Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has Diego Pavia’s back.
“@diegopavia02 I BELIEVE IN YOU MY MAN!,” said the legendary coach in a Saturday, April 25 post via X.
The message came after Pavia went undrafted in this year’s NFL Draft, becoming the first Heisman Trophy finalist to not be selected since Jordan Lynch in 2014, according to The Athletic. He has not yet signed with any team, as he still awaits the next step in his football career.
Sanders continued, “Stay strong and don’t let up. Show them what time it is and never allow them to forget. Much Love & God bless you. #PRIME”
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is turning to a controversial football figure for advice ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. The polarizing quarterback revealed that he is connecting with former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel — who’s had his own run-ins with controversy — for advice and mentorship as the draft inches closer. “He’s giving me […]
Last season, Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 10-2 season in his final year with the team. He recorded 3,192 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. He added 826 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
His success on the field led to Pavia earning a spot as a Heisman Trophy finalist, but his off the field antics have marred his reputation.
After the Heisman ceremony in December 2025, when Pavia finished second behind Indiana quarterback and national champion Fernando Mendoza (who was selected first overall at the draft), Pavia posted “F-All the voters” on his social media.
He later apologized for the post.
Diego Pavia throws a pass during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Despite his social media controversy being front and center at the 2026 NFL Draft Combine, he claimed that teams had not been asking him about his questionable posts.
After the 2026 NFL draft concluded on Saturday, April 25, Diego Pavia is still waiting to find out where he’ll be playing professional football. The controversial quarterback went undrafted at this year’s NFL Draft after the Heisman Trophy finalist threw a lavish watch party in Tennessee. According to a photo posted by reporter Julian Mininsohn, […]
“Nope, they haven’t,” Pavia told reporters. “I just think, not that they don’t care or whatever, but they kind of know the situation already.”
He continued, “One thing about me is I don’t care what people think about me. God has a plan for me regardless. But the way the media is, they’re supposed to put out clickbait and things like that. That’s how people get views, and that’s how people make money. I understand that. And so people will twist a story and try to put out bad media to get clicks, good media to get clicks. That’s just today’s world that we live in. So I’m just adjusting to the new world.”
Sanders himself has experience watching a player slide down the draft board, as his son, Shedeur, was slated to be a first-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but ultimately was not chosen until the fifth round.
He was picked by the Cleveland Browns and saw some action on the field during his first year in the league.
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