Days ago, ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine, Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia made headlines during an appearance on the Glory Daze podcast by making a $1,000 bet with college football legend Johnny Manziel that he could run a faster 40-yard dash than him.
Many were expecting that showdown to take place on Saturday, but Pavia told reporters that while he would participate in all the passing drills, he would not be running the 40-yard dash.
Instead, Pavia plans to wait a few more weeks, revealing that he will run the 40 during his Vanderbilt Pro Day on March 18. He said he's saving all athletic and timed testing for that event.
Pavia is one of the most polarizing prospects in this year's draft, drawing comparisons to Johnny Manziel, who has served as a mentor to the former JUCO‑turned‑SEC quarterback.
"He's giving me some good advice, for sure," Pavia said. "He always reaches out, checks up on me to make sure I'm good. He's just a friend to me, and he's given me some mentorship. He's been around me; he's been around my family. He's just a great person for those that really don't know."
Where Pavia may land on draft day remains somewhat uncertain. But if he hopes to win the 40-yard dash bet against Manziel, he'll need to top a 4.68 - the time Johnny Football ran in 2014 before being selected in the first round by the Cleveland Browns.
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