They say, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ and Diego Pavia is the living embodiment of that saying. For a guy who has been practicing wrestling since three, it seems like no big deal. The quarterback has not only snapped Vanderbilt’s 40-year bowl drought, leading them to a game against Bama, but he also snagged MVP honors in the Birmingham Bowl. But let’s be real, his journey hasn’t been a cakewalk. He even had to go toe-to-toe with the NCAA, fighting for a waiver that would allow him to play another year after his JUCO stint. Amidst all the legal drama, some pretty interesting stories about his childhood have come to light.

Turns out, this guy had some fun sibling rivalry growing up. He told The Roy Rundown podcast last month, “It was me and my two older brothers for the longest, though my sister’s like 12 years younger than me. They just really beat me up and showed me the way. You know how big brothers are; they pick on you until you’re too big to get picked on.” Classic sibling stuff, right?

But despite the tough love, his brothers, Roel Jr. and Javier have always been his biggest supporters. As Roel once said, “I want them to win as much as they do.” That’s true brotherhood right there. And then there’s this hilarious story about his mom, Antoinette Padilla.

Pavia revealed, “I’ve been playing football since I was six years old. My mom lied on my birth certificate when I was six so I could play because the minimum age was seven. She lied about that and helped me out.” Now this lighthearted anecdote about his mom’s little white lie came to light amidst his legal battle with the NCAA, adding another layer to his already fascinating story.

Diego Pavia made headlines this December when the NCAA granted him an extra year of eligibility. Pavia argued that the time he spent at junior college shouldn’t count against his eligibility clock, especially considering the NIL era. The NCAA agreed, giving him a second chance to shine.

The rules usually allow for five years to play four seasons, but Pavia’s journey has been anything but typical. He played two seasons at New Mexico State, followed by another two at a junior college in New Mexico. He then transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024, where he led the Commodores to their best regular season record (6-6) since 2018.

Pavia quickly became the talk of the town. His impressive performance against Alabama, in particular, turned heads and sparked Heisman Trophy buzz. He even cracked the top three in The Athletic’s Heisman straw poll, trailing only Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty, and Cam Ward. CBS Sports’ Danny Kanell also included him in his Heisman Top 5. Pavia’s meteoric rise has been undeniable. With another year under his belt, it looks like he is poised for even greater success.

Diego Pavia’s plan for the future

Diego Pavia had a peculiar season, displaying moments of brilliance but also facing some challenging times. Nevertheless, he is prepared to leave the past behind and make the most of his final season with Vanderbilt. However, the road ahead won’t be easy. Vanderbilt’s schedule is unforgiving, starting with a game against Charleston Southern. From there, they will face the top six SEC finishers of this season on the road. Pavia’s resilience will be tested as they encounter a series of demanding challenges.

Moreover, trips to Texas and Alabama will undoubtedly be daunting for Vanderbilt, and their second-week matchup against Virginia Tech won’t be a walk in the park either. Despite this demanding schedule, Pavia’s leadership could change the game. If he can lead Vandy to victories against a few prominent teams, it will be impossible to overlook him.

After all, he is the same person who guided them to their first winning season since 2013, and with a renewed determination following his NCAA waiver, he is hungry for more.

Looking ahead, Pavia has big plans for Vanderbilt football in 2025. He isn’t holding back when it comes to his ambitions: “I want to win it all.” His confidence shines throughout his words as he eyes a championship run. “As long as the food chain is how it is—Coach (Clark) Lea, Coach (Jerry) Kill, and everyone stays—I’ll be here too. But I mean, other than that, I want to win it all.” This quote screams, ‘this is just the tip of the iceberg,’ and the QB is hungry for more.