Diego Pavia’s NFL plight is misunderstood — just like him
Consider each precise factor Diego Pavia has accomplished and mentioned to harm himself — not the faux issues, considered one of which was shared Sunday by individuals who ought to know higher — and apply them to a quarterback who is 6-foot-3 as an alternative of 5-foot-10, with a robust arm as an alternative of a median one.
None of these issues matter in any respect. The “F the voters” put up when the two-year Vanderbilt star completed second to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza for the Heisman Trophy. The occasional cocky statements or pregame “victory formation” apply. The friendship with Johnny Manziel. The 24-year-old’s determination when he was 21 and at New Mexico State to urinate on the apply subject of rival New Mexico.
That’s the listing. That’s it. That was someway sufficient for “character concerns” to be uttered at instances about Pavia main as much as the NFL Draft. Balance that towards Pavia’s manufacturing, extraordinary management abilities and these imaginary traits, and he is an imaginary contender with Mendoza to go No. 1 general. Maybe he comes up just quick once more.
Now flip it round and picture Pavia as a mini-Mendoza, a man who plans to spend quiet nights enjoying Clue with Kirk Cousins and his household in larger Las Vegas. An Eagle Scout. Pair that with the manufacturing, with the management, and in addition with the 5-10 body and arm that TheAthletic Analyst Dane Brugler referred to as “mediocre” in rating Pavia his No. 16 quarterback and out of doors his high 300 prospects.
Maybe he goes within the seventh spherical? Pavia’s character is why lots of people appear to be revealing in the truth that he went undrafted, however his bodily limitations are why they’ve that chance. And why the story of a former zero-star recruit who led Vanderbilt — Vanderbilt! — to a 10-win season with video-game numbers will stay untouched as an all-timer in faculty soccer.
Vanderbilt had one participant drafted this 12 months, tight finish Eli Stowers within the second spherical by the Philadelphia Eagles. Going again to the 2010 season, 59 SEC groups have received at the very least 10 video games. Those groups had 6.8 gamers drafted on common. None had as few as one drafted. That, amongst numerous different stats, clips and testimonials, is how good Pavia was main Clark Lea’s workforce and working Tim Beck’s offense.
It’s potential to be an awesome faculty soccer participant and never a high NFL prospect. It truly occurs on a regular basis. But I’m stunned Pavia has to go the minicamp tryout route with the Baltimore Ravens somewhat than getting a free-agent deal from a workforce. The distinction there, from a signing or seventh-round flyer to a tryout, is perhaps the place his character performed an element.
As Brugler wrote, the “life of the party” persona wasn’t for each workforce. And all of them most likely thought-about the potential for distraction, the eye round a major public determine who can be combating just to make the roster. Maybe Pavia harm himself in interviews. Certainly, he had some unimpressive public moments, and people are on him.
But the Public Enemy No. 1 stuff is weird, even within the context of an NFL fan and media world that wastes no alternative to go pig in slop on the first signal of another person’s distress. I totally anticipated Tennessee followers to thrill in Pavia’s plight — he is their rival, he has mentioned unflattering issues up to now about Tennessee, and he destroyed the Vols on their residence subject final season.
I did not understand some individuals who cowl the NFL have him mistaken for a Bond villain. Or a clueless slacker. A outstanding NFL
Thing is, when Pavia instructed Gruden, “Ain’t nobody taking my money,” he was speaking concerning the determination to not rent an agent whereas in faculty. He very a lot has an NFL agent. Which was cleared up weeks in the past. Which someway eluded Florio. Who by no means bothered to delete the misguided put up.
But at the very least he did not share the faux put up of a parody account on Sunday claiming that Pavia went on Instagram to say: “f___ the @nfl i write my own path.” The listing {of professional} media of us who shared that as official, or at the very least requested aloud if it was, is for much longer than the suitable variety of zero.
Maybe slightly humbling is good for Pavia. There’s no must create a fantasy world by which he threw all of it away to do podcasts with Theo Von.
The actuality is, when NFL scouts got here via Nashville in its breakout season of 2024, they requested about Pavia to be well mannered. In 2025, they requested with goal, as a result of their enchancment pressured them to concentrate. Playing off script an excessive amount of is a preferred Pavia criticism, however he took massive strides as a senior in staying throughout the framework and lacing extra singles and doubles.
And I do know character and management had been seen as Pavia property in some NFL buildings, in no small half as a result of Lea and anybody else requested concerning the four-time captain would give them tales till the notebooks had been full.
That did not make Pavia any greater. It did not add thunder to his proper arm. I nonetheless assume there’s an opportunity he is Doug Flutie 40 years later, however possibly that is extra CFL Flutie than NFL Flutie.
Boston College Flutie stays essentially the most enjoyable of all, and cemented in faculty soccer historical past, and so it will likely be with Pavia.
