Diego Pavia's role in the Vanderbilt football spring game wasn't that of starting quarterback. Instead, he stood alongside the coaching staff Pavia not playing in the spring game wasn't because of injury "There's more to lose than to gain," coach Clark Lea said after the spring game on Saturday We've limited him a bunch in scrimmage opportunities I think getting through the bulk of the work was important but there was nothing he was going to do today that was going to help us win in the fall." MORE ON PAVIA What Diego Pavia said about money, fame and why he's back as Vanderbilt football QB Pavia played just one drive and a half before exiting which in part led to the decision to keep him out of the spring game and other scrimmage action Even when Pavia did participate in practices and scrimmages, he wore a non-contact jersey. Part of what makes him so effective in real games is his ability to evade tacklers, but in the spring, the Commodores did not even force the issue "We've limited his reps quite a bit now," offensive coordinator Tim Beck said on April 10 "We let him go a little bit more today but we've got several other quarterbacks that we need to get reps so we don't let him go live at all just because we've seen him live for several years now so it's more important for them to get some of the live reps." Vanderbilt hopes a rebuilt offensive line can help Pavia stay healthier One impact addition came very late: South Dakota tackle Bryce Henderson Other transfers include Jordan White (Liberty) Isaia Glass (Oklahoma State) and Sterling Porcher (Texas Tech) White is familiar with Pavia from their days competing against each other in Conference USA Liberty faced Pavia's New Mexico State team once during the regular season in 2023 then again in the conference championship game "I've been in multiple programs with multiple quarterbacks got the first-team reps during the spring game and is currently the leader to be Vanderbilt's backup in 2025 should Pavia once again deal with injuries Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson Photo Source: Stephen Ferguson, New Mexico State University QB Diego Pavia with Quick Lane Bowl MVP Awards and Chancellor Dan Arvizu By: Ryan Magill*                                                                          Posted: 04/10/2025      Vanderbilt University (“Vanderbilt”) quarterback (“QB”) Diego Pavia went sixteen-of-twenty for 252 passing yards and two touchdowns as the Commodores beat the number-one ranked University of Alabama (“Alabama”) Crimson Tide for the first time in forty years.[2]  Vanderbilt long considered the football laughingstock of the Southeastern Conference (“SEC”) had its best season in over a decade in 2024.[3]  The beating heart of this turnaround was Pavia a five-foot-ten-inch tall QB who had no offers from Division One football programs upon graduating from high school.[4]  Before transferring to New Mexico State University and eventually becoming a graduate student at Vanderbilt Pavia began his career by winning the 2022 National Junior College Athletic Association (“NJCAA” or “JUCO”) National Championship game with his teammates at the New Mexico Military Institute (“NMMI”).[5]  In 2024 with his NCAA eligibility seemingly exhausted that October win over Alabama looked like it would be the highlight of Pavia’s short stint at Vanderbilt.[6] Pavia clearly had other plans; one month after Vanderbilt’s win over Alabama Pavia sued the NCAA under the Sherman Antitrust Act in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.[7]  As the basis for his action Pavia claimed that the NCAA’s decision to include his time at NMMI when assessing his playing eligibility “unjustifiably” limited his ability to profit off of his name and likeness (“NIL”).[8]  While Pavia was granted an injunction and the NCAA announced a blanket waiver for 2025–2026 for all former JUCO athletes playing Division One sports the NCAA’s decision to appeal the injunction renders the issue unresolved.[9]  However with college sports standing at the precipice of full-on commercialization Pavia’s lawsuit may become the blueprint that changes the relationship between JUCO and the NCAA forever.[10] Pavia’s (Second) Upset Win: How Pavia beat the NCAA District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee first examined whether the NCAA’s Bylaws on eligibility are subject to Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.[11]  Section 1 requires the plaintiff to demonstrate that the defendant’s agreement(s) “unreasonably restrain trade in the relevant market.”[12]  The NCAA argued that Sixth Circuit precedent makes their eligibility rules “non-commercial” in nature and thus beyond antitrust review.[13]  However finding that the emergence of NIL has commercialized NCAA Division One Football such that eligibility restrictions limit athletes’ abilities to negotiate and enter into commercial NIL deals.[14]  The Court quelled the NCAA’s worries that this subjection to the Sherman Antitrust Act would invalidate all of the NCAA’s eligibility requirements and instead clarified that the Court was only subjecting the JUCO eligibility provision to antitrust review in this instance.[15]  Thus relying on the United States Supreme Court’s decision in NCAA v Alston,[16] the District Court addressed three elements for reviewing the NCAA’s eligibility rules for an antitrust violation: (1) the plaintiff must demonstrate a “substantial anticompetitive effect;” (2) the defendant must then demonstrate a “procompetitive rationale” for the restraint; and (3) the plaintiff must then demonstrate those procompetitive rationales can be achieved through “less anticompetitive means.”[17] the District Court found that Pavia’s claim proved a substantial anticompetitive effect on college football.[18]  The Court determined that the NCAA unfairly punishes athletes financially for not attending Division One schools by counting time spent at a JUCO program the same way as a Division One program despite the significant NIL market difference.[19]  Thus the current NCAA eligibility rules give Division One football programs a competitive advantage over non-NCAA institutions such that the District Court found that the current NCAA rules effectuate a substantial anticompetitive effect.[20] In their “procompetitive rationale” defense of this practice the NCAA argued that their eligibility rules are about the “college” portion of “college football.”[21]  The NCAA said that allowing JUCO athletes to have maximum eligibility hurts the opportunities of younger NCAA athletes and contradicts with the NCAA’s mission of helping athletes progress towards a degree.[22]  However the Court countered the NCAA’s arguments by addressing that other forms of post-secondary education do not eat into an athlete’s NCAA eligibility even when some of those institutions offer college credit and their athletics programs compete against JUCO programs.[23]  The District Court also called the NCAA’s “academic progression” argument into question since NCAA athletes can transfer an unlimited number of times despite the fact that transferring multiple times may complicate an athlete’s progression towards their degree.[24] the District Court addressed Pavia’s “less restrictive alternative” plan of amending NCAA Bylaws to specifically initiate the eligibility timeframe when an athlete registers “at an NCAA member institution.”[25]  The Court found this alternative to be acceptably beneficial to Pavia and similarly situated individuals without harming the NCAA’s overall agenda.[26]  Based on its analysis the Court granted Pavia’s injunction preventing the NCAA from withholding his eligibility to ensure Pavia does not suffer the irreparable harm of missing out on NIL money.[27]  Therefore the Court paved the path for Pavia to play another season with Vanderbilt.[28] the NCAA adopted a blanket extension of eligibility for all former JUCO athletes competing on NCAA teams for the 2025–26 academic year the NCAA appealed the District Court’s decision to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.[30]  Just one month following Pavia’s victory at the district court level former University of Tennessee men’s baseball player and first baseman filed a lawsuit seeking nearly identical relief to Pavia’s injunction; Osuna was denied relief on the grounds of an insufficient demonstration of “substantial anticompetitive harm.”[31]  While the NCAA may have scored that win its argument is about to be dismantled by another lawsuit commencing on the other side of the country.[32] the United States District Court for the Northern District of California got closer to rendering a decision concerning the final approval of the terms of the House v NCAA settlement.[34]  This settlement will authorize NCAA member schools to directly share up to $20 million in revenue with its student-athletes for the first time.[35]  These “House payments” effectively gut the NCAA’s argument that their product is not commercialized.[36]  Since the NJCAA lacks any plans to introduce a revenue-sharing program similar to that described in House coupled with the previously mentioned NIL disparity renders the “substantial anticompetitive effect” issue more prevalent than ever.[37] will only further support Pavia’s claims against the NCAA as the SEC is a named defendant alongside the NCAA in House and must therefore abide by its terms thus requiring schools like Vanderbilt to pay its athletes a portion of the $20 million in athletics revenue offered during the 2025–26 academic year.[38]  While Pavia is currently protected by his injunction and the NCAA’s blanket eligibility extension for 2025–26 year the NCAA must address this issue moving forward or risk being back in court doing the same song and dance with a different JUCO player who was not covered by the 2025–26 extension and is citing the same principles at-issue as Pavia.[39]  How the NCAA proceeds in addressing the eligibility issue is anyone’s guess but Diego Pavia walked the long and winding road when no Division One schools wanted him and has now forever changed the economic landscape of  Division One college football.[40] Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law [1] See Teresa M. Walker, Vanderbilt Takes Down No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in Historic College Football Victory, AP News (Oct. 5, 2024, 9:34 PM), https://apnews.com/article/alabama-vanderbilt-football-score-upset-ap-poll-a468641fca71fb58f7fc5ed235d48d82 (explaining significance of Vanderbilt’s first-ever win over top-five ranked team and first win over Alabama in forty years) [3] See Mark Schlabach, How Vanderbilt Turned to New Mexico State for the Coaches and QB Who Helped Beat Alabama, ESPN (Oct. 8, 2024, 7:00 AM), https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/41671222/vanderbilt-alabama-upset-diego-pavia-clark-lea (explaining how Pavia was overlooked by Division One programs in high school) (detailing Pavia’s long road to joining Vanderbilt’s football program) [5] For further discussion of how Pavia addressed his seemingly expiring NCAA eligibility see infra notes 11–32 and accompanying text [6] See Teresa M. Walker, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia Sues NCAA Over Eligibility Limits for Former JUCO Players, AP News (Nov. 9, 2024, 9:35 PM), https://apnews.com/article/vanderbilt-diego-pavia-suing-ncaa-541a9dcd33815a9c006ee42dd9f4819b (reporting on Pavia’s filing of lawsuit against NCAA) 2024) (explaining crux of Pavia’s antitrust claim against NCAA over his inability to negotiate and receive NIL money due to NCAA eligibility rules for former JUCO players) [9] For further discussion of Pavia’s case against the NCAA  For further discussion of the ripple effects of Pavia’s case see infra notes 34–40 and accompanying text at *13 (discussing relevant antitrust law) (“[W]hether the challenged rules unreasonably restrain trade in the relevant market which they seem to agree is the labor market for college football.”) at *13–14 (explaining that antitrust law only applies to rules which are “commercial in nature”) at *15 (“Plaintiff asserts that when the NCAA lifted the restriction on NIL compensation who can enter the labor market for NCAA Division I football–became commercial in nature at *16 (explaining that NCAA retains power to impose eligibility requirements but that Pavia had sufficiently demonstrated need to review JUCO eligibility requirement) at *17–18 (detailing standards proffered by Supreme Court in Alston regarding how to analyze antitrust claims brought against NCAA) [17] For further discussion of how the Court sided with Pavia’s claims in finding the first Alston standard met see infra notes 19–20 and accompanying text at *21–22 (explaining unfair and different realities for NCAA Division One and JUCO programs despite identical treatment regarding eligibility) at *25 (“[T]he Court finds Plaintiff has shown a likelihood that that the challenged restraints have a substantial anticompetitive effect in the labor market for college football.”) [20] For further discussion of how the Court rejected the NCAA’s arguments in finding the second Alston standard was not met see infra notes 22–24 and accompanying text at *25–28 (describing NCAA’s “procompetitive rationale” defenses against Pavia’s assertions that NCAA’s JUCO eligibility rules have “substantial anticompetitive effect”) at *28 (“The NCAA eligibility rules allow other forms of post-secondary education and athletic competition without it ‘counting’ against eligibility.”) at *30–31 (considering NCAA’s argument regarding academics in light of recent bylaw amendment that permits unlimited transfers even when it poses significant academic challenges) at *31–32 (analyzing Pavia’s “less restrictive alternative” for NCAA eligibility rules in light of Pavia’s “substantial anticompetitive effect” defense and NCAA’s “procompetitive rationale” defense) at *32 (“Plaintiff's proposed alternative eliminates the anticompetitive harms discussed above while appearing to satisfy many of the rationales advanced by the NCAA.”) at *33–36 (detailing reasons for acceptance of Pavia’s injunction for extended eligibility) [27] See Brad Wakai, Diego Pavia Officially Announces His Return to Vanderbilt for 2025 Season, Sports Illustrated (Dec. 29, 2024), https://www.si.com/college/vanderbilt/football/diego-pavia-officially-announces-his-return-vanderbilt-2025-season (reporting on Pavia’s decision to continue playing for Vanderbilt in 2025–26 season) supra note 9 (reporting on NCAA blanket waiver of eligibility for former JUCO athletes for 2025–26 year) (discussing NCAA’s appeal made to Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals over Pavia ruling) [31] For further discussion of the impact of the House settlement on future JUCO eligibility cases against the NCAA 2024) [hereinafter Settlement] (describing revenue-sharing model of up to $20 million annually for eligible student-athletes).  The Settlement’s revenue-sharing model will result in billions being paid out directly to student-athletes at all sixty-nine schools in the Power Five conferences that would allow for additional spending of up to $1.6 billion for 2025-26 and totaling $19.4 billion for the 10-year period of the Injunctive Settlement.”).  The Settlement also allows all Division One schools not just those in the Power Five conferences (“[A]ll 363 Division I schools will be able to provide benefits to student-athletes up to the Pool amount every year.”) [35] See Michael McCann, Congress May Have to Settle NCAA Athlete Eligibility Issue, Sportico (Mar. 10, 2025, 5:55 AM), https://www.sportico.com/law/analysis/2025/ncaa-congress-eligiblity-cases-1234842374/ (exploring effect of House settlement on NCAA eligibility rules in light of Pavia lawsuit and others) supra note 35 (containing applicable terms of House settlement regarding revenue-sharing for which NJCAA is not subject to because it is separate entity from NCAA) [37] See Seth Emerson, Georgia, SEC Schools Expected to Pay Football Athletes About 75 Percent of Revenue Sharing, The Athletic (Feb. 25, 2025), https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6159981/2025/02/25/college-football-revenue-sharing-georgia-sec/ (reporting on how SEC schools intend to engage in revenue-sharing practices in 2025–26 academic year)  For further discussion of how Vanderbilt is a member of the SEC supra note 9 (reporting on Pavia’s ensured eligibility stemming from injunction granted for 2025–26 year); see also McCann supra note 36 (acknowledging one judge’s indication that eligibility issue will result in more litigation in near future) [39] For further discussion of how the NCAA could proceed in response to litigation over its eligibility  For further discussion of how Pavia went from undesirable to undeniable in college football Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association: Team's star quarterback was granted an extra year of eligibility last December Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia won a hard-fought court battle against the NCAA last December As originally reported by Sportico the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) last Friday filed an opening brief in the U.S seeking a reversal of the decision that has paved the way for Pavia’s sixth collegiate season The brief states that “the court … upended judicial consensus to allow [Pavia] to have a sixth season of competition in college football and consistent judicial understanding of the Sherman Act in sweeping aside longstanding eligibility rules based on deeply flawed reasoning.” Pavia originally sued the NCAA to gain additional eligibility arguing that two years spent at junior college New Mexico Military Institute (2020 and 2021) should not count toward his overall eligibility Pavia later played for New Mexico State in 2022 and 2023 before quarterbacking Vanderbilt’s team in 2024 “the district court ignored this Court’s binding precedent affirming NCAA eligibility rules against antitrust challenges.” the brief states that the court wrongly invalidated the NCAA’s traditional five years of eligibility rule by “quick look” antitrust review despite the Supreme Court having made clear that challenges to NCAA rules must be evaluated under the so-called rule of reason (in antitrust law rule of reason means a business practice is illegal only if it unreasonably restricts competition requiring courts to consider both pro- and anti-competitive effects rather than automatically deeming certain practices illegal) the NCAA argues the district court committed "multiple substantive errors of antitrust law beyond its misapprehension of the governing legal standards The plaintiff claims that Pavia "failed to offer any economic evidence or analysis in support of his motion for preliminary injunction through an improper rebuttal expert declaration offered new allegations of harm unrelated to what he pleaded in his complaint and argued in his motion.” “the court accepted Pavia’s claim of irreparable harm despite uncontroverted evidence that Pavia waited years to bring his claim quantified his alleged harm to be $1 million and failed to show an actual emergency warranting expedited relief." The NCAA alleges multiple student-athletes have since filed similar lawsuits seeking to extend their exhausted eligibility "often citing nothing more than the [Pavia] decision in support of their claims; and more cases are sure to come.” Pavia’s attorneys have until April 21 to file their response Nashville Judge William Campbell ruled that the NCAA could not enforce a bylaw that would have prevented Pavia from playing this season from enforcing a bylaw (known as the Rule of Restitution) against Pavia Vanderbilt University or any other Division I institution for which Pavia chooses to play in 2025 The ruling was a major boost for Vanderbilt’s football program as Pavia won the SEC Newcomer of the Year Award last season Pavia in 2024 threw for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024 while also rushing 176 times for 716 yards and six touchdowns Vanderbilt posted a 7-6 record last season The Commodores defeated Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Star Thomas didn’t believe he could continue playing college football, not even after former teammate Diego Pavia celebrated the courtroom victory that made it possible Sitting in a chair amid reporters at Tennessee's indoor football facility the Vols’ newest running back admits he didn’t expect to be here I didn’t believe it at first,” Thomas said about an NCAA rule change that granted him an extra year of eligibility “I had to call around and get some facts on it.” who transferred from Duke to Tennessee in January They were teammates at New Mexico State in 2022-23 Pavia challenged the NCAA’s eligibility rules in federal court and won a preliminary injunction that granted him an extra year of college football because he started his career in junior college Five days later, the NCAA granted a blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility to former junior college transfers who suddenly got a second chance at playing his final year of college football took inquiries from interested schools and booked a flight to Knoxville “(Pavia’s case and the NCAA rule change) helped me a lot,” Thomas said ‘Why not?’ I had to come back and try it again But I didn’t have the season that I wanted to have (at Duke) to get me to that next level I feel like I can do that here (at Tennessee).” How Star Thomas got his unique nameThomas has a flashy name but a humble spirit which is a combination of his two uncles’ names Thomas said he knows some people see Star as a big name to live up to “But I never thought I had to,” said Thomas That sums up why UT coaches wanted him on their roster He’s got a flashy game as a versatile runner and receiver but an unassuming demeanor “You saw a guy that was highly productive at his previous stops an older guy that’s played a lot of football a guy that brings some maturity into the whole room,” running backs coach De’Rail Sims said “We were definitely looking for an older guy because we are still fairly young in that room he accounted for 1,529 yards from scrimmage and 14 TDs in two seasons That’s where he shared the spotlight with Pavia the 2023 Conference USA Player of the Year Thomas led Duke in rushing with 871 yards and seven TDs He also made 20 receptions for 153 yards and one TD Thomas could’ve arrived at Tennessee demanding respect from younger running backs and they’ve helped me with a lot of things,” Thomas said Sophomore running back DeSean Bishop saw the addition of Thomas as a plus to the position “He’s someone that’s going to push me,” Bishop said “And it’s good to have another older guy in the room So there are good vibes in Tennessee’s backfield But camaraderie alone won’t replace the record-breaking production of Dylan Sampson have the early lead in the backfield competition Bishop rushed for 455 yards and three TDs last season Freshman running backs Daune Morris and Justin Baker also debuted in spring practice as early enrollees Thomas appears to be somewhere in the middle of that mix with plenty of time before the 2025 season He could challenge Bishop and Lewis for the starting spot But it’s just as likely that he plays well enough to claim one spot in a three-man rotation It’s too early to tell because Thomas admits that he only recently turned the corner in spring practice Then he had to adjust to the offense’s fast tempo DESEAN BISHOP: How RB bet on himself from Tennessee walk-on to scholarship he has experience making such a transition This is his fourth football program in the past five years but I’m way more comfortable now than the first practice,” Thomas said “I’ve always dreamed of playing SEC football and this is a great opportunity for me to have a chance to play.” Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Eligibility in college football can be a fluid concept these days, and the case of Diego Pavia at Vanderbilt only created more confusion Pavia was granted a preliminary injunction in a case against the NCAA paving the way for his eligibility in 2025 The NCAA shortly after implemented a waiver for players meeting the conditions Pavia did granting blanket eligibility for an additional year for anyone who had previously competed at a non-NCAA school But while Diego Pavia was granted an extra year That number apparently includes star Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin revealed that on Tuesday on This Past Weekend with Theo Von. “Yeah, you never know. We tried, we didn’t win it,” Kiffin said. “Jaxson Dart actually tried to get another year, or at least see if the option was there. And they denied it.” Of course, Dart didn’t quite fit the same criteria as Diego Pavia. He hadn’t attended a JUCO school. Top 101Shane BeamerPuts NCAA on blast Hot3Trump By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms and use of my personal information described therein Dart, instead, began his college career at USC He then transferred to Ole Miss after just one year spending his next three years with the Rebels Diego Pavia is back to see if he can recreate the magic for the Commodores in 2025 A waiver by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors has been granted just before Christmas allowing a set of players to remain eligible for the 2025-2026 season They must have competed at a non-NCAA school throughout their career while also previously being out of eligibility the NCAA says they can return for one more year Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is the most high-profile example of this waiver deemed eligible for another year of college football before the NCAA changed its rules But now the waiver applies to athletes across every NCAA sport On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this report. Hot3Trump, Saban blastedNIL order ripped On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media playDiego Pavia airs out 31-yard TD pass for Vandy (0:29)Diego Pavia airs it out 31 yards to Richie Hoskins for a Vanderbilt touchdown The NCAA Division I Board of Directors on Monday approved a blanket waiver granting an additional year of eligibility to former junior college transfers in similar positions to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia opening the door for a wave of college athletes across all sports to spend one more year in college athletics the waiver extends an extra year of eligibility in 2025-26 to athletes who previously "competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years" and otherwise would have exhausted their NCAA eligibility following the 2024-25 season The decision from the NCAA comes five days after a federal judge in Tennessee granted an injunction to allow Pavia a former junior college transfer who played his first season at Vanderbilt in 2024 to pursue an additional year of college eligibility next fall the NCAA also announced that it has filed a notice of appeal to the ruling in Pavia's case Pavia sued the NCAA in November over its eligibility standards arguing that the organization's rule of counting a player's junior college years against his overall NCAA eligibility violates antitrust laws by restricting an athlete's ability to profit from their name Last week's injunction applied solely to Pavia and would have prevented the NCAA from barring the Vanderbilt quarterback from returning next fall Monday's ruling from the NCAA will now allow other athletes in similar situations -- former junior college players who would have been out of eligibility following this season -- to return for an additional year in 2025-26 The waiver does not extend to all junior college athletes only those who would have completed their NCAA eligibility this year Pavia's lawsuit and the subsequent injunction have potentially paved the way for hundreds of former junior college athletes to gain an additional year of eligibility in 2025-26 Pavia completed 59.2% of his passes for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns to four interceptions while leading Vanderbilt to a 6-6 finish in 2024. He joined the Commodores following two seasons at New Mexico State after beginning his college career at New Mexico Military Institute athletes are typically given five years to play four seasons Among the arguments in Pavia's lawsuit is that the NCAA unfairly counted his time in junior college -- played outside the purview of the organization -- against his NCAA eligibility and in turn limited his ability to earn money off of his name Pavia will be granted a sixth year of NCAA eligibility next fall He told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Monday that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal in the wake of the ruling and feels blessed to have an opportunity to play one more year Benson and his agent had been in touch with attorney Darren Heitner "I'm just glad that the Lord blessed me with another opportunity and another year," Benson told Thamel Benson is expected to be one of many who either return to school or enter the portal to take advantage of the ruling News surrounding the NCAA waiver and Pavia's lawsuit comes days before Vanderbilt takes part in its first bowl game since 2018. Pavia and the Commodores will meet Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec Proposed academic collaborations build on established connections with the university in northwestern Italy Tufts University has entered into a cooperation agreement with the University of Pavia a research university with 18 departments and more than 26,000 students located in the Lombardy region of Italy.  signed on January 20 in Pavia by Tufts University President Sunil Kumar and Francesco Svelto opens the door to a range of new opportunities between the two institutions.   Also cited in the agreement is the opportunity to leverage research with University of Pavia faculty to build on Tufts’ efforts in disciplines including regenerative medicine “We are very pleased to have this chance to formalize—and extend—our relationship with our friends at the University of Pavia to the significant benefit of both our universities,” said Cigdem Talgar “This agreement will also deepen our mutual understanding of economic enriching the experience of our faculty and students The University of Pavia ranks among the leading research institutions in Europe others who have served on Pavia’s faculty include physicist Alessandro Volta (the inventor of the electric battery) and Cesare Beccaria (the 18th-century advocate for the abolishment of the death penalty) Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) waves to fans as he leaves the field after an NCAA college football game against Tennessee Saturday Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Tennessee Campbell also told the NCAA that the organization cannot take any action against Vanderbilt or any other university that Pavia plays a fifth season for next year in his order issuing the injunction Wednesday Campbell had asked attorneys at a hearing Dec 4 both how quickly they could be ready for trial and the transfer portal window Vanderbilt has seen historic success — Vanderbilt beat both the University of Alabama and Auburn University — and the team will be playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2018,” Campbell wrote in an opinion issued with the injunction “Those familiar with college football appreciate this remarkable accomplishment Pavia estimates that he could earn over $1 million in NIL compensation in the 2025-26 season.” Campbell noted current NCAA bylaws had made Pavia ineligible to play Division I football in 2025 simply because the quarterback started his career at a junior college The judge wrote he was not persuaded by the NCAA arguments on Division I eligibility limiting athletes who start at junior colleges to three or four years He noted the NCAA does not start the eligibility clock for prep school athletes even when they compete athletically against junior colleges or other schools that count as “collegiate institutions.” “Given the different treatment of other student-athletes with comparable or more post-secondary experience the NCAA’s assertion that the eligibility rules are necessary to prevent age and experience disparities and preserve the quality of experience for student-athletes falls flat,” Campbell wrote in his ruling Campbell also wrote how the NCAA’s eligibility rules have evolved from when freshmen weren’t allowed to play to adding a redshirt rule The judge also wrote that Pavia has a “strong likelihood of success” under the Sherman Act at trial because the organization’s rules limiting junior college eligibility are “restraints on trade with substantial anticompetitive effects.” Attorney Ryan Downton of the Texas Trial Group said Pavia is “very thankful” for the expedited ruling by the court “The NCAA has not yet adjusted to the NIL era and continues to impose unfair restrictions on college athletes,” Downton said in a statement “The Court’s ruling is another step in leveling the playing field to allow college athletes to share in the billions of dollars earned due to their labor we believe it may open the door for other former junior college players to obtain an additional year of eligibility without filing a lawsuit.” Pavia did not get an offer from a Football Bowl Subdivision school coming out of Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque He went to New Mexico Military Institute in 2020 which the NCAA excluded from counting toward eligibility because of the pandemic Pavia led the junior college to the 2021 national championship He went to New Mexico State in 2022 and won 10 games in 2023 The Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year then followed his head coach and offensive coordinator Tim Beck to Vanderbilt this offseason “I couldn’t be happier for Diego to be able to extend his college career,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said in a statement Wednesday night “This is great news for him and for our game I am excited for what lies ahead for Diego and Vanderbilt football.” “He loves Vanderbilt and Coach Lea,” Downton said “So long as he receives an appropriate NIL package I expect to see him in the black and gold for as long as he has eligibility remaining and Jerry Kill and Tim Beck are coaching in Nashville College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects – Baseball America When judge William Campbell granted an injunction to Diego Pavia on Dec. 18, allowing him to pursue another year of NCAA eligibility the scope of the decision was limited to just the Vanderbilt quarterback Campbell endorsed Pavia’s argument that the NCAA’s rule which counts a player’s time in junior college toward his overall years of NCAA eligibility violated antitrust laws and unfairly limited his ability to profit from his name The NCAA Board on Monday afternoon voted to appeal the court’s ruling but also grant waivers for junior college players in similar positions to Pavia opening the door for those who attended a junior college to add extra time to their Division I eligibility clocks In an era of college baseball when teams are pushing to get older would extended eligibility for junior college players shrink the number of athletes signing with Division I programs directly out of high school Could it change the thinking for prospects rushing to be drafted at the youngest age possible Those are among the questions Baseball America presented to a selection of anonymous head coaches and assistants—many of whom are recruiting coordinators—across all levels of Division I regarding the potential impact of Pavia’s case on the future of college baseball.  this could be an advantage because you can get a two-year JUCO player who only counts as a freshman I think that part is cool and can obviously help you win But then there’s the other part of me that’s like At what point does someone get a hold of this thing?” 