The college football season is over, and players like Diego Pavia now turn their attention to a new goal. The NFL combine will take place next month in Indianapolis, and there will be plenty of intrigue.
The quarterback group is considered thin this year with a drop off after Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. There will be plenty of scrutiny about the position behind the Indiana star.
Pavia was one of four players to earn a spot on the stage in New York in December. The Vanderbilt quarterback finished second behind Mendoza in the voting. He tallied 189 first-place votes following his standout senior season with the Commodores.
The Albuquerque, New Mexico native passed a career-high 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns in the 2025 season. Pavia accounted for 4,401 total yards and 39 touchdowns in leading Vanderbilt to 10 wins.
The production earned him a spot as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
While in New York for the award show, Pavia naturally spent time around the other finalists. Fans noticed something when photos began to circulate during the week.
Pavia looked noticeably shorter than the rest of the finalists. Mendoza is listed at 6-foot-5. Ohio State lists quarterback Julian Sayin at 6-foot-1. Notre Dame running back checks in at an even 6-foot.
Vanderbilt lists Pavia at 6-foot and 207 pounds. It is often assumed that programs will embellish the height and weight of their players. There was a stark contrast between Pavia and the rest of the group in New York, however.
Senior Bowl Lists Diego Pavia Under 6-Foot
Flash forward to this week and the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. The event will give Pavia an opportunity to work with a staff of NFL coaches and be seen by league personnel. The official rosters have been released for the all-star game, and Pavia was listed at 5-foot-9 and 7/8 and 198 pounds.
The measurement has garnered attention with some college football fans poking fun at Pavia’s height on social media.
An NFL quarterback measuring under 6-foot is not unprecedented. Kyler Murray (Arizona) and Bryce Young (Carolina) both were selected first overall in the draft. They are listed at 5-foot-10.
Still, Pavia is in a different situation than either of those players. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. currently has Pavia listed as his seventh-best quarterback, which could push him eventually to a Day 3 selection.
Vanderbilt Coach Clark Lea Believes In His QB
Ultimately, Pavia’s performance on the field this week in Alabama plus his pro day and combine workouts will matter more than anything in determining where he lands.
Pavia earned plenty of praise from his head coach, Clark Lea, during his two-year stint with the Commodores. The quarterback has been a big part of the success and turnaround for Vanderbilt the last two seasons.
“I’m so excited for him to be able to shoot his shot in the NFL, and I’m never betting against that guy,” Lea said after the ReliaQuest Bowl in December. “I hope the right people have paid attention to his season, because this dude has been doubted his entire life.
“Everyone is wanting to say something about what he can and can’t do. This guy is going to make it. He’s not only going to make it, he’s going to find a way to play at the level he’s found a way to play at for us. I believe that with all my heart.”
The senior completed a career-high 70.6% of his passes in the 2025 season. He accounted for 10,255 yards passing to go with 88 touchdowns through the air in four seasons. Pavia rushed for 31 touchdowns and 3,098 yards in that span.
The Senior Bowl will kick off at 2:30 p.m. (ET) and will be broadcast by NFL Network on Jan. 31.
