Well, it certainly looks as though things didn't work out exactly how former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia planned.
With all seven rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, Pavia never heard his name called, becoming the first Heisman Trophy finalist to go undrafted since 2013.
Even now, he seemingly has yet to sign a contract with any franchise as an undrafted free agent, and as he still awaits his turn, none other than the Tennessee Volunteers are relishing his downfall.
Diego Pavia goes undrafted to the delight of Tennessee Volunteer fans
Throughout his two-year tenure with the Vanderbilt Commodores, he didn't shy away from making enemies with his team's in-state rivals, the Volunteers.
"Vanderbilt is gonna run Tennessee after this year,"Â Pavia said of the rivalry during the 2025 season. "This is gonna be the new staple of college football. It's going to happen here at Vanderbilt."
While the Commodores did defeat the Volunteers last year, Pavia's performances (in either of his games against Tennessee) clearly weren't enough to solidify him as a worthwhile pick in the NFL Draft, and it certainly doesn't seem as though Vanderbilt runs the state.
In fact, Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers is the only former Commodore who heard his name called in the Draft, with four former Volunteers getting drafted throughout the seven rounds.
Not to mention, 10 quarterbacks were taken throughout the draft: Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Alabama's Ty Simpson, Miami's Carson Beck, Penn State's Drew Aller, Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Arkansas's Taylen Green, Rutgers' Athan Kaliakmanis, Texas Tech's Behren Morton, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, and even North Dakota State's Cole Payton.
To put it lightly, it seems like Pavia's boastfulness and ego have gotten in the way of NFL franchises seeing his on-field talents and value as a player. In other words, a little karma for the former Vanderbilt quarterback, who will have to wait at least a little longer to figure out who his next team is.
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