In 2025, Diego Pavia broke every standard for a Vanderbilt quarterback. He threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns against eight interceptions. His performance led the Commodores to their first 10-win season and made him the school’s first Heisman finalist.
Pavia finished second in the Heisman race behind Indiana Hoosiers’ Fernando Mendoza. He reacted poorly following the loss, posting a savage F-bomb aimed at the voters on social media. He did apologize the very next day, but the outburst overshadowed his entry into the NFL draft process.
And the scrutiny intensified at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. During his on-field drills, Pavia’s performance led to immediate backlash. A video of his session went viral, prompting sharp criticism online about his potential.
Diego Pavia’s combine throws raise significant eyebrows
Pavia measured 5-foot-10 and 207 pounds at the Combine, with an arm length of 28 5/8 inches and 9 5/8-inch hands. These stats have people questioning if he’s big enough for the NFL. At that height, it’s hard to see over a professional offensive line, which creates blind spots when throwing against zone coverage.
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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia celebrates after defeating Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
His throwing session on February 28 didn’t help settle the debate. While he showed he can hit deep balls when his footwork is right, his timing and power on shorter, intermediate throws were shaky. Pro Football Scouting Network (PFSN) reported that his arm strength and decision-making aren’t yet at an NFL level, projecting him as a career backup.
TRENDING: Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s entire throwing session from the #NFL combine tonight.
What do you notice…?
🤔🤔🤔
pic.twitter.com/WxBtF6x8bv
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) March 1, 2026
Footage of his session spread quickly online, and the fan reaction was blunt, with many questioning his professional transition given his unorthodox style and measurements.
One fanjoked, “Welcome to the Canadian Football League.”
Anotherclaimed, “Looks like a middle schooler throwing a high school football.”
A third onepenned, “Doesn’t seem to have good arm strength. He throws a good ball, but it’s late a lot.”
The fourth fanadded, “Dude looks 37.”
“Too short and doesn’t have very good arm strength. He would have to jump every time if he had to throw over a NFL offensive line,” one random X userpenned.
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Diego Pavia is currently ranked as No. 203 overall and the No. 10 quarterback on Bleacher Report’s most recent scouting report. While he was a Heisman runner-up, his professional projections are significantly lower due to his 5’10” frame and limited arm velocity.