When Diego Pavia first arrived Vanderbilt football this summer, he played his highlights on screen for his new teammates. Several of those highlights came from New Mexico State’s win over Auburn last season.

Some recruits were in town and, according to Cole Spence, recruit highlights were normally shown on the projector. But with the rookies falling behind, it was Pavie who put his own strengths on the board.

The November 18, 2023 game that resulted in a 31-10 Aggies victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium was largely due to Pavie, who threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 35 yards. New Mexico State transfers Eli Stowers and Moni Jones also played in the game.

For members of the Vanderbilt coaching staff, the moment that stood out most from that game was when Pavia criticized an Auburn defender to the ground after an interception that was called back due to an offside penalty.

“Before I knew Diego, when I saw him throw an interception early and he suplexed the linebacker on the sideline, that was a play that always stood out to me as far as the toughness of the team I was watching,” Clark Lea said. Tuesday before Vanderbilt’s game with Auburn (3-5, 1-4 SEC) this weekend.

The Commodores (5-3, 2-2) have never won at Jordan-Hare Stadium despite a 21-22-1 overall record against the Tigers. Vanderbilt hopes to change that with Pavie, who has already led Vanderbilt to an upset over Alabama this season.

Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze certainly remembers it. During Freeze’s press conference on Monday, he told reporters: “I’m tired of seeing this quarterback, I’m tired of him.”

Freeze also lost to the Pavia Aggies while head coach of Liberty in 2022.

When Pavia first showed his highlights, safety CJ Taylor said he told Pavia, “Bro, I’m not watching that.” The first piece Pavia showed was her body slam.

“That game was Diego,” Taylor said. “We all know who he is as a competitor and a quarterback.”

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Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.

This article was originally published on Nashville Tennessean: Diego Pavia beat Auburn at New Mexico State, now he’s at Vanderbilt