#2 Diego Pavia Season 2024-25
QB
Prior to Vandy
• Competed two seasons at New Mexico State (2022-23) and two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute (2020-21)
• 2023 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year
• Started all 15 games for NMSU in 2023, leading team to the second 10-win season in program history and first since 1960
• Threw for 2,973 yards on the season with 26 touchdowns to nine interceptions while also rushing for 125 yards and seven touchdowns
• Totaled 3,896 offensive yards on the year, 12th in FBS and sixth among non-Power 5 players
• Threw three touchdown passes in three games on the season, including in NMSU’s win at Auburn
• In leading Aggies to their first-ever victory over an SEC opponent, completed 67.9 percent of his passes against the Tigers including three touchdowns and no interceptions
• Recorded both a rushing and passing touchdown in five games on the year
• Ranked fifth in FBS in forced missed tackles (46) per Pro Football Focus
• Capped his NMSU career ranked ninth all-time in passing yards, second in rushing yards by a quarterback and sixth in passing touchdowns
• Played in 12 games and made eight starts in 2022
• Most valuable player of the Quick Lane Bowl, passing for 167 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 65 yards in 24-19 win over Bowling Green
• Threw a career-best four touchdown passes while adding a rushing score against Valparaiso in the season finale
• Finished the season fifth among FBS quarterbacks in passing yards per completion (14.36)
• Played in all 13 games for the New Mexico Military Institute in 2021, helping team to NJCAA National Championship
• Threw for 1,728 yards and 21 touchdowns while adding 658 yards and seven scores on the ground
• Won the starting job as a freshman at NMMI in 2020, as Covid-19 pandemic saw team play all nine games in Texas
The Pavia File
• Three-sport athlete at Volcano Vista, competing in baseball and wrestling in addition to football
• Led Volcano Vista to an 11-0 regular season as a senior before suffering first loss in state semifinals
• Did not hold an FBS offer out of high school
• Son of Antoinette Padilla
• Has three siblings – Roel Jr., Javier and Abrielle
• Brother, Roel Jr., wrestled and played football at Briar Cliff University
• Majored in biology at New Mexico State