Diego Pavia is saved for another year now. A Tennessee court has granted the standout Vanderbilt quarterback a temporary injunction against the NCAA’s eligibility rules, marking an exceptional move in collegiate-level football. Pavia, who played two years in junior college and three years in Division I, legally opposed the NCAA’s questionable norm that counts junior college seasons against an athlete’s eligibility timeline. NCAA allowed athletes to play five calendar years to play four seasons. However, as the federal court verdict went in his favor, it’s safe to say the kid will shine more in another terrific season next year for the Commodores.

Pavia can make his Vanderbilt resume a stepping stone for riding a higher ladder in his career, but he is seemingly not going to do that. Speculations run rampant, suggesting he’ll stay in Nashville and look to mount a better season under former New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill, who recruited him in the SEC last spring. He has been significantly bright throughout the regular season. But football is a team game. He needs support to excel in his position and chisel out the best. ‘

‘He took the league by storm early, but he was able to sustain it, the thing with Vandy is they didn’t have the depth to sustain late in the season if Diego Pavia gets some help around him, especially a receiver spot, he won’t have to do as much as he did this past season where it was all on his shoulders,” Corey Burton foresees a improved future both for the QB and the team as the transfer portal has been on the charge.

As long as Pavia’s status was not cleared, there had been some temporary slump in the portal. Top graded offensive players and the key targets of the Commodores 2025 class, Arkansas wide receiver Isaiah Sategna and USC offensive lineman Mason Murphy, recently had a visit on the campus, but they walked out without committing or dishing out any early hints of that sort.

With Pavia back in the fold, they will certainly think twice before sleeping on the offers. Also, his win in the lawsuit can inspire other athletes to force the NCAA to reevaluate its eligibility framework, infusing more talents for a longer term in the college football periphery. Pavia remains a trailblazer both on and off the field.

”He had no help on the outside. Receivers couldn’t get separation. They just couldn’t push the ball downfield as effectively as they needed. That’s going to be the biggest thing they look to improve on in spring and fall camp and going into next season if they want to continue all this. Still, Diego Pavia knows that this coaching staff knows that, and they’re going to [do it], now that he’s coming back. They have some resolution, and they’re going to attack the portal with that in mind,” Burton reflected on the strategic recruitment call in his Locked on SEC podcast.

It’s a huge relief for Lea and the team. The situation was tricky as the suing process was supposed to be lengthy and it could hold off a year from Pavia’s collegiate career. However, coach Clark Lea remained optimistic among the odds and got his reward back.

Clark Lea felt overwhelmed at Diego Pavia’s return

After uprooting Pavia from New Mexico State last offseason, Lea trained him to be a beast. While it’s true that the team’s weak depth chart couldn’t help him much in the season, the Commodores’ superior coaching, friendly spirit, and enough leeway let him bloom comfortably. He led Vanderbilt to its first bowl game since 2018 and has completed 59.2% of his passes for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns against four interceptions while putting together 716 yards rushing and six touchdowns on the ground. They are set to another riveting game on Dec. 27 in the Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Tech. Pavia is quite certainly expected to take center stage, and it’s under Lea.

This is the level of supremacy and trust the QB-coach relationship fostered throughout their tenure. Perhaps the happiest man after getting the injection news is the Vanderbilt coach. Lea said on Wednesday night that nothing could be greater for the team at the moment. Pavia’s extended eligibility will bring many more feel-good moments for the team on the field, and he is looking forward to it.

NCAA is clearly upset with the trademark ruling, but that barely made any sense to a team that is looking to a comeback season in 2025 and craving their best quarterback for that matter.