Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia shouldn’t be the one one who thinks junior school play should not depend in opposition to NCAA eligibility.
The 24-year-old is ready to compete for the Heisman Trophy and doubtlessly lead the Commodores to the School Soccer Playoff this season because of a federal court docket injunction final yr that mentioned his two years at New Mexico Army Institute didn’t preclude him from taking part in one other season at Vanderbilt.
Now, Pavia’s attorneys goal to set a brand new precedent nationwide by completely altering the present rule requiring JUCO seasons to depend in opposition to a participant’s 4 years of NCAA eligibility.
Pavia’s lawyer, Ryan Downton, informed Entrance Workplace Sports activities they’re getting ready to make the unique lawsuit a proposed class-action go well with, including a number of gamers through an amended grievance, together with Vanderbilt’s Tre Richardson, Louisiana Tech’s Andrew Burnette, Virginia Tech’s James Djonkam and Oklahoma State’s Iman Oates.
After Pavia’s injunction was handed down in late 2024, the NCAA granted a waiver for gamers to obtain an extra yr of eligibility if they’d beforehand performed at junior school. Nonetheless, Downton famous the waiver was just for one yr.
Moreover, greater than 35 gamers have since submitted comparable lawsuits round eligibility guidelines to various outcomes, and Downton mentioned the class-action go well with goals to clear up the shortage of readability at present surrounding eligibility guidelines.
Pavia performed two years at New Mexico Army Institute earlier than transferring to New Mexico State, however argued in federal court docket that the NCAA’s guidelines on junior school participation counting in opposition to eligibility violates antitrust regulation outlined by the Sherman Act.
Pavia’s illustration argued that, along with the COVID-season waiver afforded to athletes after taking part in in 2020, the quarterback’s NCAA clock shouldn’t have began throughout his junior school time. It additionally claimed that Pavia stood to earn greater than $1 million in NIL compensation in 2025.
The off-the-field authorized points have apparently not been a distraction for Pavia, who has led the Commodores to a high 10 rating for the primary time since 1947. Pavia has handed for 1,569 yards and added one other 438 on the bottom whereas accounting for 19 complete touchdowns this season.
The Commodores (6-1, 2-1 SEC) host the No. 15 Missouri Tigers (6-1, 2-1) on Saturday.
–Discipline Degree Media
