Diego Pavia Turns to Infamous Mentor for NFL Draft Guidance

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is seeking guidance from a figure known for his tumultuous past as he prepares for the NFL Draft.

Pavia has reached out to former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, whose own career has been marked by controversy, for mentorship as the draft date looms. “He’s giving me what to look out for, what it’s like, how to stay in the process,” Pavia shared with reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on February 28. “And, you know, he’s given me some good advice, for sure.”

“He always checks up on me, makes sure I’m good, and he’s just a friend to me, you know? He’s been around my family. He’s just a great person for those that really don’t know him,” Pavia added, highlighting the personal connection he feels with Manziel.

In a standout season, Pavia finished second in this year’s Heisman Trophy voting, trailing Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. His impressive stats included 3,192 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions, alongside 826 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, leading the Commodores to a 10-2 record.

However, like Manziel, Pavia's journey has not been without its own controversies. Tensions flared during the Heisman ceremony when he posted critical remarks about Heisman voters and the Indiana football team on social media, later issuing an apology for those comments.

When asked if NFL teams had inquired about his social media activity, Pavia responded, “Nope, they haven’t. I just think, not that they don’t care or whatever, but they kind of know the situation already.”

He elaborated on his perspective regarding public perception: “One thing about me is I don’t care what people think about me. God has a plan for me regardless. But the way the media is, they’re supposed to put out clickbait and things like that. That’s how people get views and make money. I understand that. People will twist a story and try to put out bad media to get clicks; that’s just today’s world that we live in.”

Manziel's own narrative is filled with challenges throughout his college years and brief NFL stint. His time at Texas A&M was overshadowed by controversies leading up to the 2014 NFL Draft, where he was selected 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns after being projected as a top-five pick.

His NFL career was short-lived; he played only 14 games with the Browns before being released after two seasons due to personal issues, including substance abuse.

In recent discussions, Manziel has candidly addressed his struggles with mental health and addiction, notably in the 2023 Netflix documentary "Untold: Johnny Football." “When I had gotten everything I’d ever wanted, I think I was the most empty that I ever felt inside,” he reflected. “I had bought a gun that I knew I was going to use. I had planned to do everything that I wanted to do at that point in my life, spend as much money as I possibly could, and then my plan was to take my own life.”

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).