Quarterbacks come and go in college football. Even then, good quarterbacks are a rare stock. But a generational quarterback comes once in maybe a decade. So, these are the three categories in which we can group most of the QBs in college football. But what if there is a QB who can’t be grouped in any of these categories? What happens when all the stats and analysis fail to account for the capabilities of a QB and don’t do him justice?

The case today with Diego Pavia is something of a similar anomaly. He is someone who has stats in college that doesn’t quite scream a ‘generational QB. Nor does he have the physical build to remain in conversations with future NFL scouts. But, even then, when you have an 80% pass completion rate against a team like Alabama, and you have led your team to a win for the first time in 40 years, stats certainly go on the back burner. Can it be a fluke? Or does Pavia deserve to be in the mainstream conversation?

Eric Cain of ‘Locked on Vols’ dismissed the hype surrounding Pavia and provided another name who, in his words, is ‘far better than Pavia.’ “If I’m starting a football team tomorrow for the 2025 season, there’s no way in heck I’m taking Diego Pavia over Nico Iamaleava if given the option between the two quarterbacks…we saw it in the Tennessee game when you get after him when you knock him around a little bit; he is not a very good quarterback when he’s forced to play in between the tackles.” Sure, Nico Iamaleava is good, and considering everything, a case can certainly be made for Nico. But is he better than Pavia?

Well, if we consider only the stats of both the players. Nico had a decent 63.8% pass completion rate for 2,616 yards gained and had a QB rating of 70.5. He also rushed for 358 yards in 109 carries, scoring a total of 22 TDs (passing included). On the other hand, Pavia had a pass completion rate of 59.4% for 2,293 yards. Furthermore, his rushing game was something on another level, as he completed 800 yards on 193 carries for Vanderbilt. Some analysts are even going as far as to say that he should be drafted as a running back in the NFL. In total, he had 26 touchdowns, too, with a QB rating of 74.6. Well, stats do favor Pavia here. But still, there may be a catch. Here’s why.

Pavia has a frame standing at 6 feet and 205 lbs that can sometimes be said to be non-NFL-like. Eric Cain said just that. “In my opinion, is he an NFL-style quarterback? Absolutely not. He is measurable at 6 feet, 200 lbs; no he is not going to be a great NFL quarterback; that’s why he’s playing like it’s his ninth year of college football“. But how much truth is there in this statement?

Diego Pavia’s legacy at Vanderbilt

First and foremost, Diego Pavia is a dual-threat QB, which is something of a plus in QB. This way, he can be utilized in multiple RPO schemes ranging from air raid offense to pro-style spread offense used by the likes of Lane Kiffin. Furthermore, he makes his presence known on the field with his athleticism and leadership. He is a type of quarterback who is tough as a rock and has the ability to withstand extreme pressure and produce those clutch moments. Surely, that counts for something, right? But wait, there’s more.

This is the quarterback who has stirred up the fanbase of a college that didn’t see success for the majority of years. He is someone who has provided that spark back to a college that is dreaming again. Even if he doesn’t make it to the NFL, his legacy will still be long-lived, and no comparison can take his achievements away. Be that as it may, Vanderbilt and Clark Lea still have to consider a long-term option since Pavia will be entering his final year in 2025 to build on the future. And that may be easier said than done.