2: “We already have a number of significant friction points with the NCAA in college baseball NIL is out of control and threatening the competitive balance throughout our sport Eligibility is no longer a straight-forward topic I think you can just add the Pavia stuff to the list 1: “If this is the new precedent that would be crazy.” maybe there’s a way this can be a good thing the more I realized that this is going to just be another major 2: “Yet another interesting turn of events It’s amazing how many things are changing college athletics As with everything else that has changed in recent years will create a new dynamic possibly in our sport.” I’m even all for schools that can afford better rosters paying for better rosters you’re just adding my players to a pot that is shrinking as far as roster size.” [the Pavia case] along with the transfer portal and shrinking roster sizes really hurting the high school player and that sucks I think we’re going to look back at some point and people are going to be like ‘Can you believe we could actually do that?'” 4: “We’ve already been trying to get older for the last four years since the transfer portal really showed up and that’s cut down on the number of high school guys who we’re taking Having more older players available with smaller rosters has disastrous potential for high schoolers who are more on the fringes and not necessarily top prospects It’ll be really interesting to see where they end up 4: “None of us know what’s happening or where this is going to end up That’s easily the scariest past and the thing that frustrates me the most.” But I think someone is going to have to clean all this up here pretty soon and I bet it starts with some sort of collective bargaining.” 3: “I don’t even know what the rules are anymore.” but this is going to give more guys the opportunity to play baseball longer The draft has been condensed and so has Minor League Baseball The path to professional baseball has become a lot harder in recent years and the guys that go out have to perform immediately or you’re probably going to get released Now they could have chances to play a lot longer with JUCO and the various levels of NCAA baseball.” 1: “There is definitely something to be said for having a lot of older players on the field [It’s true] that it’s easier to win with experienced guys who are solid over top-tier freshmen who need seasoning Schools that can afford to do it this way will be better because of it I think once we actually know what the rules are we can actually start trying to figure out ways to turn this into an advantage all we can do is work with it and find a way to make it as best as it can be 5: “I’ll tell you something someone brought to my attention the other day: Say a player gets drafted after a good JUCO season but really struggles in pro ball for two or three or four years Is there anything stopping that player from returning to college baseball with four years of eligibility because they’ve forfeited their amateur status but they also haven’t used their eligibility and preventing them from playing could be a violation of their rights but this is getting so out of hand that I don’t think anyone can rule anything out.” 2: “At what point can someone no longer tell a kid he has to go to class to stay eligible I’m going to School A because I’m making a lot of money and you can’t tell me to go to school I already have a job.’ It seems like you’re no longer allowed to have a set of rules.” 4: “This just speaks to the bigger picture and there’s really no way to defend them anymore Two sets of extremes don’t work and it jeopardizes everything if you ask me.” we talk about names to know in the upcoming Top 100 Prospects update crown jewel of the 2024 international free agent class tops the Hot Sheet after slashing .533/.667/.867 last week Presenting 10 Statcast standouts from the past week of minor league action led by arguably the top pitching prospect in the game 1 team in the College Baseball Top 25 rankings after another wild weekend Cooper are taking a look at basement dwellers in the AL and NL BA college writers Jacob Rudner & Peter Flaherty break Chris Lemonis’ surprise firing at Mississippi State and lots more Geoff Pontes & Dylan White highlight prospects who could be playing themselves into the Fantasy Top 100 we talk about Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft slide and why it wouldn’t happen in the MLB Draft Ben and Carlos talk about Red Sox and Yankees pitchers with physicality and stuff who are off to hot starts in 2025 On this week’s episode of the Baseball America Draft Podcast Carlos and Peter hop on to briefly talk about their relationship to the NFL draft… Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone Diego Pavia did not participate in Vanderbilt‘s annual spring game on Saturday Lea simply wanted to rest his star quarterback and some of the other veteran talent on his roster this spring He explained his reasoning during his postgame press conference following the spring game “There were a few players that we wanted to at least give the option, and really on our end, there’s more to lose than to gain,” Lea said. “Diego’s had a good spring. We’ve limited him a bunch in scrimmage opportunities. I think getting through the bulk of the work was important, but there was nothing he was going to do today that was going to help us win in the fall. That was the reason. “There were other guys that, if I had it my way, we wouldn’t have played either, but some of the guys just wanted to be out here and play. So we honored that. I’m happy that we were able to stay relatively healthy today.” Keeping Pavia healthy will be paramount to Vanderbilt’s success this coming fall. After all, he’s done more in one year under center than arguably any other Commodores quarterback in recent memory. For his efforts, Lea awarded Pavia, and some of the other veteran leaders on the program, a day off during the spring game. Well, at least a day off from practicing and being on the field. “Those guys that aren’t participating—we want them to be engaged,” Lea continued. “I saw a number of guys doing this. Diego wasn’t dressed today, so for him to take a role where he’s putting his energy toward the field, that matters. He’s a leadership presence for us. We wanted him paying attention, helping the quarterbacks, and just being engaged in the day. I appreciate him for doing that.” Since he wasn’t on the field for the spring game, the next time fans will get to see Pavia suited up won’t be until the season opener on Aug. 30. Vanderbilt take on Charleston Southern at home. Vanderbilt football held its annual spring game on April 12 and the offense won the scrimmage against the defense 40-38 on a walk-off touchdown pass from Blaze Berlowitz to Cole Spence The scoring system awarded the offense points for actual scores as well as for third-down conversions and plays of 20-plus yards The defense received points for forced turnovers tackles for loss and forced field goals in the red zone Quarterback Diego Pavia didn't play, part of a plan to manage his workload Vanderbilt got a look at its other quarterbacks: Berlowitz "I thought it was competitive out here today and physical I think a lot of times these games become a slot test," coach Clark Lea said "I saw both sides being very intentional and back and forth Good to see some young players play as well I think we're going to carry a healthy team in the summer and get back some of those top-end guys that we've limited this spring with that." Martel Hight could be a real factor on offenseWhen Martel Hight got in the game on offense He made one catch on a throw from Berlowitz and got wide-open downfield on the next play Hight is already one of the Commodores' starting cornerbacks as well as an all-conference punt returner, but there has been talk all spring of what he could add as a two-way player The spring game further showed his potential on that side of the ball Four players who stood out for Vanderbilt football on defenseMany of Vanderbilt's top defenders sat out the spring game with minor injuries a chance to show what they were capable of One of the standouts was senior linebacker Bryce Cowan who has long been a practice performer but has struggled to get playing time in actual games Two other contributors were redshirt freshmen: linebacker/safety Tate Hamby and linebacker Jamison Curtis recording 10 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack Neither player projects as a starter in 2025 but they both could be important backups with a chance to grow into starting positions "(Curtis is) a developmental player," Lea said "He's reshaped himself through the weight room He's got another year where we can afford him to just be developmental I would love to see him take a big role on special teams but he's proven some stuff to us that if we need him that guy's got a chance to be a really good linebacker for us." The final defensive standout was FAU transfer safety CJ Heard CHASE MITCHELL Vanderbilt football helped Chase Mitchell to embrace fatherhood the two key cogs in Vanderbilt's offense in 2024 Stowers has dealt with an injury all spring but is expected to be back at full health by the fall but the team opted to hold him out of the game as a precaution Berlowitz was the most effective of the quarterbacks who played He went 5-for-9 for 75 yards and a touchdown He also rushed 10 times for 45 yards and was the most effective runner as running backs Makhilyn Young and Jamezell Lassiter averaged less than 4 yards per carry Starter Sedrick Alexander saw limited action Virginia Tech transfer and Nashville native Chance Fitzgerald had two catches for 29 yards and tight end Brycen Coleman had two for 34 yards Vanderbilt will get some reinforcements in the fall, as Richie Hoskins missed the spring with an injury and transfers Trent Hudson and Tre Richardson won't join the team until the summer The Commodores also might look for another transfer during the spring window playWhy the NCAA president has concerns over extended eligibility (1:22)NCAA president Charlie Baker explains to Pat McAfee the potential pitfalls of extended eligibility for college athletes Pavia sued the NCAA in November claiming the organization's rule that counts a player's time in junior college toward his overall years of NCAA eligibility is a violation of antitrust law that was unfairly limiting his ability to make money from his name Judge William Campbell's decision Wednesday is not a final ruling on the case but it prevents the NCAA from keeping Pavia out of college football until the case is resolved "My Lawyers are legit!!" Pavia posted on X Wednesday night following the order's release NCAA rules typically allow players a total of five years to play four seasons but the current crop of college players have been granted an extra year on top of those limits due to the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic Pavia argued in his initial complaint that the NCAA was unfairly limiting his ability to make money by counting his years in junior college -- which is governed by a separate organization -- against his eligibility "We're not saying the NCAA can't have eligibility requirements," said Ryan Downton "But a junior college season shouldn't be the equivalent of an NCAA season when the junior college season has no meaningful opportunities to earn NIL They take other athletes [who are playing somewhere outside of high school] and don't hold those seasons against them." Downton cited junior hockey leagues and post-graduate prep school leagues where athletes compete after finishing high school without losing any of their eligibility The judge's ruling Wednesday specifically addresses the NCAA bylaw that deals with junior college players It does not restrict the NCAA from enforcing the rest of the restrictions it has in place on the number of years athletes can play a sport in college but the limited injunction could signal that the court system sees the NCAA's eligibility requirements as an illegal restraint Campbell is the third judge in the past year to issue an injunction on NCAA rules due to concerns that they limit the athletes' ability to maximize their earning potential NCAA lawyers argued in their response to Pavia's lawsuit that a ruling in favor of the quarterback could have far-reaching implications "A mandatory