Vanderbilt’s Pavia Seeks NFL Success with Guidance from Johnny Manziel

As Vanderbilt quarterback prospect Diego Pavia navigates the NFL Draft process, he’s receiving guidance from someone who has been there before: Johnny Manziel. Pavia revealed to reporters at the NFL Combine that he’s been in communication with the former Heisman Trophy winner.

Manziel Offers Unique Perspective

Pavia emphasized the value of Manziel’s advice, stating, He’s giving me some excellent advice, for sure. He added, He always reaches out, too, checks up on me to develop sure I’m good. He’s just a friend to me, and so he’s given me some mentorship. He’s been around me; he’s been around my family. He’s just a great person for those that really don’t realize. Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2012 while playing at Texas A&M, was a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2014.

Lessons Learned from Manziel’s Career

Manziel’s NFL career was short-lived, ending after two seasons due to off-field issues. Despite this, he’s reportedly focused on helping Pavia avoid similar pitfalls. According to On3’s Chris Low, Manziel I’m like, ‘Learn from my mistakes, brother. Learn from Johnny. Don’t be Johnny off the field.’ He continued, I had so much opportunity and so much [expletive] and threw it away. Diego’s young and lit, and it’s easy in that position to get out of control. But I’m trying to give him the best advice I can. He’s listening. I think he is, so that’s a blessing.

Similarities and Challenges for Pavia

Like Manziel, Pavia has faced questions regarding his maturity. He addressed this at the Combine, saying, Coach [Clark] Lea always preached that your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed till you’re 25, and I just turned 24, so I’ve got like 365 days to move. Pavia finished the 2025 season with impressive statistics, throwing for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, while also rushing for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a Heisman Trophy runner-up, finishing second to Fernando Mendoza.

A Friendly Wager

The mentorship extends beyond advice, with Manziel and Pavia even making a friendly wager. On his Glory Daze podcast, the two bet $1,000 on whether Pavia can beat Manziel’s 4.68 40-yard dash time from the 2014 NFL Combine.

Pavia now turns his attention to the NFL Draft, bolstered by the support and experience of his mentor, Johnny Manziel.

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