Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia’s brother arrested for public intoxication during Tennessee game

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia’s brother was arrested for public intoxication at the Tennessee game, in his second arrest

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia faced unexpected off-field drama during Saturday’s victory over Tennessee as his brother, Javier Pavia, was arrested for public intoxication inside Neyland Stadium.

The incident marks Javier’s second arrest this season, drawing renewed attention to the Pavia family during Vanderbilt’s late-season push.

According to Knox News, Javier clashed with event staff after repeatedly waving a large flag that blocked the view of surrounding fans. Stadium workers said they issued multiple warnings, but he refused to comply. When Knoxville police approached, officers reported that Javier was visibly intoxicated, slurring his speech, swaying, and becoming increasingly aggressive toward staff and law enforcement.

Diego Pavia’s brother Javier Pavia ARRESTED pic.twitter.com/Bq9Oabl0dm

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The arresting officer wrote in the police report that Javier was “extremely verbally combative,” a detail consistent with the disorderly behavior that led to his detention. He was taken into custody and booked early Sunday morning before being released on his own recognizance, per Knox County jail records.

This is not Javier’s first in-stadium arrest tied to a Vanderbilt game. In August, both Javier and his older brother Roel were detained during Vanderbilt’s dominant win over Charleston Southern. Police responded to complaints about a belligerent fan throwing food and harassing spectators, ultimately identifying the Pavia brothers as the source of the disturbance.

While Diego Pavia continues to lead Vanderbilt on the field, neither he nor Javier has publicly commented on the latest incident. Vanderbilt officials have also not issued a statement.

The arrest adds an unexpected headline to an otherwise strong weekend for Vanderbilt football, raising questions about stadium security, fan conduct, and the repeated involvement of Pavia family members in game-day disruptions.