injunction changing the status quo is not just about plaintiff but rather stands to adversely disrupt the collegiate experiences and opportunities for tens of thousands of prospective and current student-athletes just as the next college football transfer window is opening," the lawyers wrote the NCAA said it was "disappointed" in the ruling and made an appeal to Congress "Altering the enforcement of rules overwhelmingly supported by NCAA member schools makes a shifting environment even more unsettled," the statement read in part "The NCAA is making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes but a patchwork of state laws and court opinions make clear that partnering with Congress is essential to provide stability for the future of all college athletes." told ESPN the quarterback tried all possible options to gain an NCAA waiver that would extend his eligibility before deciding to sue the association arguing that he was likely to win on his argument that NCAA Division I eligibility rules discriminated against him under the Sherman Act over his two years at a junior college The judge also told the NCAA it couldn’t take any action against Vanderbilt or any university Pavia plays with for his fifth season The NCAA filed its appeal of Campbell’s injunction and order to the 6th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals based in Cincinnati The waiver also announced Monday should limit the filing of more lawsuits by other athletes who started at a junior college and want another season to access name the board’s waiver is for those athletes “who attended and competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years to remain eligible and compete in 2025-26 if those student-athletes would have otherwise used their final season of competition during the 2024-25 academic year and meet all other eligibility requirements (e.g. five-year period of eligibility),” according to a statement from the NCAA “That review already resulted in action to modernize collegiate sports,” according to the NCAA statement “The review includes all aspects of student-athlete eligibility and Division I is committed to advancing the discussion during January governance meetings.” the annual NCAA convention will be held Jan The judge wrote he was not persuaded by NCAA arguments on Division I eligibility limiting athletes who start at junior colleges to three or four years Diego Pavia doesn't own a car image and likeness income certainly would allow for such a purchase Diego Pavia doesn't own a car because he feels he hasn't earned it yet "I don't spend any of my money," the Vanderbilt quarterback told The Tennessean on Saturday after a scrimmage at FirstBank Stadium I'm going to make sure my kids' kids are taken care of." then I gotta go make it in the NFL," Pavia said Diego Pavia: 'There's no reason we can't win a national championship'Pavia proved last season he doesn't need a car to go places He appeared in Nashville after two years of relative obscurity at New Mexico State He appeared there out of even more obscurity from New Mexico Military Institute He appeared there after receiving zero Division I offers out of high school Pavia led Vanderbilt to a victory last season against Alabama He led Vanderbilt to its first bowl game since 2018 to its first bowl victory and first winning season since 2013 in part by virtue of his 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns passing and his 800 yards and eight touchdowns rushing FAMILY MATTERS: Diego Pavia's family is living QB's thrill ride of a Vanderbilt football season right along with him "There's no reason why we can't win a national championship here," Pavia said That's a big thing we have to do this year." why the (expletive) are you going to Vanderbilt Y'all gonna win maybe two games this year,' " he said "They just have to see a little bit more tape. I feel like some people in the NFL think (I don't belong there Even more with his extra season of eligibility "I think all they care about is if you win or not The Commodores won seven times last season a far cry from the two wins that coach predicted to Pavia before he played here But Pavia feels like that number would have been higher if not for some aches and pains He said he played the final six of seven games of last season with a pulled hamstring and a pulled groin He offered the revelation not as an excuse so if someone spent money on a ticket to watch me play Thanks to that judge's ruling that allowed Pavia to do that next season Vanderbilt fans will get to see Pavia play again "He's one of those guys who just pours into everybody else," said Pavia's fellow captain "He's the first one who really stood up for student-athletes It's always been the NCAA telling us what to do It's awesome to see a player advocate for himself and others." Paul Skrbina is a sports enterprise reporter covering the Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for The Tennessean. Reach him at pskrbina@tennessean.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @paulskrbina. Follow his work here SLICED BREAD: Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia on why he sued NCAA, what NIL money means to him, other athletes PICK UP THE RECEIVER: The phone call that changed everything for Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt football's 2025 season Posted by on Monday, November 25, 2024 in Blog Posts By Zach Cogan; Photo Credit: George Walker IV/AP Photo Zach Cogan is currently a 2L at Vanderbilt Law School New York and graduated from the University of Chicago in 2023 with a double major in Economics and Film [1] ESPN News Service Vanderbilt upsets Alabama for first win vs https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/41629929/vanderbilt-upsets-alabama-first-win-vs-no-1-team; Mark Schlabach Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia suing NCAA over eligibility rules https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42286584/vanderbilt-qb-diego-pavia-suing-ncaa-eligibility-rules [2] See id [3] See Complaint for Injunctive Relief at 4 [4] See id [5] See id [6] See id [7] See id [8] See id [9] See Michelle Brutlag Hosick https://www.ncaa.org/news/2021/6/30/ncaa-adopts-interim-name-image-and-likeness-policy.aspx; Nat’l Collegiate Athletic Ass’n v [10] See Complaint for Injunctive Relief [11] See Alston Tags: Advertise with us • Contact Us • RTI Team The latest addition of Tennessee athletics battling the NCAA in the court room began on Wednesday when new Vol slugger Alberto Osuna filed a complaint against the college sports governing body as he seeks an additional year of eligibility Osuna transferred to Tennessee just under two weeks ago after spending the fall semester at Division-II power University of Tampa The power-hitting first baseman spent his first two college season at Walters State Junior College and the next three years at North Carolina But then Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia won a lawsuit against the NCAA where a federal court ruled that the NCAA can not legally enforce its bylaws stating that a junior college season counts NCAA eligibility and a multitude of other college athletes who spent years at junior colleges After losing the injunction in the Pavia case the NCAA provided a blanket waiver to former JUCO athletes who used their third-year of Division-I during the 2024-25 school year Since Osuna used his third-year of Division-I eligibility during the 2023-24 academic year The NCAA has not explained why they have not extended the blanket waiver to players affected in the 2023-24 academic calendar deciding what year they would make the cutoff is likely a major reason why Pavia and Osuna both have the same eligibility usage too Each played two season at a junior college and then three years at a Division-I program The frustration of different rules being applied to two players in similar situations was outlined in the Osuna complaint collegiate baseball is played in the Spring,” the lawsuit states Osuna must use his fourth year of Division I eligibility during the Spring 2025 baseball season Because the NCAA Blanket Waiver extends eligibility only to athletes using their fourth year of Division I eligibility for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 seasons This arbitrary distinction harms Osuna and is another example of the NCAA’s unlawful restrictions on the market for Division I athletics.” Another reason for frustration from Osuna is the lack of clarity and transparency from the NCAA throughout the process Osuna sought guidance from the NCAA on what the ruling meant for his own eligibility But the NCAA told Osuna that a waiver request must be made if he “wanted an answer regarding his eligibility.” Only Division-I schools can file a waiver meaning Osuna had to leave Tampa and unroll at a Division-I school before the NCAA would tell him whether or not he would be eligible Tennessee filed the waiver for Osuna on Feb 11 the NCAA had yet to assign a representative to Osuna’s case The Vols open up their 2025 season on Friday 14 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium against Hofstra Osuna will not be eligible the opening weekend of the season Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Vanderbilt football held a spring scrimmage Friday night a week But star quarterback Diego Pavia wasn't the focal point of the scrimmage After he played through multiple injuries in 2024 he saw just one drive and a portion of the second With Pavia not playing, the defense won the scrimmage using the scoring system the Commodores invented but it was a "bend but don't break" type of performance and tonight was about defensive performance," coach Clark Lea said we're learning about ourselves on both sides I didn't like the fact that we had the ball on the goal line three times and came away with three points The two snap penalties there under center were problematic And I think scoring touchdowns in the goal line area is an attitude Here's what we learned from the scrimmage: Blaze Berlowitz looks like the top non-Diego Pavia quarterback optionsVanderbilt got an extended look at other quarterbacks on the roster Blaze Berlowitz was the top performer of the group he has a pretty ball," wide receiver Junior Sherrill said we just need to get right on the connection a little bit more." Tristen Brown had one of the best offensive plays of the scrimmage with a catch on a deep ball Brown played in 10 games in 2024 but had just three catches for 27 yards who appeared in five games and scored a 65-yard touchdown against Missouri could make an impact in the receiver room in 2025 Joe McVay has physical tools that we feel like will put him in an elite category," Lea said "Now he's got to catch up with the game a little bit mentally and the details but we know we can get him open with speed." BACKUP QUARTERBACKS Who is Vanderbilt's quarterback if Diego Pavia has an injury? A look at Clark Lea's options He never got much playing time with the Crimson Tide Bryce Cowan is another player who had a strong performance The linebacker has long shown physical tools but he hasn't gotten a ton of playing time in actual games "We've been waiting for him to clean up his detail What I've seen him do winter and spring is reset himself and he's had as consistent a spring as anyone on this field So when we talk about detail and consistency and he's starting to have the execution for it And I can't put limitations on what he's capable of." Cowan agreed that he has improved his consistency "Keanu brings the dog mentality," Cowan said all athletes from Florida bring the dog mentality." Two weeks before the start of the Division I baseball season, first baseman Alberto Osuna made shockwaves in the baseball world when he left the University of Tampa on opening day and transferred to Tennessee was at Tampa because of an NCAA rule that granted players who had spent the 2021 season at a junior college an extra year of eligibility — but not at the Division I level suddenly had new life due to a player for a rival school in a different sport While a handful of football and