How Diego Pavia dealt with maturity question at…
Diego Pavia is counting on a growth spurt.
OK, the 24-year-old, 5-foot-9 quarterback most likely isn’t going to attain NFL peak preferences at this level. But the Vanderbilt star can mature and get past issues like writing, “F-ALL THE VOTERS,” after he completed second to Fernando Mendoza in a runway Heisman Trophy vote.
“Coach (Clark) Lea always pressed that your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed until you’re 25,” Pavia quipped Friday at the NFL Combine, according to MSG Network’s Madelyn Burke, “and I just turned 24… so I’ve got like 365 days to go.”
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia on his maturity: “Coach Lea always pressed that your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed til you’re 25, and I just turned 24… so I’ve got like 365 days to go” pic.twitter.com/XxXA3nYKuH— Madelyn Burke (@MadelynBurke) February 27, 2026
Pavia is attempting to beat the chances as the shortest NFL quarterback of the last decade. Bryce Young and Kyler Murray – both of whom measured barely over 5-foot-10 – have been No. 1 general picks, while Pavia is hoping that a workforce will use a late-round choose on him despite his dimension.
“I’m a man on a mission,” Pavia said. “I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid, so super excited for this opportunity. And super grateful for it, too.”
Diego Pavia had two spectacular seasons at Vanderbilt. Getty Images
Doubters are nothing new for Pavia, who started his profession at New Mexico Military Institute for two seasons, transferred to New Mexico State for two seasons and then discovered stardom over two seasons main Vanderbilt to new heights in the SEC with a contagiously passionate enjoying model.
Pavia accomplished 70.6 % of his passes and threw for 29 touchdowns last season as the Commodores cracked the Top 10 in the AP ballot and completed 10-3.
Diego Pavia at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 27, 2026. Getty Images
“My ‘why’ is my mom,” Pavia said. “What drives me is that, as a little kid, you don’t grow up with a lot, and so you want more for yourself. That’s what drives my passion to be here.”
Pavia said that he met with the Jets at the NFL Combine. He suits their underdog mentality.
“I feel like I’m going to carry that chip on my shoulder wherever I go,” Pavia said. “Whatever team gets me is going to get a hard worker, a heck of a teammate. When my number is called, I’ll be ready.”
Pavia apologized to the voters and to Mendoza on social media at some point after the Heisman ceremony.
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