{"id":446175,"date":"2026-02-01T00:09:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T00:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/446175\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T00:09:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T00:09:08","slug":"diego-pavia-who-would-be-nfls-shortest-qb-dismisses-height-concerns-at-senior-bowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/446175\/","title":{"rendered":"Diego Pavia, Who Would Be NFL\u2019s Shortest QB, Dismisses Height Concerns at Senior Bowl"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the biggest talking points to come out of the 2026 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., was the height of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pavia was listed at 6\u20190\u201d on Vanderbilt\u2019s official roster the past two seasons as he led the Commodores to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2012-13. When he was measured in Mobile, Pavia stood just short of 5\u201910\u201d\u20145\u20199\u201d and 7\/8 inches<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cGod blessed me with 5\u20199 and 7\/8\u201d,\u201d Pavia said in an interview with SiriusXM Radio\u2019s Jim Miller.<\/p>\n

“I don’t wanna let anyone hold me or my team back.”@VandyFootball<\/a> QB Diego Pavia on the competitive fire he brings every time he steps on the field. <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfb: https:\/\/t.co\/4Ye6daJzca<\/a>@seniorbowl<\/a> | #NFLDraft<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IL5Rop3oVc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) January 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

If he suits up and plays in an NFL game, Pavia would be the shortest quarterback to take the field in the Super Bowl era. The shortest quarterbacks currently in the game are Panthers signal-caller Bryce Young and Cardinals\u2019 Kyler Murray, who were both measured 5\u201910\u201d and 1\/8 before their respective drafts.<\/p>\n

Pavia dismissed any concerns with his height and instead talked about what he believes he would bring to an NFL locker room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to show every team that whoever I\u2019m blessed enough to go to, you\u2019re going to get someone who is a winner,\u201d Pavia said. \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed enough to never have a losing season of football ever in my life, and I don\u2019t plan on that ever happening. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you\u2019re going to get out of me. You\u2019re going to get someone who\u2019s great in the locker room, great with the teammates and who\u2019s going to push the team and make sure that we are winning. I think that\u2019s what the ultimate competitor does.”<\/p>\n

What NFL draft experts say about Pavia\u2019s chances at the next level<\/p>\n

Despite finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting<\/a>\u2014just behind projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza\u2014Pavia\u2019s chances at getting drafted by an NFL team appear slim to most.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think that Diego Pavia can play quarterback in the NFL,\u201d draft expert Todd McShay<\/a> said earlier this week. \u201cYou watch him during team sessions, and you watch him during some of the 7-on-7 stuff, and there’s some fun things to watch… but, when you watch him have to drive the ball, NFL throws, it’s not the same as the other guys.<\/p>\n

“I’m saying when you watch him out there, you start to wonder are the limitations going to be too much at the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n

If he\u2019s not selected in the seven rounds of the NFL draft from April 23 to 25, Pavia will be free to sign with any club as an undrafted free agent.<\/p>\n

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