Deion Sanders Turns Heads With Support for Diego Pavia After NFL Draft

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders showed support for former Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia. The 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist went undrafted in the the 2026 NFL Draft.

Deion Sanders in Support of Diego Pavia

Colorado Buffaloes Deion Sanders Coach Prime Heisman Trophy Diego Pavia Quarterback Vanderbilt Commodores 2026 NFL Draft — Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (QB14) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Deion Sanders took to social media to voice support for Pavia.

“I believe in you my man! Stay strong and don’t let up,” Sanders said on X. “Show them what time it is and never allow them to forget. Much love and god bless you.”

@diegopavia02 “I BELIEVE IN YOU MY MAN! Stay strong and don’t let up. Show them what time it is and never allow them to forget. Much Love & God bless you. #PRIME
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) April 26, 2026

Diego Pavia spent the past two seasons with Vanderbilt. His best season was in 2025, where he threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while also rushing for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Before Pavia got to Vanderbilt in 2024, the Commodores were in the midst of a five-year drought in which they failed to make a bowl game. With Pavia as the quarterback, they made a bowl game in both of the seasons he started. In 2025, he led Vanderbilt to their first 10-win season in program history.

Pavia was one of four finalists for the 2025 Heisman trophy along with Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love. Mendoza ended up winning the award and was eventually drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Love was taken two picks later at No. 3 overall by the Arizona Cardinals while Sayin returned to Ohio State. Meanwhile, Pavia never heard his name called. He became the first Heisman Trophy finalist since former Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch in 2014 to go undrafted.

While Pavia wasn’t projected as being anything more than a late round selection in this year’s draft, it was still stunning to see such a prominent name in college football with the type of on-field success he had to not be one of the 257 picks.

Colorado fans last season witnessed one of the biggest draft falls in NFL history when former Buffs quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sanders came into the 2025 NFL Draft projected to be one of the first quarterbacks selected in either the first or second round. Not only did Sanders slip out of round two, he wasn’t drafted until day three in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.

With Colorado in 2024, Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. He was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He helped lead Colorado to a 9-3 record in the regular season and earn a berth in the Alamo Bowl. After three seasons of the "Coach Prime" era in Boulder, this 2024 Colorado team is the only one to make it to a bowl game.

As a rookie for the Browns in 2025, Sanders made appearances in eight games, throwing for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. He did have his fair share of struggles, throwing 10 interceptions.

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