Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia Takes Home Golden Arm Award® for 2025
Key Highlights
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First Vanderbilt quarterback ever to win the Golden Arm Award®
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Backed by presenting sponsor A. O. Smith, highlighting ties between athletic excellence and engineering innovation
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Pavia set multiple program records and led Vanderbilt to its first double-digit win season
BALTIMORE, MD — The Golden Arm Educational Foundation, together with presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation, announced that Vanderbilt University quarterback Diego Pavia has been named the recipient of the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award®. The honor is presented annually to the nation’s top upper-class collegiate quarterback who demonstrates excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Pavia is the first Vanderbilt athlete in program history to receive the award.
Pavia’s path—from an overlooked high-school recruit to one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football—has made him one of the standout stories of the 2025 season. He completed 242 of 340 pass attempts for 3,192 yards and a school-record 27 touchdowns, while also leading the team in rushing with 826 yards and nine scores. His 4,018 yards of total offense set a new Vanderbilt season record. Pavia leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with an average of 334.8 total yards per game, while also topping the conference in passing efficiency, touchdowns, completion percentage, and yards per attempt.
Pavia’s performance has helped drive Vanderbilt to a 10–2 record—the first double-digit win season in the school’s history.
Recognition for Leadership and Resilience
“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. He’s gone from overlooked to unstoppable, making him an inspiration to young athletes everywhere.”
Beyond his on-field achievements, Pavia has been recognized for his resilience, community involvement, and leadership within the Vanderbilt program. His determined approach, coupled with his ability to elevate the performance of those around him, has made him a central figure in Vanderbilt’s resurgence and a prominent contender in national award discussions.
A. O. Smith’s Longstanding Support for Performance and Innovation
A. O. Smith’s role as presenting sponsor reflects the company’s long commitment to performance, reliability, and innovation—values equally recognized in the Golden Arm Award® recipients. As a leader in residential and commercial water heating and boiler technology, A. O. Smith continues to support programs that highlight excellence, discipline, and advancement in their respective fields.
Additional Information
For more information on the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award®, visit GoldenArmAward.com.
Golden Arm Award® partners include: MedStar Sports Medicine, The Babe Ruth Museum, Comcast, Dunbar Security Solutions, Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, BFPE International, Wilson, Haddock Investments, Silver Star Properties, Encore, TRAY, AE2 Creative, Jostens, Leveling the Playing Field, Yates, Wolf Professional Security, and Extraordinar Luxury Transportation.
To learn more about A. O. Smith, visit www.hotwater.com.