Diego Pavia is still searching for his next opportunity after the Baltimore Ravens waived him last month.
As the 24-year-old quarterback faces an uncertain football future, NFL insider Mike Florio believes college football could remain an option for him. For that, Pavia may need to take an unusual route to make that happen.
Mike Florio Reveals a Legal Battle Can Open College Football Path for Diego Pavia
According to Florio, Pavia could return to the college game if he decides to challenge his eligibility in court.
“He’d need to file a lawsuit,” he wrote. “While he has played only four seasons of NCAA football, he had two years in junior college before making the jump.”
“His argument would be that, like all other players who will be getting five seasons in five years of NCAA eligibility, the same rule should apply to him, JUCO tenure notwithstanding.”
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So far, there is no indication that Pavia has committed to that approach. Florio also said Pavia’s agent has not answered multiple emails asking whether the quarterback is considering a return to college.
Pavia’s college journey began at the junior college level, where he first developed his game before moving into the NCAA. He eventually earned the starting quarterback job at New Mexico State, giving him the platform to establish himself at the FBS level.
From there, Pavia transferred to Vanderbilt and spent the final two seasons of his college career with the Commodores. He played a major role in changing Vanderbilt’s fortunes.
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In 2024, he helped the Commodores finish 7-6 and capped the season with a Birmingham Bowl victory over Georgia Tech. Then, he took another step forward in 2025 and helped Vanderbilt reach the first 10-win season in program history.
At Vanderbilt, Pavia developed into a dangerous dual-threat quarterback.
During 13 starts in 2025, the Heisman Trophy finalist threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns. Meanwhile, he added 862 rushing yards and 10 scores, showing how much pressure he could create with his legs.
Pavia finished last season as the most impactful quarterback in college football by Pro Football Network’s QB Impact Score. His 94.8 mark ranked first among all FBS quarterbacks and seventh among the best single-season scores in PFN’s database.
Pavia backed up that rating with 9.1 net yards per attempt, which ranked fourth nationally. He also completed 71.2% of his passes.
Because of those numbers, college programs can consider Pavia. Schools are already examining NFL rosters for players who could receive a fifth year of major college football.
So, with Pavia currently not under contract with any NFL team, Florio believes programs could explore upgrading their quarterback rooms with a proven playmaker.
Still, Pavia has not decided whether he wants to pursue that option. The UFL has also shown interest in him, with its season starting after the football season ends.
For now, his next move remains uncertain.
