Diego Pavia: The Zero-Star Mindset That Built an SEC Leader

In this episode of The Turf: Powered by D1, Diego Pavia shares how he went from overlooked, zero-star recruit to leading the Vanderbilt Commodores football to historic success.

From backyard drills in New Mexico to the JUCO grind at New Mexico Military Institute, Pavia breaks down the mindset that helped him beat the odds. He dives into the importance of family, faith, and blocking out outside noise—plus what it really takes to earn your opportunity and stay ready when it comes.

Now training for the NFL Draft, Pavia also gives a behind-the-scenes look at his daily grind, evolving training approach, and what he’s doing to prove he belongs at the next level.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode is packed with real insight on development, resilience, and what separates competitors from winners.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

I was for sure a weight room guy. Still a weight room guy. I love the weight room. It's like you tell me 12 rows, I'm gonna do 14.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

Welcome to the turf, powered by D1. We're so excited to be here at D1 West Chase talking all things athletes coaching. And when we are fired up to have Diego Pavia in the building, Diego was a star quarterback, uh, started off at New Mexico Military Institute, then New Mexico State, and then finished at Vanderbilt, where he led the Commodores to the best uh two seasons in history of their football program. Man, we're fired up to have you, Diego.

SPEAKER_00 0:51

Welcome. Appreciate you, Will. Thank you for having me, man.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

Let's go, man. You're in you're in a great season of life right now.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Yeah, it's good. It's just like all the uh training and stuff, just trying to get right, trying to uh do the little things right, eat healthy, and then um stay on track.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

All right, before we get into that, I want to rewind.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:11

Uh let's go, let's go back in time to Diego Pavia, middle school Diego Pavia. Like, what were you doing for training back when you were doing like middle school, high school?

SPEAKER_00 1:22

Well, like New Mexico, there's not, it's not really predominantly football, you know. So there's not really like a great quarterback trainer, great um athletic trainer to get you right. So it's like you're watching all these YouTube guys and these Instagram guys and just trying to get off videos from them. So that'll tell you what I would do when I was like younger high school type of guy, it's summertime. I would tell my brother, hey, go about 30 yards. And when I say go, run in. And I would drop back and I would act like I dodged someone, I'd be like, go, we scramble and I just throw it to him. And so that was our training. And then in the in the middle of the street, I used to be like, hey, try to measure about 20 yards. And he's like trying to measure it with his feet, you know? And I was like, all right, time it. And I would just take off like a 20-yard sprint and he would time it, and that's what we would do all summer.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

I love that. I love were you uh were you uh uh when you get went to high school, were you a weight room guy or you more of um uh you know body weight? Because you know, I know you were you were you were a state champion wrestler. I know that.

SPEAKER_00 2:22

Yeah, no, I was for sure a weight room guy, still a weight room guy. I love the weight room. It's like you tell me to do 12 reps, I'm gonna do 14, you know? And so like that's always what I've always known.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Yeah, it's interesting. So uh when you're you know, think back to high school, like what were the what were the exercises or things that helped you feel like develop into the player you are today?

SPEAKER_00 2:45

I would say like power clean. I wasn't really too good at power power queen. My my squat was always good. I had a really good bench press for a quarterback. Um, and then I started being better at like the plow metrics of like the Bosa ball standing on one leg. My brother tore both of AC ACLs. So when he went to uh get PT, like he just started putting me on all these type of things. And then um now he has my sister brushing her teeth every morning on the Bosa ball one-legged, you know? So it's just like little things like that just to help us get better.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

I love that. You can do you remember any of your weights you lifted? You remember what what it what did I think what did you do in high school?

SPEAKER_00 3:23

My bench was like 275. Um my squat was probably like 405, 385, somewhere around there. And then uh my power clean was like 245.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

245? That's a big power clean. Yeah, from the floor.

SPEAKER_00 3:39

Those are all senior, senior.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

Yeah, yeah. From the floor.

