Diego Pavia Shines at the 2026 Senior Bowl

Diego Pavia, the quarterback for Vanderbilt, made a strong impression during the 2026 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Representing the National Team, he was the starting quarterback and faced off against familiar SEC rival Garrett Nussmeier. Their previous encounter earlier this season in Nashville saw Pavia and Vanderbilt defeat LSU 31-24.

The Senior Bowl, which has been held since 1950, is a premier all-star game for college football seniors who are eligible for the NFL draft. The event takes place at Hancock Whitley Stadium, home of the South Alabama Jaguars, and serves as a crucial step for many players in their journey to the NFL. Last year’s game featured Tyler Shough, now a candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with the New Orleans Saints.

A Week of Practice and Performance

The week of practice leading up to the game generated several storylines, but Pavia’s stood out. Standing at 5’9 ¾”, Pavia is significantly shorter than the official height listed by Vanderbilt and even shorter than former quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Bryce Young, who were also undersized.

Despite his size, Pavia put on an impressive performance throughout the week, addressing some critics about his physical stature. “I just want to show it don’t matter what size you are,” Pavia told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight. It’s the size of the fight in the dog. You know what I mean? So that’s who I am. That’s what I’ll forever be.”

Game Day Performance

Saturday’s game itself had its ups and downs for Pavia. After Nussmeier led the American Team down the field for an opening-drive touchdown, Pavia responded with a flash of what Vanderbilt fans know well. Rolling out of the pocket, he found NC State’s Justin Joly for an 18-yard pickup on his first throw of the day.

That play looked like vintage Pavia — the type of throw that could easily be imagined landing in the hands of Eli Stowers in a Commodore uniform. However, opportunities were limited after that. A muffed exchange between Pavia and Kentucky running back Seth McGowan led to a fumble, and despite Pavia’s peanut punch on Oklahoma defensive lineman Gracen Halton putting the ball back on the ground, the American Team ultimately recovered.

When Pavia got the ball back, the drive ended quickly with a three-and-out, and he didn’t return until the second half. When he did re-enter, Pavia found more of a rhythm, moving the offense methodically and ultimately finishing the day 10-of-13 passing for 78 yards, with the aforementioned forced fumble to boot.

Challenges and Opportunities

Big plays were scarce after the opening completion, and Pavia failed to find the end zone on the afternoon. He appeared a bit jumpy in the pocket at times and had at least one pass batted at the line of scrimmage — a concern many evaluators have cited due to his height.

Pavia didn’t get much help from his teammates either. In the first half, his right guard stepped on him, tripping him up and setting up a three-and-out. Later, on a fourth-down play, Pavia used his improvisation skills to roll out of the pocket and deliver a catchable pass, but an easy drop led to a turnover on downs.

Overall Impression

In the end, the lack of explosiveness doesn’t fully encapsulate Pavia’s play on Saturday. Despite inconsistent reps and limited support, he looked polished and efficient, doing little that could hurt his draft stock. Mel Kiper Jr. currently ranks Pavia as the No. 7 quarterback in the class.

“I feel like you go watch, the tape number speaks for [itself],” Pavia said. “I feel like I’m the best player in the country, and I still believe that. That’s just the ultimate confidence that I’ve had.”