After a senior season that saw him finish second in the Heisman voting and lead Vanderbilt to a 10-2 record, many are wondering whether Diego Pavia will play in the ReliaQuest Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Pavia raised eyebrows after he vented about losing the Heisman to Fernando Mendoza, but many still believe he is headed to the NFL and thus possibly not playing.
As a senior and a quarterback that many NFL teams might want, he can opt out of playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida, so that he does not risk injury ahead of the Combine. However, that does not seem to be the case.
Pavia confirmed earlier this month that he will be suiting up for the Commodores for the ReliaQuest Bowl against the Hawkeyes, saying he wanted to win.
It is not all good news for Vanderbilt, however, as Pavia’s favorite target, John Mackey Award winner Eli Stowers, has been confirmed to have opted out to focus on his preparation for the upcoming NFL draft. As for Pavia, he has not yet declared for the draft officially.
Pavia has had the best season of his career so far, passing for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions, with a completion rate of 71.2%. He also has 826 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, making him one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in college football right now.
Diego Pavia Can Fight For Another Year of Eligibility If He Chooses Not To Go To the NFL
Diego Pavia may head to the NFL draft, but he does have another option if he seeks another shot at the Heisman, and that is to fight for another year of eligibility. He was one of the 27 college football players who were part of a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking an additional year of eligibility, and they won.
They argued that their time at junior college should not count. In Pavia’s case, he played two seasons for the New Mexico Military Institute, then transferred to New Mexico State in 2022, so he could fight for another year of eligibility if he wants to.
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