basketball players have taken advantage of the rule, it’s especially impacted baseball, where junior college recruiting is especially prominent. Osuna isn’t the only beneficiary in the SEC: Georgia outfielder Dylan Goldstein has also rejoined the program hoping he can take advantage of the waiver after originally running out of eligibility SEC TEAMS TO KNOW SEC baseball preview: Top teams, players, transfers to know in 2025 led by Texas A&M How Diego Pavia's ruling led to uncertainty in college baseballRight now Pavia’s court ruling applies only to him and the NCAA’s waiver applies only to seniors that are in their final year of eligibility For juniors and sophomores with junior college experience there’s no guarantee their eligibility will be extended Although Pavia’s ruling hinged in part on the fact that the judge saw a “high likelihood” of success for the case the NCAA has chosen to fight this one instead of settling like it has with several other cases A changeover in the government administration could also lead to people in positions of power who are more friendly to the NCAA’s positions Junior college eligibility is just one issue of a growing list where coaches are dealing with uncertainty which would implement revenue-sharing in college sports would institute roster limits across all sports including reducing the roster size for college baseball from 40 to 34 The threat of roster limits has led to some committed 2025 recruits being dropped by their schools as are the exact rules of the roster limits Even with juco players possibly having extra eligibility they are a group that risks getting squeezed out by the new rules coaches will likely focus on top-ranked high school recruits and transfers who have already proven themselves at the DI level the baseball coach at Volunteer State Community College in Hendersonville said that it’s become harder to get his players placed at Division I schools and that many who would have previously gone DI are now heading to DII “It becomes tougher for both the high school player coming out and then the junior college player trying to move on,” McGuire told The Tennessean There are differing opinions in the industry about the merits of Pavia’s case but the primary gripe from many coaches is that it adds yet another uncertainty to their plates the House settlement and ever-changing rules around NIL and the transfer portal many coaches have struggled to plan ahead in recruiting not knowing what the rules will be in the near future “I'd sign that on for (Pavia) to be able to come back real quick as everybody else would,” Vanderbilt hitting coach Jayson King told The Tennessean in November but I think any changes that are of big size .. Most people agree that if Pavia’s ruling becomes permanent the juco route will become more attractive to high school players While extra DI eligibility would make juco more attractive NIL gives players the chance to make money before getting drafted and some schools give baseball players NIL deals even if they don’t see meaningful playing time Along with the roster limits comes the potential that some teams could offer all rostered players full scholarships The majority of juco players won’t earn money from NIL Top-level schools tend to have better facilities and the opportunity to play in the College World Series But junior colleges have also taken note of the new environment and in many states community college is free for certain people the TN Promise program allows Tennessee high school graduates the opportunity to attend community college for free as long as they maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete community service requirements For a player who would be on the fringe of making a roster at the DI level if Pavia’s ruling is made permanent such a program could lead to as many as six years of free education “If you’re a junior college and you do it right 21 years old and that’s what Division Is are looking for because those guys have to win now,” said former Cookeville High baseball coach Butch Chaffin who played at the juco level and also worked as a scout a DI assistant coach and a coach with USA Baseball the impacts of the ruling may not be felt immediately While some juco transfers make an impact on the SEC And players who have a chance to play right away at an SEC school are unlikely to choose the junior college route even if they have more eligibility More: Vanderbilt says fans can storm court. They just have to wait a full minute to avoid fines transferring to a mid-major school for two years then grad transferring to an SEC or ACC school where their experience and more-developed physicality will be assets Another potential impact is top schools using junior colleges as “feeder schools” of sorts teams could take incoming freshmen not likely to make the roster and tell them to go play at a junior college with the potential of coming back and earning a roster spot at that same school after 1-2 years of experience and still four years of eligibility go develop a couple years at a junior college because now you’ll be well seasoned to come in and contribute right away,” said Tad Slowik a former Astros scouting director and junior college coach who now does juco team and player rankings for his organization If the extra eligibility for juco players becomes permanent an analyst for D1Baseball who was formerly an assistant coach at Arizona State and the coach of Phoenix College suggested that players trying to transfer up from the low-major level could end up the ones squeezed out of roster spots as they would be both unproven at the highest level and have less eligibility than high school or juco players With so much uncertainty still looming about both the future of juco eligibility rules many coaches and recruits have been caught in limbo Current players on Division I rosters who are not seniors aren’t sure when their eligibility will end the sudden eligibility of players like Osuna at Tennessee and Goldstein at Georgia will result in players who thought they had a roster spot finding that is no longer the case Walters State Community College coach David Shelton has experience coaching both at the Division I level at ETSU and in juco But even he isn’t sure how he would advise his eighth-grade son “I’m a college baseball coach and I’m sitting here not even 100% sure what’s the best way to advise my own son “ … I spent a lot of time talking to four-year schools and talking to their coaches and they’re just as up in the air about things as I am What are the rules going to be six months from now?” The quarterback has become a star on the field and a voice for junior college alums off it Diego Pavia was the quarterback at New Mexico Military Institute the self-proclaimed “small-town kid from Albuquerque New Mexico” has led the Vanderbilt Commodores to unforeseen heights and become one of college football’s most talked-about figures After leading NMMI to a National Junior College Athletic Association championship in 2021 the premier football program in his home state He once again produced unprecedented on-field results leading the Aggies to back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 1960 thrust one of the sport’s cult favorites directly into the national spotlight The natural showman had no hesitation taking center stage “That’s just been my personality since [I was] a young kid,” Pavia tells the Scene his program-altering charisma evident even over the phone I dreamed about just being on the big stage But I can’t do it without the people around me.”  “Nashville’s a one-of-one city,” Pavia says there would be a lot of Tennessee orange [and] Alabama gear … You see a lot more V’s on people’s chests.”  But alongside the skyrocketing fame came an unexpected role as the voice of fellow former junior college (JUCO) athletes. The NCAA’s landmark name, image, likeness (NIL) decision which allows college athletes to be compensated with non-scholarship income dramatically changed the landscape of college sports the ruling applies only to schools that fall under the NCAA’s jurisdiction — which does not include junior colleges It’s situations like this — not just suing the mighty NCAA but winning — that make you want to side with Pavia when his confidence comes out He says “anything short of the College Football Playoff would be a loss” for Vanderbilt next season Considering the ’Dores have never had a 10-win season in program history it’s Pavia — who went from the “undersized” kid with no Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offers to starting for an SEC school and taking down a dynastic Alabama squad “God gave me one more chance to complete my goal of winning a national championship Our profiles of some of Nashville’s most interesting people from a queen of Appalachian character comedy to a Vanderbilt football star Exploring sustainability efforts at Neuhoff District Germantown’s adaptive reuse project puts the river front and center Vanderbilt football isn't even pretending to have a starting quarterback competition this spring Diego Pavia, who last season led the Commodores to a 7-6 record and an upset win over Alabama along with a win in the Birmingham Bowl is the unquestioned starter for 2025 after winning an extra year of eligibility in a court case there is still a competition going on in the quarterback room After last season's backup Nate Johnson transferred back to Utah it remains to be seen who will back up Pavia Vanderbilt has five scholarship quarterbacks for spring practice and has a freshman Jeremy St-Hilaire and Whit Muschamp are all jockeying for position has only appeared in one game in three years at Vanderbilt Berlowitz came over from New Mexico State as a transfer along with Pavia after the Commodores hired Tim Beck as offensive coordinator His lone college appearance was in the 2023 Conference USA championship game St-Hilaire and Muschamp are both redshirt freshmen from the Chattanooga area who did not see game action in 2024 (it's) a little inconsistent," coach Clark Lea said Tuesday "We're throwing the ball to the defense too often you've got to make good decisions with the ball but you want whoever ends up being the number two to know that we can be consistent "We can play through the other 10 players on the field and there's no reason for us to try to set that down right now I think we use our remaining scrimmage opportunities to really evaluate the room." Berlowitz seems like the early leader for the backup job With new roster limits beginning in the fall that allow teams to have up to 105 players it's likely that one or more of the backup quarterback competition losers will transfer when the spring portal opens April 16 TWO-WAY PLAYER? Clark Lea doesn't need Martel Hight to be Travis Hunter but could have his first Vanderbilt two-way player having learned behind Pavia and gained experience in Beck's offense has provided an advantage "I've learned a lot from Diego," Berlowitz said "We've been really good friends for a long time Took a lot of leadership skills from him as well his NFL aspirations (2:37)Diego Pavia chats with Paul Finebaum about the Commodores' success along with his aspirations to be in the NFL stating he can "do anything in the world." (2:37) Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia sued the NCAA in federal court Friday alleging the organization's bylaws that reduce the number of seasons junior college players can compete at Division I schools are unlawful and restrict players' ability to earn money off their name District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville requests an injunction that would prevent the NCAA from enforcing its bylaws regarding junior college player limits and grant Pavia two more seasons of eligibility "The JUCO Eligibility Limitation Bylaws neither promote competition nor benefit college athletes with respect to their impact on persons who attend junior colleges before transferring to NCAA schools," the lawsuit says "These rules stifle the competition in the labor market for NCAA Division I football players harming college