost their top two quarterbacks to the transfer portal. AJ Swann transferred to LSU, and Ken Seals transferred to TCU.
They added Nate Johnson from Utah, and they recently added a former starter from Conference USA.
The Vanderbilt Commodores added New Mexico State’s QB from the transfer portal.
Vanderbilt added Diego Pavia from the transfer portal. Pavia was the starting quarterback for New Mexico State for the last two seasons and started his collegiate career at New Mexico Military Institute.
Here’s what Pavia did in his collegiate football career.
He started his football career at New Mexico Military Institute.
Diego Pavia committed to play JUCO football at New Mexico Military Institute for the 2020 season. NMMI went 5-4. Pavia appeared in eight games. He completed 68 out of 113 pass attempts for 916 yards and threw ten touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 449 yards on 86 attempts and eight touchdowns.
Pavia appeared in every game in 2021. Pavia led NMMI to a 12-1 record and a National Championship victory.
He completed 121 out of 215 pass attempts for 1,728 yards and threw 21 touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 658 yards on 110 attempts and seven touchdowns.
Pavia entered the transfer portal after the conclusion of the 2021 season.
He transferred to New Mexico State.
Pavia transferred to New Mexico State for the 2022 season. New Mexico State went 7-6. Pavia appeared in 12 games and started eight. He completed 101 out of 190 pass attempts for 1,450 yards and threw 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 508 yards on 93 attempts and six touchdowns.
He was named the MVP of the Quick Lane Bowl.
Pavia appeared in 15 games in 2023. He led New Mexico State to a 10-5 record. They lost to Liberty in the CUSA Championship and Fresno State in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl.
He was named the All-Conference Second-Team and was Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year.
He completed 221 out of 336 pass attempts for 2,973 yards and threw 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 923 yards on 176 attempts and seven touchdowns.
Pavia will have to earn the quarterback job.
Diego Pavia will have to earn the starting job for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Pavia will compete against Nate Johnson and Drew Dickey for the starting job.
Does Diego Pavia have what it takes to be a starting QB in the SEC and turn the struggling Vanderbilt program around?
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