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By Tyler Erzberger
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Diego Pavia is unbothered after being under the microscope of the internet on Monday, when his actual height was revealed at the Senior Bowl.
Although it was apparent that the dual-threat Vanderbilt quarterback was not as tall as his listed 6 feet, his official measurements turned heads when they were released.
While numerous quarterbacks such as Bryce Young have done well in the NFL at 5-foot-10, Pavia's listing of 5-foot-9 is a cause of concern for scouts and potential suitors who might have thought of picking up Pavia in the draft.
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The NFL has progressed in ways that are positive for Pavia, with scrambling and mobile QBs almost a requirement for anyone drafted who isn't elite in the pocket, but his size will be one of his most significant drawbacks come the combine next month.
But he isn't flinching.
The former New Mexico Military player went from nothing to almost winning the Heisman Trophy in his final year of college football, and he sees this perceived setback as just another hurdle he has to overcome to reach his dream of being an NFL starter.
“Yeah, my size has been doubted my whole life,” said Pavia. “I feel like the only thing the NFL cares about is can you win, and I view myself as a winner."
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After his transfer to Vanderbilt, he was overlooked and told he wouldn't be anything more than a gimmick on an SEC team that had been the conference's laughingstock for decades. Instead, he helped turn the Commodores into one of the most fun teams to watch in the country and left the program in its best shape it's ever been with a chance to become a new contender perennially in the SEC.
“I feel like God has blessed me in so many ways to be a connector, and I feel like that’s one of my superpowers that I’ve got: I can connect," Pavia continued. "We unite, and then once you unite, you want to play for one another, and once you give 120% effort, there’s no one that can stop your team.”
Everywhere Pavia has gone, there have been comments about his size and his capabilities, but he's persevered. The NFL, though, will be his toughest test, with hundreds of scouts ready to test his every sentence, movement of muscle, and flick of the wrist when he releases the ball.
He believes in himself. Now it's time to see if the evaluators in the pros do as well.
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