Diego Pavia isn’t just Vanderbilt’s quarterback—he’s a movement. A beacon of hope for JUCO athletes pushing to redefine eligibility rules. You know, last season, he was the engine of the Commodores’ offense, slinging 2,293 yards and 20 TDs with only 4 picks. But he didn’t stop there. And he torched defenses on the ground too, leading Clark Lea‘s Vandy with 800 rushing yards along with 8 scores. Safe to say, his jaw-dropping performance against Bama sent shockwaves through the SEC and ignited early Heisman chatter. And now, the expectations are sky-high. But an SEC insider just dropped a bold prediction, turning up the pressure. So, the spotlight is on Pavia—will he rise to the moment or crack under the weight?

Recently, on an episode of That SEC Football podcast, SEC Mike and Cousin Shane dived into Vanderbilt’s 2025 outlook. And when the conversation turned to Clark Lea’s squad, Shane made a bold prediction. He said, “I feel like their season that, like, if we’re going to look back at ‘25 and judge how good or bad their season was, yeah, it’s going to be based, in my opinion, off the first four games. And, you know, you beat Virginia Tech, you can beat South Carolina. If you do that—not saying they’re going to, but if they do that—and they start out 5-0, then all of a sudden, you’re looking at a pivotal season in Vanderbilt’s future.”

Adding, “The groundwork is being laid right now by Pavia & Company. And I’m kind of surprised that much production is returning, especially with what I’ve seen with Coach Lea’s teams in the past. This is a new trend that I’m sure he’s enjoying up there.” As of now, the message is clear—Vanderbilt has a shot to change the narrative.

However, Shane didn’t stop there. He doubled down on his take, making it clear that Vanderbilt isn’t a team to overlook. He said, “But yeah, you talk about a team that was scary last year. Nobody wanted to play them. Well, that team just got better, and they’re coming back in 2025. And by God, if you got them on your schedule, you better be ready because every game is like their Super Bowl.” Looks like Vandy isn’t just aiming to compete—they’re out to prove a point.

And Pavia appears to be the cause of this change. However, praising his QB1, Clark Lea once said, “Diego is the kind of competitor every coach wants on their team. His leadership, toughness, and ability to make plays under pressure set him apart.” But even the toughest competitors have their breaking points. Although Pavia carried Vanderbilt all season, his weaknesses were brutally exposed in a crushing 7-28 loss to SC. On top of that, he was sacked twice, suffered a lower-body injury, and suddenly, his 2025 outlook looked shaky, given his previous performance.

But don’t worry—after all the battles he’s fought, leading the Commodores to their best start, cracking the AP Top 25 twice, and choosing to return, Pavia has proven his resilience. However, one big question looms—can he still be that guy for Vandy? It’s a strange debate, as not everyone is convinced. And according to insider Corey Burton, Pavia isn’t enough to bolster Vanderbilt‘s QB corps.

Testing of Clark Lea’s dilemma

Shedding light on the shaky trust in Pavia, Corey Burton didn’t hold back on his Locked-On Vandy podcast. He stated, referring to Pavia, “He’s going to try; I don’t know how successful he’ll be, but you know he’s got to try. So, this is going to be a good pivotal year for him, but what’s behind him? Who’s going to win the QB2 job? That’s the question that we’ve got to answer because, you know, with Pavia getting banged up, with Pavia, you know, playing the way he plays, I think it’s important to have a quality backup that’s pretty similar and can give you a similar impact.” As of now, Burton’s words raise a valid concern—can Vandy afford to lean entirely on Pavia, or is it time to secure a solid Plan B?

Not sure, but Diego Pavia left it all on the field in 2024. Now, at what cost? He took a beating, fought through injuries, and kept pushing forward. Although his grit is unquestionable, the danger ahead is real. And while the hits won’t stop in 2025, the risk is even higher. As of now, if Clark Lea doesn’t find a way to protect his $1.6 M QB, it could spell disaster. A major injury could sideline Pavia for weeks, sending Vanderbilt’s season into chaos.

And Burton put it best, saying, “The way they handled the quarterback position and some of that could have just been Diego Pavia going into the injury tent and saying, hey sc— you guys, I’m not coming out of this game, and you know that wouldn’t surprise me either.” Safe to say, that’s Pavia in a nutshell—tough, fearless, and unwilling to quit, but that same mentality could spell disaster.

That being said, if history repeats itself, Vandy could be walking a tightrope without a safety net. And if Pavia goes down again, Clark Lea and his team might need more than just luck to survive the season.