Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia has been named the winner of the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, becoming the first Commodore in program history to earn the honor. The award recognizes the nation’s top upper-class quarterback for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
Pavia has emerged as one of college football’s breakout stars, lifting Vanderbilt to a 10-2 season. The school’s first double-digit win campaign. The senior has thrown for 3,192 yards and a program-record 27 touchdowns while completing 242 of 340 passes.
He also leads the Commodores in rushing with 826 yards and nine scores, pushing his total offense to a school-record 4,018 yards. His 334.8 yards per game ranks first in the SEC and second nationally.
“Diego Pavia embodies everything the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award stands for,” said John Unitas, president of the Golden Arm Educational Foundation. “His toughness, leadership and commitment to excellence reflect the spirit of my dad both on and off the field.”
Pavia has also drawn praise for his resilience and community involvement, becoming a steady presence within a program experiencing a historic rise. His underdog ascent and dual-threat production have cemented him as one of the nation’s most compelling players in 2025.
For now, No. 14 Vanderbilt waits to see what happens with their postseason fate. They reportedly tried to schedule a 13th game for this weekend, but it didn’t come to fruition.
More college football news:
- Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
- Virginia Tech reportedly funding roster near top of ACC for James Franklin
- Leaked NSFW audio exposes Penn State AD Pat Kraft’s identity crisis in Happy Valley
- Diego Pavia asks Donald Trump to fix the College Football Playoff