SPEAKER_00 3:42

From the floor.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

That's great. Yeah, that's fine for a quarterback.

SPEAKER_00 3:45

Yeah, I thought it wasn't too bad, but it was like, it wasn't so good. You go to like other kids who are five stars, and Eli was like power cleaning 315 at that age, you know what I mean? Yeah, but yeah, I love it. I love it though. It's all part of your journey. Yeah, and I've realized over the time, stars don't matter, nothing matters. You either got it or you don't.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

Oh, let's talk about that. Yeah, when when did you realize you had it?

SPEAKER_00 4:11

I always thought I had it like at a young age. Um, when I was six, so the starting age is like seven to play football in New Mexico. And when I my I have two older brothers, and they both played, you you met them, but they both played like uh football. And I was like, mom, I want to play so bad. So she went on my birth certificate instead of putting 2002, she put 2001, and I was able, and I relied on it, and so I was able to play. And then like they would just check, like I was scoring touchdowns and stuff, and they would uh the other parents would ask to check like my birth certificate. So my mom would have to keep my birth certificate on hand, like at uh football events and wrestling events. It was wild, it was wild.

SPEAKER_01 4:55

Wait, so so uh I actually think this is interesting. So you're uh two older brothers. I mean, how much of it, how much of it do you think that helped you being the third kid?

SPEAKER_00 5:06

I think the youngest child has the best opportunity to make it because it's like uh like the way I was taught from my older brother was do as I say, not as I do, because he was the one kind of going through all the trials and tribulations and stuff. And so I learned a lot from that. And then um I don't we always tell my my middle brother, like it uh the athleticism it went. My oldest brother skipped a generation, then it went to me, you know what I mean? Um, because my oldest brother, he's literal 5'7, 5'8, and he can dunk a basketball, like, and he's just like shredded like to the core. And I'm like, dude, what's like like he he could have made it, you know, if he put his heart to it, but he was just like, we didn't know the right steps to take.

SPEAKER_01 5:54

Yeah. I think it's interesting when you start thinking about your kids. As you know, I got three kids, you know, you start thinking about the advantages, and I was a third kid. Uh, so I think you have advantages as an athlete because you're able to watch them and learn from them, and then and then that competitive drive comes in.

SPEAKER_00 6:13

Did you want to beat your brothers and everything? Oh, everything. Literally everything. And I remember like my oldest brother was probably like the best, he probably still is like the best overall natural athlete, but I just wanted it more, you know.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

Yeah. Did y'all ever wrestle?

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Oh, yeah. I we used to be like uh, because it was just uh my mom, and so like when she would have to go to work, she'd drop us off at her mom's or our grandma, and we would just fight all day, and we knew when my mom was getting home to pick us up, like we were in trouble. So we would throw on like these uh girdles and like put the pants over, so like when she spanked us, like it didn't hurt as bad, you know. But we would fight all day.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

Did y'all ever y'all ever go one-on-one wrestle? Because I mean, was he a wrestler?

SPEAKER_00 6:57

Yeah, yeah. Um, they both wrestled. We we probably didn't go against each other. I mean, other than like fighting, because we're mad at each other, we probably didn't go against each other until high school. And uh they were both good, but um, yeah, I beat them. You got him. Yeah, you got him. Yeah. Once I turned about eighth, ninth grade, it was over with. What in what weight did you wrestle? 138 freshman year, 145 sophomore year, and then junior year I had to sit out because I transferred, and then my senior year 195.

SPEAKER_01 7:30

Oh, baby. 195, that's the real deal. Yeah, that's the real deal. Big boys.

SPEAKER_00 7:35

Did you and you won it your senior year? Won it my senior year. And I bumped up to 220 for a tournament, for like three tournaments, and I beat the guy uh like nine to three who took state at 220.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

Yeah, this is this is a selfish question for me, maybe not for our listeners, but what was your favorite? What was your what was like what was your greatest move as a wrestler? The duck under. Oh, the duck under?

unknown 7:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:59

It was just like those guys are like bigger. So you know I was a wrestler. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I would just hit him with a little duck and it was over with.

