Deion Sanders Supports Undrafted Quarterback Diego Pavia
Deion Sanders knows quite a bit about the unpredictability of the NFL Draft. So when Diego Pavia, the former Vanderbilt quarterback, didn’t hear his name called this past weekend, Coach Prime reached out to offer some encouragement, drawing from his own experiences.
“I believe in you, my man!” Sanders posted on X. “Stay strong and don’t let your guard down. Show them what time it is and never let them forget. Lots of love and God bless you.”
This message undoubtedly provided Pavia with a much-needed boost. Just a few months prior, he was among the top players in college football, amassing 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns during the 2025 season, which earned him a spot as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Yet, despite his impressive season, Pavia was overlooked in the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s rare for a Heisman finalist to go undrafted; the last player to do so was Jordan Lynch from Northern Illinois in 2014, and only a handful have faced this fate in the last three decades.
Honestly, I had my doubts. Pavia stands at just 5 feet 10 inches, and at 24 years old, he’s older than many rookie hopefuls. There have also been reports about concerns regarding his temperament, which might be tied to his more flamboyant style of play in recent seasons.
Still, his stats were undeniable. The praise he garnered typically leads to a name called on at least the draft’s third day. Yet, Sanders gets how unpredictable the draft truly is.
His own son, Shedule Sanders, was expected to be a first-round pick but instead fell to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, a surprising turn that became a major topic of discussion that year.
When Pavia found himself in a somewhat similar, though more extreme situation, Coach Prime was there to lift his spirits.
What the future holds for Pavia remains uncertain. He has several paths to consider, whether that’s succeeding as an undrafted free agent, getting a camp invite, or pursuing a different route into the league. But at least he knows one prominent figure believes in him.
