Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia couldn’t have written a better debut script, helping guide his team to a 34-27 OT win over ACC dark horses Virginia Tech last Saturday, scoring the OT touchdown on a keeper play.
It was a momentous win for the Commodores, arguably their best under head coach Clark Lea. Pavia, a transfer from New Mexico State this offseason, had an excellent first game, throwing for 190 yards and two touchdowns while adding a touchdown on the ground and 104 rushing yards. On Wednesday, Diego Pavia explained what motivated his performance on SEC Network’s Out of Pocket.
Virginia Tech Player’s Comment Fired Diego Pavia Up
In the first game as a Power 4 Conference quarterback, it’s likely Diego Pavia didn’t need much firing up. A three-star prospect from the class of 2020, the New Mexico native played for the Aggies from 2022-2023. Getting an opportunity to play in one of the best conferences in college football is the opportunity Pavia wanted to show what he can do. So when he heard that he had been called a “Poor Man’s Trace McSorley,” it fired him up even more to show the Hokies and the world who he really was.
McSorley was a good quarterback at the college level. He helped Penn State win the Big Ten Conference in 2016. In his four seasons with the Nittany Lions, he had 9,899 passing yards and 107 passing and rushing touchdowns combined.
Speaking on comparisons, Pavia said he was more like “Johnny Football,” Texas A&M and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel, who played for the Aggies from 2011-2013.
Vandy QB Diego Pavia on 'Poor Man's Trace McSorley' comment:
“It was through the grapevine, so I had to show them what I do. I feel like I’m more of a comparison to Johnny Football. That’s who I am.” 🔥
(via @SECNetwork, h/t @rwweinstein) https://t.co/W8zx3bdkZf pic.twitter.com/sBo1eF3cfR
— On3 (@On3sports) September 4, 2024
There are similarities between the two signal callers. Diego Pavia and Johnny Manziel both stand at 6-foot-0, with Pavia having the same dual-threat skills that Manziel had when he played. Like “Johnny Football,” the Vanderbilt quarterback wears the No.2 on his jersey. The way that Pavia moves with the ball when rushing also offers some similarities.
The most significant similarity between the two is their confidence. Speaking to the media after the win, Pavia said he believes he is the best quarterback in the country and has the mentality to do whatever it takes to win each week. He still has some way to go before we put his name at the upper echelons of the college football quarterback rankings. However, you can’t fault his game 1 performance as a Power 4 Conference player.
We Will Learn More About Diego Pavia After Week 3
The performance against Virginia Tech resulted in Diego Pavia being awarded the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. The next game looks like a cupcake against Elon, which we don’t usually associate with Vanderbilt. The Week 3 game is more challenging, being on the road against Georgia State, but the Commodores are still favored.
After Week 3, it’s into SEC play, where we will really see how good Diego Pavia can be. Pavia and Vandy don’t even get the luxury of being eased into conference play, with Missouri on the road and Alabama at home. Despite an impressive win over Virginia Tech, it’s unlikely the Commodores are going to win either game, but can Pavia put in strong performances, resulting in momentum into the other games?
The win against the Hokies gives Diego Pavia an outside chance to guide Vanderbilt to being bowl-game eligible since 2018. If that does happen, Pavia will be labeled as a Vandy legend.
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