Diego Pavia led Vanderbilt to a historic season in 2025. Following a 7-6 finish in 2024, the Commodores improved to a 10-2 record this year and earned the No. 15 spot in the PFSN College Football Playoff Rankings.
Though Vanderbilt fell short of a playoff berth this season, Pavia’s magnificent performance had triggered many to endorse him as the Heisman favorite this season. However, he finished second, as Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza claimed the award.
Deion Sanders Voices Support for Diego Pavia Following Heisman Snub
Deion Sanders’ family seems to have a particular fondness for Pavia. Just days ago, Coach Prime’s eldest son, Deion Sanders Jr., also known as Bucky, publicly endorsed Pavia for the Heisman Trophy.
After Pavia was not named a Heisman finalist on Saturday, Coach Prime had an encouraging message for him.
“@diegopavia02 is HIM!” Coach Prime tweeted.
Pavia also retweeted Sanders’ post with his own message.
“REAL BALL KNOWER #4K,” Pavia wrote.
REAL BALL KNOWER #4K https://t.co/ImWVMBsCPD
— Diego Pavia (@diegopavia02) December 14, 2025
In the Heisman voting, Mendoza earned 2,362 points, including 643 first-place votes, while Pavia received 1,435 points. Pavia made history as Vanderbilt’s first-ever Heisman finalist, surpassing the previous best finish by Commodore All-American center Carl Hinkle, who finished seventh in 1937.
Pavia’s rise is especially interesting given his unconventional path. He went from being unrecruited out of high school to playing at junior college, then New Mexico State, and finally transferring to Vanderbilt last season. He also had the option to play for Coach Prime at Jackson State, as Sanders sent him a scholarship.
“It was my first FBS offer,” Pavia said in his appearance on “The Pivot” podcast last week. “And Coach Prime offered me at Jackson State, but he was so real. He’s like, Hey, look, we’re looking for a backup. You ain’t playing over my son, even if he gets hurt. I’m like, at least, he’s real.”
This season, Pavia recorded 3,192 passing yards, 826 rushing yards, and 36 total touchdowns, averaging 334.8 total yards per game, leading the Power Four conferences. He exceeded 4,000 total yards in just 12 regular-season games.
Although Pavia did not win the Heisman, he remains in contention for several of college football’s top awards. He is a finalist for the Manning Award and was also a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year honors.
This is Pavia’s last season at Vanderbilt, as he is heading to the next chapter of his career. He is now aiming to cap his Vanderbilt career with a strong performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa on Dec. 31.
