Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Diego Pavia’s brothers were arrested in Nashville as the Vanderbilt football team opened its season. The two were both booked for public intoxication as the Commodores ripped off a 45-3 win.
The duo has not responded publicly to the charges, which also include a resisting arrest and felony charge of assault on law enforcement. A failure to heed head coach Clark Lea’s advice was the cause.
Pavia led his team to a convincing win over Charleston Southern in Game 1. He threw for 275 yards and three scores in the contest.
It continued momentum from last season when he posted a 7-6 record with upsets of Virginia Tech, Auburn, and Alabama. Unfortunately, his day was overshadowed by his brothers’ bad behavior.
Diego Pavia’s brothers were arrested.
Both of Diego Pavia’s brothers got arrested last night 💀 pic.twitter.com/KmNrXUaV2e
— Vandy Recruiting 𝕏 (@VandyRcruits) August 31, 2025
Roel and Javy Pavia were booked on public intoxication charges. The quarterback’s older brothers were enjoying his big day on the field.
While details of what transpired are still unclear, it’s something that might not come as a surprise given similar incidents from the past. At least not to Vanderbilt’s head coach.
Clark Lea tried to warn the brothers.
Pavia and his brothers opened up on their partying ways during an episode of the quarterback’s Air it Out with Diego Pavia podcast. They detailed celebrating those wins over both Virginia Tech and Alabama.
The victory over the Crimson Tide stands out. The brothers recalled opening up and shutting down bars in Nashville. The drinks were flowing all weekend!
Javy and Roel Pavia talked about bar hopping until around 4am on Friday night and then keeping the party rolling after Saturday’s upset victory.
The pair recovered from their Sunday hangovers with a little hair of the dog. They then drunkenly watched their younger brother practice on the sidelines.
Diego Pavia at one point in the segment recalled his head coach telling Javy to calm down as he “got rowdy” on the bench.
Roel: “I’m on the verge of blackout drunk again (at practice) … There’s not even spectators.”
Diego: “The whole team and just you guys.”
Roel: “Just us, and we’re getting rowdy on the sidelines… We were trying to get back quick to go party.”
Diego: “I remember coach came up to me and was like, ‘Hey, your brother over there (looking at Javy), can you please go tell him just to chill out a little bit?'”
Roel: “Yeah, we were getting rowdy, for sure.”
The Pavia brothers did not heed Clark Lea’s advice that weekend. They returned to the bar after practice.
They had a repeat performance in Vanderbilt’s 2025 season opener less than a year later. This time, it ended in the drunk tank.