athletes and degrading the quality of Division I football consumed by the public "These harms are contrary to Defendant's stated mission of promoting the well-being of college athletes and are the very ills federal antitrust law seeks to remedy and other former JUCO football players who are harmed by this illegal restraint have a small window of time to compete in Division I football." The lawsuit argues that the NCAA and its member institutions "have entered an illegal agreement to restrain and suppress competition" and are violating the federal Sherman Act The lawsuit says junior college transfers face eligibility restrictions that "are not placed on athletes who choose to delay entry to a Division I NCAA college to attend prep school or even to compete professionally in another sport." told ESPN last month that he didn't have a single FBS or FCS scholarship offer coming out of high school Only two Division II schools -- Western Colorado and Western New Mexico -- gave him a chance to play quarterback He played two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, a two-year junior college, before transferring to New Mexico State He enrolled at Vanderbilt in June with the belief that he would have only one season of eligibility Pavia, 23, has helped revive Vanderbilt's once-moribund program. The Commodores are 6-3 heading into Saturday's game against South Carolina (4:15 p.m SEC Network/ESPN+) after losing their final 10 games in 2023 Pavia has passed for 1,677 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions while leading the team in rushing with 563 yards and four touchdowns The Commodores upset then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35 on Oct They had lost every one of their previous 60 games against top-five teams in the Associated Press poll and hadn't beaten the Crimson Tide in 40 years The lawsuit also takes issue with the NCAA's bylaws that start a player's eligibility clock once he enters a two-year school as well as its redshirt rule and four-year eligibility limit "Because Pavia cannot relive his short college career the harm inflicted by the JUCO Eligibility Limitations Bylaws is irreparable and ongoing and temporary and preliminary injunctive relief is necessary," the lawsuit says "Pavia brings this action to put a stop to the unjustified anticompetitive restriction on universities who seek to compete for college athletes and to restore freedom of economic opportunity for himself and other college football players." Pavia initially sought a temporary restraining order in hopes of having his eligibility restored prior to the transfer portal opening on Dec denied that request granted Pavia an injunction Wednesday who’s expected to start for the Commodores in the Dec or he could enter the portal and pursue NIL offers at other schools His lawyer, Ryan Downton, told Rivals.com “I expect he’ll play at Vanderbilt in 2025.” “The NCAA is disappointed in today’s ruling and wants all student-athletes to maximize their name image and likeness potential without depriving future student-athletes of opportunities,” the statement read “Altering the enforcement of rules overwhelmingly supported by NCAA member schools makes a shifting environment even more unsettled The NCAA is making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes but a patchwork of state laws and court opinions make clear that partnering with Congress is essential to provide stability for the future of all college athletes.” My Lawyers are legit‼️Ryan and Sal I appreciate yall!God is good — Diego Pavia (@diegopavia02) December 18, 2024 Pavia was named to the AP All-SEC second team this season and earned SEC Newcomer of the Year leading Vandy to a memorable upset of Alabama on Oct 5 and the program’s first bowl berth in six years 17 touchdowns and four interceptions and ran for 716 yards and six touchdowns a sports law attorney based in Kansas City said the injunction opens the door for other former junior college players to file suit we’re not going to enforce this rule at all because we can’t enforce it for this athlete and this court says we can’t do it so we’re just going to give in on this rule — at least while this order is in place for everybody,” Winter said determined that Pavia met the threshold for an injunction by presenting evidence that the NCAA’s juco rule harms competition in the labor market for Division I college football players “This Rule gives a competitive advantage to NCAA Division I member schools over junior colleges – and thus the football players at each level – even though they are treated the same in terms of eligibility,” Campbell Jr the NCAA raised alarm that a ruling for Pavia “could ultimately lead to stripping college athletics of its defining feature – that it is played by student-athletes.” Campbell Jr “This does not mean the NCAA cannot impose eligibility rules only that those rules will be subject to further scrutiny to determine whether they are an undue restraint on trade.” But Winter said the ruling could leave other eligibility rules vulnerable to legal challenges because you can apply the rationale that the court applied to this rule to lots of different NCAA eligibility rules,” he said “The more decisions there are like this from federal courts saying the NCAA rules violate antitrust law it just makes it harder and harder for the NCAA to enforce all kinds of rules.” Gabe Feldman, a sports law professor at Tulane disagreed and called the ruling “a small but not unexpected loss.” Feldman said the narrow scope of the case doesn’t necessarily endanger all of the NCAA’s eligibility rules a magistrate judge in Tennessee ruling on the eligibility of one of Tennessee’s institution’s starting quarterback,” Feldman said and in all these losses the NCAA is taking the courts are not saying in any of them that the NCAA has no right to maintain eligibility restrictions.” A federal judge on Tuesday denied Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's request for a temporary restraining order that would grant him another year of eligibility -- but did not close the matter entirely Pavia sued the NCAA in federal court Friday in Nashville arguing that his two seasons playing at a junior college shouldn't count toward his Division I eligibility since he was unable to profit from his name Pavia's attorneys argued that Pavia would suffer immediate and irreparable harm without relief from the court because the transfer portal opens on Dec 9 and that waiting even one more day will "place him between a rock and a hard place" in regards to negotiating an NIL deal at Vanderbilt or transferring to another school "Given that Plaintiff has almost certainly been aware of the challenged bylaws and his ineligibility to play college football in the 2025-26 season for quite some time and has been discussing possible resolution with the NCAA the Court is not persuaded that an ex parte order is justified," William Campbell Jr. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee "This is particularly the case here where the Plaintiff seeks prospective injunctive relief not merely preservation of the status quo." Campbell did write in his order that he would set an expedited briefing schedule and hearing on a request for preliminary injunction which would give the NCAA an opportunity to defend its rules told The Tennessean that the quarterback was "disappointed" but "not surprised" that the judge wanted to allow the NCAA to defend its position Pavia's lawsuit argues that the NCAA and its member institutions "have entered an illegal agreement to restrain and suppress competition" and are violating the Sherman Act Pavia, who has led the Commodores to a surprising 6-4 record this season, played two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, a two-year junior college, and two more at New Mexico State before transferring to Vanderbilt Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) looks to throw a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee Campbell asked attorneys how quickly they could be ready for trial He also asked about the upcoming transfer portal Attorney Ryan Downton argued during a 2 1/2-hour hearing that Pavia wants “the narrowest injunction possible” to keep his time in junior college from counting against his NCAA Division I eligibility using older guidelines Their best hope is for a quick ruling by Monday “I get the sense from him today that he’s looking at the date the portal closes and trying to give enough time to react before it closes,” Downton said of the judge’s timing after the hearing Campbell peppered attorneys with questions The judge noted prep schools play against junior colleges without starting their NCAA eligibility clock He also noted junior colleges don’t allow redshirt seasons The judge also said the NCAA has changed its rules over the past 50 years including allowing freshmen to play and later added the redshirt rule Campbell sounded surprised when told a player who redshirted this season could play a total of nine games if on the team that wins the College Football Playoff His request for a temporary restraining order was denied giving him two more seasons of eligibility allowing a redshirt season “to avoid additional harm.” His lawsuit also asks that Vanderbilt not be punished for complying with orders from the court Attorneys Tamarra Matthews Johnson and Max Warren argued for the NCAA that Pavia had done exactly what the organization wants athletes to do earning a bachelor’s degree at New Mexico State before being a graduate transfer to Vanderbilt earlier this year They also argued Pavia easily can seek another degree without playing football Warren disputed the idea of irreparable damages noting Pavia can receive economic damages at trial without an injunction Warren also questioned the lawsuit’s timing with Pavia quoted that this was his last year of college football “His best opportunity to earn a living is playing college football ...,” Downton said in court He went to New Mexico Military Institute in 2020 and led the junior college to the 2021 national championship Matthews Johnson argued that Vanderbilt simply will find another quarterback Vanderbilt hasn’t had many quarterbacks like Pavia who had a handful of his teammates sitting behind him in court  Metaverse Group, one of the world’s leading metaverse landholders and builders, is thrilled to announce its acquisition of Pavia This strategic acquisition positions Metaverse Group at the forefront of the metaverse revolution by expanding its virtual infrastructure offerings and solidifying its leadership in the rapidly growing digital space Metaverse Group will take ownership of the Pavia Metaverse IP and its groundbreaking Metaverse-as-a-Service (MaaS) infrastructure This innovative technology empowers individuals and enterprises to create their own virtual worlds similar to how WordPress enables website creation today The MaaS platform unlocks the power of user-generated metaverses providing businesses and creators the tools to easily design and manage their own virtual environments driving an entirely new level of engagement and interaction across the digital landscape will continue to serve as advisors to the combined company Their wealth of experience and expertise in the metaverse space will be invaluable as Metaverse Group scales Pavia’s capabilities and offerings to a global audience In addition to the IP and MaaS infrastructure Metaverse Group has also acquired Pavia’s vast portfolio of metaverse land including un-minted expansion lands and in-game NFT asset collections Metaverse Group plans to bring these assets to market offering unique opportunities for users and enterprises to engage with the Pavia Metaverse This acquisition is a significant milestone for Pavia as Metaverse Group is one of the largest metaverse landholders and builders worldwide With a track record of delivering immersive experiences for renowned brands such as KPMG Metaverse Group’s relationships with enterprises will further accelerate the growth and mainstream adoption of Pavia’s virtual environment who were original