Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, Diego Pavia Earn AP All-America Honors, Make Program History
Vanderbilt football just made a little history-and not the kind that gets quietly filed away. Tight end Eli Stowers and quarterback Diego Pavia were named to the Associated Press All-America teams on Monday, with Stowers earning a first-team nod and Pavia landing on the second team. It’s the first time in nearly three decades that multiple Commodores have received AP All-America honors in the same season.
To put that in perspective, you have to go all the way back to 1996, when Bill Maranangel and Boo Mitchell were recognized. Before that?
1982, when Jim Arnold and Allama Matthews got the call. This isn’t just a banner year for Vanderbilt-it’s a historic one.
Let’s start with Stowers, who’s been nothing short of a matchup nightmare all season. The Denton, Texas native led the Commodores in both receptions (62) and receiving yards (769), adding four touchdowns along the way.
He’s been the go-to guy in pressure situations, leading the team in catches six times and topping the yardage chart in four games. And it’s not just about leading his team-Stowers posted the most total yards by a tight end in the country this season.
The numbers are impressive, but the timing of his biggest performances says even more. Against a ranked Texas squad, he racked up a career-high 146 receiving yards.
One week later, he hauled in 12 catches-another personal best-in a win over Auburn. That kind of back-to-back dominance, especially in November, speaks to a player who not only produces but rises when it matters most.
Then there’s Diego Pavia, who’s been at the center of Vanderbilt’s offensive surge and finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up. His dual-threat ability has been a nightmare for defenses all year long.
Pavia completed 242 of 340 passes for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns while also rushing for 826 yards and nine scores. That’s not just balance-that’s control of the game at every level.
He’s ranked in the top 10 nationally in several key categories: total offense (334.8 yards per game), yards per attempt (9.39), passing efficiency (171.5), completion percentage (71.2%), touchdown passes, and points responsible for (18.2 per game). In other words, he’s been one of the most efficient and productive quarterbacks in the country.
And like Stowers, Pavia saved some of his best work for the spotlight. In the win over Auburn, he threw for over 300 yards and ran for more than 100.
Against No. 18 Tennessee in the regular season finale, he passed for over 250 and rushed for more than 150.
Those are video game numbers, but they came in real games that mattered.
Both players were also named to the All-SEC first team last week, adding another layer to what’s been a breakout year not just for them individually, but for Vanderbilt football as a whole.
The Commodores will wrap up their season on December 31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
CT on ESPN. With Stowers and Pavia leading the charge, Vanderbilt heads into bowl season with momentum-and a pair of All-Americans who’ve already left their mark on the program’s history.