ATLANTA – Diego Pavia has unfinished business.
The Vanderbilt football quarterback has made waves throughout the last year. He beat Alabama, he won an eligibility lawsuit and he has made a number of colorful comments.
Now, he’s back for revenge — and a national championship.
“We left a lot on the table this year, going 7-6,” Pavia said at SEC football media days. “And so obviously, our goal is to win the national championship. … I’ve got to finish something that I started.”
Amid a massive crowd of reporters surrounding his table representing many SEC schools, Pavia also said he desired revenge against the teams he lost to a year ago, including Texas, LSU and Missouri. He wants another shot at wins against Auburn and Alabama, both of which the Commodores beat a year ago.
The crowd of reporters surrounding Pavia’s table never fully dissipated throughout his 20-minute podium session, exemplifying the increased interest Pavia has brought to the program.
How NIL helped Diego Pavia take Vanderbilt football players to UFC event
Among the NIL opportunities Pavia has seen this season was getting hooked up with tickets by Ike Epstein, the COO of UFC, to attend UFC Fight Night in Nashville on July 12. Pavia didn’t go alone. He took several offensive linemen, defensive players and wide receivers.
“I’m super blessed to know those guys,” Pavia said. “I feel like when you go to Vandy, all of a sudden, you know these people in these high spots, and just so amazing the alumni group that we have supporting us.”
The aftermath of Diego Pavia’s NCAA lawsuit
In December, Pavia received an injunction stemming from his lawsuit against the NCAA, granting him an extra year of eligibility due to two years spent playing in junior college.
In his SEC football media day scrum, Pavia advocated for a “5-in-5” NCAA model where all athletes have five years of eligibility, with no redshirts.
But for now, he’s focused on this year. He knows from the long days waiting for a lawsuit verdict, stuck in limbo, that no next football game is guaranteed.
“You never know when it’s your last play, and so I play balls to the wall every day,” Pavia said.
There could still be another level Pavia has in him. Although he’s an experienced sixth-year senior, he has sometimes struggled to stay healthy. That’s been a focus for him this year. He sat out the spring game in hopes that it would preserve his body for bigger games.
Vanderbilt brought in several top offensive linemen in the transfer portal, including tackle Bryce Henderson and center Jordan White, to better protect Pavia in the primary offseason focus.
“This time last year, I was talking about a quarterback competition,” Clark Lea said. “He had yet to go through formal practice with our program. So I think there’s comfort in the system, comfort in the environment, comfort in connection with his teammates. He has been the leader, ever since his court case was approved … To see him at his best late in the season, we’ve strengthened around him in the offensive line, we feel like we return a receiver corps that’s going to help get the ball out of his hands.”
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Diego Pavia goals for Vanderbilt football include revenge, championship