Diego Pavia sends strong message to NFL teams ahead of Senior Bowl

Diego Pavia doesn’t run from pressure, and he’s never acted like doubt gets under his skin. The last few days have been different though.

The Vanderbilt quarterback showed up at the Senior Bowl, and his official measurement sparked a conversation he probably didn’t want. Vanderbilt had him at 6-foot on their roster. He came in at 5-foot-8, and social media piled on fast.

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The criticism hit hard, and most of it centered on his height. Shorter quarterbacks have carved out careers before, but 5-foot-8 is a tough sell at the next level.

History says guys that size don’t last long in the NFL. But, Pavia isn’t buying it. He talked with reporter Simone Eli and made it clear the noise hasn’t shaken him.

He had a message for NFL teams too, and he didn’t hold back.

“I’m the best player in the country. You get me, you’re gonna get someone who’s a winner, a competitor, a leader, and someone who doesn’t take no for an answer,” Pavia said.

“I hope someone gets me, and the team that gets me, I’m gonna do everything I can… I’ll die for the team,” Pavia added.

At 23, Pavia just finished a CFB season that turned heads. He came in second for the Heisman behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and won SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Vanderbilt hit 10 wins for the first time ever, and he was the engine behind it.

Diego Pavia

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates with fans after winning a NCAA football game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 29, 2025.

His stats held up too. Pavia threw for 3,539 yards with 29 touchdowns against eight interceptions and completed 70.6 percent of his passes. He ran for 862 yards and 10 more touchdowns.

Age could be a factor. He’ll be 24 next month after spending six seasons in college between NMMI, New Mexico State, and Vanderbilt. But the 2026 quarterback class isn’t deep, and that might work in his favor.

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