Sports

Diego Pavia Applauds Benching Of 5-Star Quarterback He Personally Recruited To Vanderbilt

#Vanderbilt Commodores
by Last Updated

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Diego Pavia comments on Vanderbilt's quarterback competition.


Blaze Berlowitz will be the starting quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores in Week 1 against Austin Peay. Five-star freshman Jared Curtis will be watching from the bench.

Despite an overwhelming belief that he’d take the first snap in Nashville this fall, Curtis lost the offseason competition. Diego Pavia applauded the coaching staff’s decision.

That approval puts him in a very small minority. Most wanted to see Curtis make an instant impact, even if it meant taking his lumps as an SEC rookie. While he may have the opportunity to win the job at a later date, he will not be on the field when Vanderbilt begins its 2026 season.

Blaze Berlowitz is QB1.

Berlowitz will make the first start of his college career in Week 1, though he has appeared in seven games over the last three seasons.

The passer began his career at New Mexico State. He followed head coach Jerry Kill to Vanderbilt in 2024.

Berlowitz is unproven. His stats don’t jump off the page. He’s completed just 53% of his passes. As a result, many preferred the Commodores hand the keys to the offense over to Curtis.

Jared Curtis is the highest-rated recruit in Vanderbilt football history. The five-star passer spurned Georgia to represent his hometown.

His signing came with much fanfare. The attention has continued upon his arrival to campus. He was featured on an ESPN The Magazine cover released Tuesday. The timing of that announcement couldn’t have been worse!

Diego Pavia played a large role in his recruitment. He attended one of his high school games in Nashville last fall. It pushed the Heisman trophy runner-up to build a personal relationship.

“I showed up, and I’m watching this kid play quarterback and I’m kind of in disbelief. I’m like, ‘Does this kid have any offers?

“This kid’s got to come to Vanderbilt. He can stay home.”

-Diego Pavia

The quarterbacks began exchanging text messages. Pavia then teamed up with comedians Theo Von and Nate Bargatze to successfully lure Curtis on a campus visit.

The recruiting trip quickly turned into appearances at games and practices, and eventually, a commitment, which Pavia may or may not have accidentally leaked.

Jared Curtis would not be at Vanderbilt if not for Diego Pavia. So, why did Pavia approve of the freshman’s benching?

Diego Pavia played with Jared Curtis’s competition.

Pavia and Berlowitz were teammates at New Mexico State and Vanderbilt. The latter backed up the former throughout most of that time.

Pavia was happy for his friend. He knows the type of player he is. It’s not a dig at Curtis. He’s just excited to see his former teammate get an opportunity after three years on the sidelines.

For that reason, he approves of the decision, though he’d likely have a similar response should Curtis take over the starting role later this year.

Pavia’s message might also have been an attempt to quiet negativity surrounding Berlowitz. The fanbase has been critical. They are unsure if the Commodores have picked the right quarterback.

Diego Pavia is looking to shift that mindset. Berlowitz won the competition. He’s earned the right to play. He may not be the most physically gifted passer on the roster, but his former teammate believes he can lead Vanderbilt to success.

Jared Curtis, meanwhile, will wait at least a week longer to make his starting debut.