Vanderbilt is swinging for the fences again, with veteran QB Diego Pavia leading the charge. For a program with just 54 winning seasons in 121 years, 2024 was unforgettable. Last season, the Commodores kicked off with a bang, beating ACC’s Virginia Tech, and closed strong with a win over Georgia Tech. But the real showstopper? Shocking Alabama for the first time since 1984. Finishing 7-6, Coach Clark Lea knows this is just the beginning. Pavia stands tall at the center—a tough leader, a fan favorite, and a relentless fighter with the NCAA over his JUCO eligibility battle. While hope for a comeback story is alive, the team knows there are rough patches ahead to fix.

Last season, Diego Pavia’s 3-touchdown showing helped Vanderbilt win the Birmingham Bowl 35-27 over Georgia Tech, ending an 11-year postseason drought. He was named MVP, completing 13 of 21 passes for 160 yards and adding 84 rushing yards. His determination helped turn a tough 2-10 program into a strong one. However, to keep improving, Vanderbilt still needs to work on a more consistent offensive line and better decision-making when under pressure.

On the May 25th episode of The Cover 3 podcast, Bud Elliott sat down with Vandy247’s Robbie Weinstein to preview Vanderbilt’s 2025 season. When asked about what improvements the coaching staff hopes to see from Diego Pavia, especially after his standout yet injury-plagued 2024, Weinstein shared his thoughts. “I think he got as much out of himself really as I think he could have. What they do want to do is—he was banged up for most of last season. He is small, like he’s listed at six foot—he’s probably 5’9″, 5’9½”. That’s based off of standing next to him a number of times. Great football player, but the SEC has the biggest, strongest athletes in the conference—or in the conference in college football. And Vandy had a really pretty bad O-line last season, so he got banged up,” Weinstein said.

Then he explained that the big focus for Diego Pavia this season is durability. They want to see him take fewer hits—whether that means getting the ball out faster or being smarter when running to avoid unnecessary damage. While Pavia’s completion rate wasn’t stellar, much of that was due to receivers struggling to get open downfield. Still, he minimized mistakes, throwing very few interceptions and rarely turning the ball over. And the key now is surrounding him with a stronger supporting cast, and Vanderbilt has invested heavily in bolstering the offensive line to do just that.

Here’s the big fix from Clark Lea that could ease the pressure on Diego Pavia.

Robbie Weinstein admitted he’s usually skeptical since Vanderbilt seems to overhaul its offensive line every year, with little payoff. But this spring, things looked different. Jordan White, a four-star transfer from Liberty, stood out. Rated highly by insiders, White chose Vandy over big programs like Colorado, Michigan, Miami, and even South Carolina. And according to Robbie, “He looks good.”

Weinstein also pointed out, “Last year they were playing a guy who’s 340 pounds at center and he couldn’t really move. This guy, Jordan White, can actually get to the second level, block some linebackers, and it’s going to open more holes in the run game.” Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 300 pounds, he’s one of the nation’s top interior linemen. After 2 strong seasons as a starter at Liberty, he’s now the ideal cornerstone to anchor Vanderbilt’s offensive line. But it’s not just White—Coach Lea is stacking the line with even more weapons to protect Pavia. The upgrades are real, and the offensive line looks ready to step up and give their QB the boost he needs.

We know Vanderbilt also said goodbye to Gunnar Hansen, their starting quick tackle, who transferred to FSU. But incoming transfer Isaia Glass from Oklahoma State has shown promise. According to Robbie Weinstein, Glass looked noticeably sharper during spring practice, giving the Commodores hope for a stronger presence on the left side of the line.

“They’ve still got a lot to prove, I think. But they look better at left tackle, a lot better at center. And then Bryce Henderson [OL], the South Dakota State transfer, is going to be at right tackle, strong tackle; he’s really good run blocker. So I guess there’s some question as to whether they can help him out enough in pass pro because that’s a weakness. But they do look, you know, they’re going to be at the bottom of SEC in terms of O line, but not by a mile,” Weinstein added.

Now, let’s see how Pavia performs with these new weapons this season under Clark Lea. Some even predict 2025 could bring even bigger thrills for Commodore fans.

What can Vanderbilt expect from Diego Pavia at the helm?

The transformation at Vanderbilt isn’t the work of just one man. While Clark Lea deserves major credit, OC Tim Beck plays a huge role that often flies under the radar.

Last season, in their stunning wins over Bama and Kentucky, the Commodores dominated from start to finish by controlling the clock with masterful ball control. Beck’s run-first spread option offense is far from boring, using 12 personnel with a mix of multiple read options and run-pass combos that keep defenses guessing. Bama’s Kalen DeBoer couldn’t find an answer—Pavia and the offense simply wouldn’t leave the field. In crucial 3rd-down moments, Pavia made sharp reads or scrambled for big yardage, fueling those unforgettable victories and proving Vanderbilt’s offense is a force to be reckoned with.

Safe to say, Pavia lays his purpose out loud and clear. He wants to “be a part of a Vandy team that can change the culture and reputation of the program and make more history for years to come.” But the big question remains—can he back up those bold words? An anonymous HC drops a striking insight, stating, “Pavia is an It factor. He’s not the most talented, but he’s the definition of the college football playmaker. He’s never out of it until play is over. The entire offense improves when he’s clicking.”

If the anonymous coach’s words hold true, 2025 could be a breakout year for Vandy. “You’ll see more advanced concepts from them this season to mix up their standard option play,” he revealed. Why? Because Diego Pavia has solid ground to build on, especially with TE Eli Stowers back for another season to watch his back. The Pavia-Stowers connection promises a fierce, unstoppable force on the field. Now, Pavia says, it’s all about chasing a bigger dream. After finally finishing above .500 for the first time since 2013, their confidence is blazing, ready to ignite a season full of passion and breakthroughs.