NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Diego Pavia’s confidence, seen by some outsiders as sheer arrogance, has taken him from a junior college in New Mexico to the Southeastern Conference and then New York as the Heisman Trophy runner-up.
His next target? The NFL, where critics point to a key detail putting both Pavia’s draft position and chance at pro football in question. His official measurement of 5-foot-10 usually is just too small to play quarterback in the NFL.
Pavia has a short response to anyone thinking he’s too short to play in the league.
“I would just say turn on the tape,” Pavia said at the NFL combine, pointing to his two seasons at Vanderbilt. “The SEC and the Big Ten probably have the most guys getting drafted in the first (and) second round. So we’re playing those guys.”
Teammates who played with Pavia agree. Eli Stowers switched to tight end from quarterback while playing with Pavia at New Mexico State before both transferred to Vanderbilt. Stowers said all the talk about the quarterback’s height and size boils down to something simple.