co-founders of Metaverse Group Metaverse Group’s established leadership in the metaverse ecosystem includes ownership of the largest estate in Decentraland’s Fashion Street District where Metaverse Fashion Week is held annually Metaverse Group will bring cutting-edge fashion and entertainment events to the Pavia Metaverse further increasing its appeal and engagement among both consumers and businesses By combining the strength of Metaverse Group’s virtual property portfolio with the intellectual property of Pavia the acquisition sets the stage for a dynamic and thriving ecosystem of digital worlds that span industries and interests Metaverse Group’s recent acquisition by Blaze FZE, which also holds StoryFire in its portfolio a rapidly growing social network with over 2.5 million users adds another powerful layer of value to the Pavia Metaverse StoryFire’s massive and expanding user base will directly contribute to driving traffic making it one of the most compelling destinations for digital content and community interactions in the metaverse combined with Metaverse Group’s enterprise relationships and its extensive experience in building virtual environments creates an unparalleled opportunity for Pavia to thrive in both the consumer and business sectors Metaverse Group is one of the world’s largest and most influential digital real estate developers With a strong portfolio of metaverse assets and partnerships with global enterprises Metaverse Group specializes in creating immersive digital experiences leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide exceptional value for businesses and individuals in the virtual world The company has a proven track record of success with partnerships and projects across sectors including fashion Pavia is a decentralized virtual cross-chain world and interact with virtual assets and spaces in a way that empowers creators and businesses alike Metaverse Group PR TeamEmail: pr@metaversegroup.com Swords clash as soldiers battle across the plains of Pavia just outside the Italian city’s walls While the tale of the three-hour battle is short the tapestries regaling its history will last a lifetime.  Houston presents “Knights in Shining Armor: The Pavia Tapestries” through May 26 The 1525 Battle of Pavia was the decisive victory between the kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Emperor Court artist Bernard van Orley created the seven tapestries on display from about 1528 to 1531 Each one is 28-feet wide and 14-feet high and took 18 months for each group As tapestries are more expensive to make than paintings they serve as tools not just for storytelling but also as an expression of wealth and political power The tapestries are an incredible depiction of the events of the battle and draw the viewer into the action The battle was short and several scenes seem to be taking place simultaneously It is as if we are surrounded by the action.  The tapestries are not hung chronologically but architectural elements in the images lead the eye from one to the other like detailed pictures in a storybook.  To aid the viewer in understanding the events of the battle the exhibition features projected texts above the tapestries that narrate the action It takes 13 minutes to read the captions and is well worth following the narrative projections illuminate parts of the panel to emphasize the action and characters in the narrative Looking up close one sees the complexity of the construction with every stitch and seam visible It is clear that each one was made with precision and care down to the fashions of the people depicted — soldier and civilian alike — along with their facial expressions and physicality Statues of armor and medieval weapons are also featured which gives viewers an idea of the war trends at the time the swords are larger than one would assume The tapestries and the armor are on loan from the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte in Naples where they have hung together for 500 years “Knights in Shining Armor: The Pavia Tapestries” is a remarkable lesson in history as well as a remarkable showcase of a unique form of art that is rarely seen in modern society It is a must-see for art and history enthusiasts alike Both the battle and the art of tapestry are underrated for their contributions to history “The Pavia Tapestries” is on display through May 26 PAY HERE Contact: editor@lamaruniversitypress.com Diego Pavia thinks Eli Stowers would be the best tight end in the NFL draft right now The Vanderbilt football quarterback and tight end have worked together since their days at New Mexico State. There was a point where it seemed like both might have only one season with the Commodores Pavia was thought to be out of eligibility while Stowers was considered to be a mid-round draft prospect Pavia won his lawsuit against the NCAA granting him an extra year of eligibility after a judge ruled that his junior college years should not count against NCAA years of competition NIL money and desire to increase his draft stock all being factors Stowers announced his decision to return in January after the Commodores' victory in the Birmingham Bowl "We're building something here that is really special something that hasn't been seen before," Stowers said Tuesday as spring practice began I just felt like I wanted to be a part of that just to grow myself into a better tight end there's a lot a lot more things that I got to grow on but also be able to help our team go even further than what we did last year." Pavia and Stowers received SEC honors in 2024 Stowers was named first-team All-SEC after leading SEC tight ends in receiving yards and was the first Commodore non-specialist to be named All-SEC since 2020 Pavia was named the SEC Newcomer of the Year after recording 2,133 passing yards and 17 passing touchdowns with 716 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns Both players transferred to Vanderbilt together from New Mexico State before the 2024 season after Clark Lea brought in their former head coach "It feels amazing just to have that like team camaraderie just being around every single one of them," Pavia said that's what's all like spring ball's about We've got (the national championship) as our goal Lea said that increased NIL investment allowed Vanderbilt to retain Stowers Three players who played for Lea have earned NFL combine invites did so after transferring to other SEC schools declared for the draft after his senior season despite having a COVID year available two of those finished their eligibility elsewhere," Lea said So I look at that from a lens of coming out of the 2022 season into the 2023 season where we weren't able to retain to now having a guy like Eli back as an example of our ability to produce environment that our players believe in but also to do the things from an NIL standpoint that make it make sense for him." When Stowers does eventually enter the draft Pavia expects him to blow up on social media for his testing numbers he'll be back for one more year catching Pavia's passes SPRING STORYLINES What to know about Vanderbilt football, Diego Pavia entering spring practice That's when Pavia found out that person would be him "He was pretty pumped," Beck said Thursday, just after the Commodores wrapped up their second spring practice at FirstBank Stadium "When you've got your starting quarterback that's got experience coming back it gives you a little bit of relief knowing you've got that kind of guy in charge Diego Pavia stats show his impact on Vanderbilt footballWith Pavia in charge last season his first at Vanderbilt after two seasons at New Mexico State and two at junior college New Mexico Military Institute "There's a lot of money to be made in college football, just because of how much revenue is coming in," Pavia told The Tennessean on Dec two days before the ruling on his case was announced "There's a lot of people here who work overtime too." Pavia's work resulted in numbers that by the finish line read: 177-for-298 passing Not to mention he ran for 800 more yards and on 193 carries that resulted in eight more TDs Vanderbilt's first winning season since 2013 who wears the number 2 and whom he coached at New Mexico State "He rises the level of play on both our offense and our defense," Beck said Beck hardly is the only one who feels that way Sherrill said he was out shopping when his phone rang with the news He immediately texted Pavia to share in the excitement "Me and Diego have really been at it this offseason," said Sherrill who made 29 catches for 411 yards and three touchdowns last season "There's a lot more chemistry for sure," said Hoskins who had 11 catches for 131 yards and two TDs last year "There's a lot more trust between the receivers in the quarterback room and Diego." EYES ON PRIZE: Where does Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia get his 'swagger?' It's all about family DOLLAR SIGNS: Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia on why he sued NCAA, what NIL money means to him, other athletes Graduate transfer quarterback Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt — who burst onto the national scene and set school records in his first campaign in Nashville — has selected AthleteZ PR to support his personal brand development The Associated Press, USA Today and SEC Newcomer of the Year, Pavia's name and face went national after an upset of then-No. 1 Alabama, followed by a legendary post-game interview Following the win, he posted his agent's phone number on X alerting brands that he is open for business AthleteZ PR will help the Commodores' star continue to share his unique story and connect deeper within the NIL space “This past year has definitely been a whirlwind for me and I am blessed for another season with my teammates at Vanderbilt,” Pavia said “As I look to continue to share my story and connect with brands and media it was an easy decision to partner with Megan and AthleteZ PR to help me navigate the space Football and my studies are still the priorities A post shared by Diego Pavia (@diego10pavia) Pavia's NIL brand portfolio is relatively modest thus far in comparison to his big personality He previously has worked with Raising Cane's Slim Chickens and Vanderbilt's collective Anchor Impact In addition to the signature win versus the Crimson Tide Pavia led Vanderbilt to their best record and first bowl victory since 2013 while setting school all-time marks for rushing yards by a quarterback and fewest interceptions in a season Personally, Pavia will now have another season at Vanderbilt to continue to build out his NIL portfolio and prepare for the NFL. Founded by Megan Curry — a long-time adidas and WME Sports executive — AthleteZ PR helps support student-athletes, athletic departments and collectives in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics. Pavia will next take the field in Vanderbilt’s Black and Gold Spring Game on April 12 before officially opening the 2025 season on Aug. 30 when the Commodores host Charleston Southern. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Diego Pavia threw out the first pitch for Vanderbilt baseball in the opening game of its series against Arkansas on Friday night the star Vanderbilt quarterback who won a lawsuit against the NCAA to get an extra year of eligibility is returning for his second season with the Commodores in 2025 after transferring from New Mexico State before the 2024 season He helped lead Vanderbilt to an upset win over Alabama and a 7-6 record the Commodores' first winning record in 10 years They were victorious in the Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Tech Pavia took the mound wearing a Walker Buehler Boston Red Sox jersey signed with the Red Sox in the offseason after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers He threw a strike to outfielder Jacob Humphrey MORE ON PAVIA The phone call that changed everything for Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt football's 2025 season The Commodores will hold their spring football game on April 12 at FirstBank Stadium