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Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia drew attraction connected societal media this week aft saying he did not person practice up of nan 2026 NFL Draft. But his supplier offered immoderate clarity Wednesday, suggesting Pavia handled his ain affairs during college.
Pavia made nan comments during an quality connected Jon Gruden’s Barstool Sports show, "Gruden’s QB Class," while discussing his determination to return to Vanderbilt aft nan 2024 season.
Vanderbilt backmost Diego Pavia (2) celebrates aft nan team’s triumph Kentucky astatine FirstBank Stadium successful Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean)
"Everyone had a backmost successful nan SEC. So, location was obscurity wherever I – I mean, location was a fewer places that I could go, but I knew wherever I wanted to stay. And so, I told nan GM, ‘You guys benignant of sewage maine by nan balls. You guys cognize [head coach Jerry Kill], [offensive coordinator Tim Beck] is here. You know, I'm coming back.
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"‘Let's find a adjacent number that I could travel backmost for.’ And so, we worked it out," Pavia added, speaking astir a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal.
Former NFL coach Jon Gruden asked if Pavia had an agent, but he said he did not.
"No, I'm representing myself. I didn't deliberation it was adjacent that personification was going to correspond maine and return 5 to 10%. Ain't cipher taking my money. Tell you that."
Vanderbilt Commodores backmost Diego Pavia (2) throws a walk against nan Iowa Hawkeyes successful nan first 4th during nan ReliaQuest Bowl astatine Raymond James Stadium connected Dec. 31, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
HEISMAN TROPHY VOTER BLASTS VANDERBILT'S DIEGO PAVIA FOR F-BOMB REMARK IN FIERY COLUMN: 'PUNK MOVE'
The shocking determination amazed many, but Pavia’s supplier posted connected societal media clarifying that nan NFL imaginable was speaking astir his NIL negotiations, not his upcoming pro career.
"Please extremity nan stupidity. He didn’t person an NIL AGENT. I americium his supplier for nan nfl," Malki Kawa, laminitis and CEO of First Round MGMT, said successful a station connected X.
It was announced successful January connected Pavia’s Instagram that he had signed pinch Kawa’s group up of nan draft.
Diego Pavia of nan Vanderbilt Commodores warms up anterior to nan crippled against nan Tennessee Volunteers astatine Neyland Stadium connected Nov. 29, 2025 successful Knoxville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
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Pavia was reportedly visiting pinch nan Carolina Panthers connected Tuesday. He is predicted to beryllium a late-round prime contempt a standout play astatine Vanderbilt that saw him propulsion for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns pinch 8 interceptions while adding 862 rushing yards and 10 scores.
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