“We All Sinners”: Diego Pavia Asks Almighty For Forgiveness After Destroying South Carolina

Diego Pavia wasn’t always a man of faith. When he rolled into New Mexico Military Institute five years ago, teammates were taken aback. Sporting bleached blond hair, earrings, chains around his neck, and a tank top, Pavia was, as then offensive coordinator Chase Kyser described, “[a] 100 percent fit in with ‘Jersey Shore’.” Yet, as the complexities of a college football career and his life got in the way, the quarterback did the one thing he never thought he would: He turned toward God.

In 2022, after arriving at New Mexico State Aggies, Pavia hit rock bottom when the team went 1-5. Not playing at the time, the signal caller felt like everyone around him was writing him off. “It was just like a really, really low moment,” the QB had admitted in an interview in December last year. But all it took was a trip back home. Sitting around with his friends, spending hours just talking and trying to make sense of everything, he told the group at one point: “If they give me another shot, I’m gonna take it over. Never looking back.” The 24-year-old wasn’t lying, evident by their most recent win.

Entrenched as the Vanderbilt Commodores’ starter and leader this season, the quarterback helped them break their 16-game losing streak vs South Carolina on September 13. When the cameras found him after the final whistle, it wasn’t himself he pointed to but his faith: “I told you, baby. The reason why we’re winning, God, baby.” And then came the plea for forgiveness: Taking to his X account after the game, Pavia wrote: “GOD, THANK YOU ❤️🤝 WE ALL SINNERS BUT PLEASE FORGIVE US AND CONTINUE TO GUIDE THIS TEAM AND ITS LOVED ONES 💯” 

Notably, since 2008, South Carolina has dominated Vanderbilt on every other occasion. But on this night, the Commodores defeated them with a 31-7 win at the Williams-Brice Stadium. And Pavia, who transferred to the team in January last year, was a large part of that. He completed 18 of 25 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Pavia didn’t have any jaw-dropping throws like his 54-yard scoring pass against Virginia Tech, but he didn’t need to. His best moment came on a third-and-21, connecting with Eli Stowers for a 24-yard completion that turned into 36 yards, thanks to a roughing-the-passer penalty. 

While he did make a few mistakes—a fumble on a failed lateral, one interception, and a sack—his overall command of the offense and timing in critical moments carried his team through the game. Clearly, the young player has come a long way from his 19-year-old self.

In fact, straight out of New Mexico State, the 24-year-old had already proved his mettle in October last year when he secured Vanderbilt’s first win over a top-5 team in program history by defeating No. 1 Alabama 40-35. Too humble to take the credit back then, he simply said it was “all in God’s timing, literally from the jump.” Maybe that same timing could explain how he’s back with a lawsuit won and a sixth year of college eligibility. Pavia’s secret?

“Just work on [your] relationship with God and he’ll guide you where you want to be.”