This time last year, quarterback Diego Pavia was in the midst of a season that would see him challenge for the Heisman Trophy. Now he’s out of football and deciding what’s next. The 5 ft 10 in Pavia has always had to take the long road in his playing career.
Despite success in high school, Pavia had no scholarship offers from Division I schools. So he chose the junior college route and enrolled at New Mexico Military Institute. There, he led the Broncos to a NJCAA National Football Championship. His championship-game performance earned him a scholarship to New Mexico State.
In two seasons with New Mexico State, Pavia started 23 games and went 14-9. He led the Wolfpack to a 2022 Quick Lane Bowl win over Bowling Green. Following his two seasons at New Mexico State, he transferred to Vanderbilt.
Pavia made a name for himself at the national level by leading Vanderbilt, a school not generally known for its football prowess, to a 7-6 record. He passed for 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns, with 4 interceptions. While rushing for 800 yards and 8 touchdowns.
He built on his solid first season in the SEC by passing for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions while rushing for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns. Vanderbilt went 10-3, and Pavia won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and was named runner-up for the Heisman Trophy to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Following the ceremony, he would post “F- all the voters but….. Family for life” which predictably did not go over well with the media.
Pavia went undrafted in the 2026 NFL draft and signed a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. He attended their rookie minicamp, but the Ravens waived him on July 23rd.
Now Pavia has made his intention to play in the United Football League known in a tweet.
“appreciate everyone reaching out with everything on my career. my agent (Malki Kawa) and the UFL are currently in negotiations to make this happen! whatever team I end up at, I can promise you one thing- You will get everything I got”
The UFL is the spring league created when the United States Football League (USFL) and the XFL merged in 2023. It is the perfect spot for Pavia to show NFL scouts that he can compete at the next level. The league recently announced two expansion teams, one in Colorado and the other in Rhode Island, which will be known as the Breakers. The 2027 UFL Draft will take place on November 18th, and I expect Pavia will be the top pick.
