Get to know the quarterbacks competing to be Vanderbilt football’s starter, including Diego Pavia

Diego Pavia began his Sunday media session by complimenting the player standing next to him — offensive lineman Steven Hubbard.

“Most importantly, the O-line looks really good right now,” he said, before talking about his own performance. That’s one indicator of Pavia’s leadership skills for which the New Mexico State transfer is lauded.

Right now, there are still four quarterbacks competing to be Vanderbilt football’s 2024 starter, with Clark Lea and offensive coordinator Tim Beck, hired in the offseason from New Mexico State, looking to cut that down to two and then to one. Those four are Pavia, Utah transfer Nate Johnson, Drew Dickey and fellow Aggies transfer Blaze Berlowitz. Freshmen Whit Muschamp and Jeremy St-Hilaire are expected to redshirt.

The competition could well come down to who has the best ability to avoid turnovers. Turnovers plagued Vanderbilt throughout 2023 and were a factor in its finishing 2-10.

“100% ball security, taking care of the football,” Beck said when asked about the most important factors in the competition. “Vanderbilt gets better right away if we if we take care of the football, and we don’t ever want to punt the ball, but punting the football is not a crime either. Turning the ball over is, so we have to take care of the ball.”

With each of the four and Beck speaking after Sunday’s practice, here’s the skill set each brings:

QUARTERBACK COMPETITION Clark Lea gives Vanderbilt football quarterback competition update as 2024 practice begins

Diego Pavia

Pavia is far more experienced than the other quarterbacks in the mix. Now ihis final year of eligibility, Pavia spent two years at a junior college and two years at New Mexico State. He appeared in 27 games with the Aggies, throwing for 4,423 yards and running for 1,431.

“I’m a playmaker,” Pavia said. “When the play breaks down is when I’m…

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Author : The Tennessean

Publish date : 2024-08-04 19:42:59

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