Aside from his explosive plays, it’s Diego Pavia’s swagger that keeps him in the national conversations. That Cuban link chain, ski mask, and the confidence oozing out of him. The QB makes for a controversial figure, but one that has won the heart of the Music City, and as he promises, it won’t be dimmed down in the next level.

In a conversation with Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe, the QB talked about his swagger, the NFL, and more on the Nightcap. Remember how he poked a shot at powerhouse Alabama. “It’s not going to be close.” Though he lost, his ‘cocky’ personality remains a controversial topic, one that Chad Johnson does not want him to do away with.

“Where’s that confidence come from? Especially at the quarterback position, most of the time it’s frowned upon,” The Bengals’ legend asked Pavia, who was a guest on the podcast. “Once you get to the next level, please tell me you will remain the same way you are now.” The Albuquerque native’s response oozed with that very confidence that he has become synonymous with. “I’mma be the same killer I’ve always been.”

Former Bengals legend Johnson holds six Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro honors, and more in the pro league, leading the franchise with the most career receiving yards at 10,783 yards.

The QB continued. “I’ve been doing this s— since Juco, you feel me?” says Pavia, whose rise from Juco to Commodore has been impressive. He further had a legal battle with the NCAA over an eligibility dispute. “But no one believed in me. No one,” Pavia said, and Johnson reacted by saying, “I like it.” Pavia further said, “I was a negative star. You ever seen one of those?” And just like that, Pavia’s outspoken tendency gave us another nugget about his fearless persona.

With Saturday’s victory against Mizzou, he adds another win to his portfolio and his Draft resume. The matchup couldn’t get more thrilling. The anticipation clung to the air, and couldn’t get any worse as the game was tied 10-10 by the end of the fourth quarter. It was in the last two minutes that Vanderbilt scored the touchdown, tipping the scales in the Commodores’ favor. Followed by nine plays for 44 yards, with an incompletion, the deciding moment of the night came when Pavia scrambled for a one-yard rush into the endzone. With that, his Heisman candidacy is also on the rise.

“Do you believe you should win the Heisman?” asked a reporter. “Hell, yeah, I believe it,” he answered post-game. Even ESPN’s Andre Ware has made a case for the QB’s Heisman campaign.

Although Pavia admitted that he didn’t really give a Heisman-caliber performance against Mizzou. He went 10-for-19 for 129 passing yards and an interception.

But what about his NFL Draft prospects?

Can Pavia make it to the top NFL Draft prospects?

Remember Pat McAfee’s words? “I’m proud of what Diego has done down there,” when announcing the GameDay traveling to Nashville. Pavia proved true to that promise, didn’t he? As the music city celebrated Vanderbilt’s 17-10 win. A thriller won by an inch shy of being tied away.

Over the 2025 season, Pavia has chipped in 15 touchdowns for 1,698 yards, ranking with a QB rating of 82.2. He also threw five interceptions, leading his program to a 7-1 record, completing 139-of-202 attempts. According to ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr.’s top 2026 NFL draft names, Diego Pavia comes in the No. 9th spot among the quarterbacks.

On similar lines, CBS Sports put out a list of six underdog quarterbacks, and Pavia found his name on the chart. “If you like grinders, Pavia’s your guy,” Cooper Petagna wrote. “He processes fast, plays fearless, and makes things happen when the play breaks down. Problem is, he’ll be 25 years old by draft time, and the frame isn’t ideal. Trace McSorley (one NFL start), John Wolford (four) are realistic comparisons. Gritty, smart, can help a team, but not built for a long runway.”

Per Petagna, he projects Pavia to Day 3 or an undrafted free agent.