NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was added to the watch list for the 2024 Maxwell Award. Pavia was among additions announced by the Maxwell Football Club Thursday.
The Maxwell Award, established in 1937, is presented annually to the college player of the year and named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a former standout at Swarthmore College, renowned sportswriter and football official.
Pavia was one of 17 additions to the watch list which was initially announced in the preseason.
The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native has led the Commodores to a 4-2 record, their best start since 2008. After guiding Vandy to a season-opening win over Virginia Tech, Pavia has followed up by engineering victories over No. 1 Alabama and Kentucky. The win over Alabama was the program’s first over the nation’s top-ranked team.
Pavia completed 80 percent of his passes (16-for-20) in defeating the Crimson Tide, making him the first quarterback since 2010 to hit a completion rate of at least 80 percent against Alabama. He followed up by completing 15-of-18 passes in the win at Kentucky, becoming the first SEC quarterback ever to win back-to-back conference games with at least two passing touchdowns, an 80 percent completion rate and 50 rushing yards in each game.
Among Power 4 quarterbacks with at least 1,000 passing yards on the season, no one has more than Pavia’s 388 net rushing yards. In conference games only, Pavia’s 90.5 QBR leads all SEC quarterbacks.
Pavia and the Commodores return to action Saturday against Ball State. Kickoff at FirstBank Stadium is set for 6 p.m. and tickets remain available.
