Diego Pavia, an American football quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores, is at the center of a legal battle with the NCAA.
The 23-year-old Diego Pavia has sued the NCAA, arguing that its rules and policy of counting junior college years toward a player’s total eligibility unfairly impacts athletes who start their careers at JUCOs.
Furthermore, Pavia claims this rule limits their ability to maximize opportunities in NCAA sports, particularly in earning income through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which are typically more accessible at NCAA institutions.
Diego’s legal team argues that these rules violate the Sherman Antitrust Act by restricting competition and opportunities for JUCO athletes.
Similarly, Diego Pavia sought a preliminary injunction allowing him to continue playing for Vanderbilt while resolving the lawsuit.
Diego Pavia, who joined Vanderbilt at the young age of 22, a few months before turning 23, has been showcasing his exceptional football skills, leading his team to win several games.
Likewise, on December 18, 2024, U.S. District Judge William Campbell granted his request, allowing him to play another college football season.
The NCAA, however, is expected to appear with the decision, potentially extending the legal process.
This case is of significant importance to college athletes and the NCAA. If Pavia’s challenge is successful, it could lead to a reevaluation of the eligibility clock, especially for JUCO players.
Diego Pavia began his football journey at a very young age!
Diego Pavia started playing football while attending Volcano Vista High School, completing 108 of his 165 pass attempts for 1,485 yards and 14 touchdowns to five interceptions.
Initially, Pavia received no scholarship offers from any NCAA Division I school. However, two Division II schools, Western Colorado and Western New Mexico, offered him a chance to play quarterback.
At the age of 19, Diego Pavia decided to commit to playing JUCO football at New Mexico Military Institute.
Moreover, in his last season at NMMI, Diego led the Broncos to the NJCAA National National Football Championship.
With years of experience with NMMI, Pavia committed to play college football at New Mexico State before joining his current team, Vanderbilt, on January 18, 2024.
In case you didn’t know
- Diego Pavia was born on April 30, 2001, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, to mother Antoinette Padilla and father Roel Pavia.
- He has two older brothers named Roel Jr and Javier and a younger sister named Abrielle.
- On October 5, 2024, Pavia led Vanderbilt to an upset victory over No. 1 Alabama, Vanderbilt’s first win over a top-5 team in program history.
