ESPN star regrets Diego Pavia vote for Heisman Trophy after Vandy star's explicit outburst

One Heisman Trophy elector connected Wednesday expressed regret voting for Vanderbilt Commodores prima Diego Pavia to triumph the prestigious award.

Rece Davis, an ESPN broadcaster for assemblage shot and assemblage basketball, said helium was gladsome Pavia didn’t triumph aft the backmost dropped an explicit connection pursuing the revelation that Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza won the trophy.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Vanderbilt backmost Diego Pavia (2) throws to a receiver during warmups beforean NCAA assemblage shot crippled against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, successful Knoxville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

Pavia apologized for saying "F--- each the voters," the connection inactive resonated.

"Heisman gets a batch of talk, and I don’t privation to wrapper this up by piling connected Diego Pavia due to the fact that helium apologized for his post-Heisman behaviour and understandably so," Davis said connected the "College GameDay Podcast." "I didn’t consciousness similar helium owed the voters an apology. He tin accidental immoderate helium wants to them. As a voter, I saw immoderate radical who took umbrage with that, but I did not. He could accidental what helium wants.

"But the 1 happening that his behavior, adjacent with the apology included and accepted, did for maine was that it made maine regret my Heisman vote. I voted for Diego Pavia due to the fact that I cognize what the past of Vanderbilt is. I thought helium was the astir dynamic player. I’m predisposed successful Heisman voting to ballot for guys who make ‘wow’ moments."

COLLEGE FOOTBALL STAR CALLS ON TRUMP TAKE CHARGE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF DECISIONS

Heisman Trophy finalist Vanderbilt backmost Diego Pavia speaks during an NCAA assemblage shot quality league earlier the grant ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, successful New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Davis said helium was much upset astir the flimsy toward Mendoza and that he’s made Heisman Trophy voters for the past 2 decades and regretted lone 1 ballot erstwhile earlier due to the fact that of mediocre judgement helium made toward a person.

"This 1 was different. I regretted the ballot due to the fact that aft Pavia’s behaviour successful the aftermath, I was similar ‘Man, I’m gladsome helium didn’t win.’ I’m gladsome helium didn’t win," Davis added. "That’s not the mode you should consciousness astir a subordinate arsenic large arsenic Pavia is connected the field.

"I americium delighted Mendoza won due to the fact that helium volition correspond the Heisman, but successful the mode that I deliberation should beryllium represented."

Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189.

"I didn’t grip those emotions good astatine each and did not correspond myself the mode I wanted to," Pavia said successful his apology. "I person overmuch emotion and respect for the Heisman voters and the enactment process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I americium sorry.

"Fernando Mendoza is an elite rival and a deserving victor of the award. I person thing but respect for his accomplishments arsenic good arsenic the occurrence that Jeremiyah [Love] and Julian [Sayin] had this season. I’ve been doubted my full life," helium wrote.

Vanderbilt Commodores backmost Diego Pavia (2) warms up earlier their crippled against the Missouri Tigers astatine FirstBank Stadium connected Oct. 25, 2025. (Steve Roberts/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Every measurement of my travel I’ve had to interruption down doors and combat for myself, due to the fact that I've learned that thing would beryllium handed to me. My household has ever been successful my corner, and my teammates, coaches and unit person my six. I emotion them — I americium grateful for them. — and I wouldn’t privation thing to distract from that. I look guardant to competing successful beforehand of my household and with my squad 1 much clip successful the ReliaQuest Bowl."

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.