The transfer portal is always going to be the storm of uncertainty. Players bid their current teams farewell in hopes of a better time elsewhere. This time, there’s a chance that this storm can land at Vanderbilt and affect QB Diego Pavia, particularly. As the star QB is slated to return for an equally impressive 2025 season, there are chances this transfer news will somehow also include him as it unfolds. He also happens to be a face HC Clark Lea is very familiar with. Will he be something Pavia should be worried about?

Quarterbacks seem to be the biggest storylines when it comes to transfer portals, as we have seen recently. In the offseason, it was Carson Beck making waves with his transfer to Miami. No one could fathom Georgia’s star quarterback seeing any program as the one headed by Kirby Smart. For this spring transfer portal, that top story is Nico Iamaleava. His is still a developing storyline, after USC, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, and North Carolina have been ruled out. However, at Vanderbilt, an old face could potentially land back home from the same class.

Northwestern QB Mike Wright “plans to” enter the transfer portal, according to On3. Here, he saw very little action, playing just 3 games. Before playing for the Wildcats, Wright was at Mississippi State for 1 season. But the beginning of his college career was at Vanderbilt, where he spent quite some time. During his time at Vanderbilt, he was a backup to Ken Seals. He also started in 11 games. Mike Wright has had an on-and-off performance throughout his career. In his 2022 season with Vanderbilt, Wright started in only 6 games, as AJ Swann was also asked by Lea to step up for the role.

But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a little trouble for Pavia. His total yards produced in the entirety of his career are 4,187, and he also has 24 total touchdowns. In 2021, Wright had a great season, with 1,042 yards and 8 touchdowns. Though Pavia’s total career yards trump Wright’s by a lot, can the latter choose to give his former home another shot? Also, will he force a change in Diego Pavia’s plans? Interestingly, Clark Lea hasn’t named Pavia’s backup yet. For that role, he has several players vying for that role.

Who’s going to stand in for Diego Pavia?

Vanderbilt shot to stardom for a brief period in the 2024 season. The Commodores beat two key programs: Alabama and Auburn, and turned around the face of the program. Diego Pavia was a crucial element of the process that led to the change of the 2-10 score from 2023 to 7-6 in 2024. In his debut season at Vanderbilt, he made a whopping 2,293 yards, 20 TDs, and just 4 interceptions. Clark Lea is confident with his starting QB, after Pavia’s return to the field following his lawsuit win. However, the HC will be looking at an immensely broad talent pool to back up the star QB, should injury befall him.

Currently in the run for that spot are Drew Dickey, Blaze Berlowitz, Jeremy St-Hilaire, and Whit Muschamp. There’s also Jack Elliott, who will be arriving at camp in the fall. Berlowitz looks set for the spot, according to 247Sports. In Vanderbilt’s spring game, he completed 5 of 9 pass attempts, ran for 75 yards, and scored a touchdown. Berlowitz “appears to be the odds-on favorite to win Vanderbilt’s backup job as it currently stands,” mentioned 247Sports. He said about the QB, “I’ve learned a lot from Diego.” “We’ve been really good friends for a long time. Took a lot of leadership skills from him as well, and then just learned the game. He’s been a great leader, great friend, and blessed having him,” Berlowitz added. Him and Diego Pavia were both at New Mexico State.

With Wright having a chance to land back in at, it would complicate things for Clark Lea as well. He’s currently prioritizing on cutting names from the roster, with the NCAA player limit coming into effect. He might be looking to reduce the QB room depth as well, because there are just too many names. Wright deciding to enter the transfer portal will be a story of interest, should he choose to come back to where he started.