SPEAKER_01 8:06

That's awesome. So uh you talked about your mom. I've, you know, and the people that are listening to this, like we got a lot of parents that listen and are raising athletes and they have them in a D1 training and all those different types of things. I'd love, I'd love to talk to you a little bit about, you know, what your what your mom meant to you, how she maybe spoke into your life. What did you what did you learn from her to help you along this journey? Because uh we all don't get uh here by ourselves.

SPEAKER_00 8:35

No, 100%. Yeah, my mom is my biggest influence. Um and and it it didn't like uh really, I wouldn't say we're really click, but my friend told me one time he's from Alabama, his name was Stitch, and I was like, bro, like how do you like this is when I first got to New Mexico State, and I was like, how do you work out so much? He's like my mom working three jobs, like if she could work 12, 14 hours, I could work 12, 14 hours, you know, and I was like, dude, I never saw it like that. And so that's when I feel like my process at Nimi, you know, it kind of got me into a structured process, and this process was just like, all right, all football, you know, and so I think that, but then she would just put us in all the sports possible. Um, you know, she would she would worse two jobs, would pick us up, still like do everything. And so it was like, I, you know, I owe it to my mom. And like for kids who get the training and their time, you know, obviously they got to bring their kids to D1 and do things like that. Cause I was working in Nashville, remember? Yeah. And uh I think kids take it kind of for granted of how how much time that their parents put into them to help them grow into the sport and what they want to do in their life.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

That's good. I I heard some great advice. Uh actually, Archie Manning gave me this great great advice. He said, you know, if you as a parent um want it more than your kid, you're in the wrong. And he said, great athletes want it more than their parents.

SPEAKER_00 10:06

So yeah, I agree with that.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

And so uh, but I love what you said because learning from learning those skills and those characteristics and of the work ethic from your mom and how much she's willing to sacrifice to put you in a position to win is is uh is amazing.

SPEAKER_00 10:23

No, it it was it's crazy. And then my brothers, like when we got older and they were able to drive, like they would miss some of their events to take me, you know what I mean? So like it was just a sacrifice and I felt like I had to make it.

SPEAKER_01 10:37

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna keep diving into this family thing because I just think it's so important because we all have a support system. And uh, you know, you've been on national television talking about your support system and your whole family. You were y'all were rolling like 70 deep to the game. And I remember I'd be at a game and I'd I'd be like sitting in a random section and I'd have 10 pavias around me. And I'm like, man, everybody's here. I'm like, is this the whole stadium? Uh I I'd just love for you to talk about you know what it meant to you uh to have them be a part of of what you what you did at Vanderbilt.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

Right. Yeah, just like uh New Mexico culture, it's like everyone's supportive of the kind of of you. Um my mom grew up with 13 brothers and sisters, so we so we have like a huge family on that side to like put like cousins, friends, um, aunts, uncles, just everyone who wanted to come to support the games. Like at New Mexico State, it used to be even crazier because it was so close, you know what I mean? And there it was a little easier to get tickets. Um, but yeah, at Vandy, you know, 70 deep against Alabama, against LSU, 70 deep. And it was just like everyone wants to hang out and go eat after them. Like, dude, there's not a place big enough, or all of us, you know what I mean? Um, so it was it was kind of hard, and you could only like really see them. Like uh we go to a rooftop and just hang out there or something like that. But yeah, I'm super thankful for everyone coming in and supporting me like my whole life, like at Nimmi as well. My uncle would always come to the games. Um, and we just we just all know how to like hang out and have a good time together. That's cool.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

That's cool. So uh let's go, let's go back, just rewind real quick to this this high school experience and then your transition into college. You talked about it a second ago about you know not having any stars, uh uh not having a lot of looks. I think there are a lot of um parents out there and kids out there that are going, man, you know, that's me. Right. There's more, there's more zero stars than there are, you know, five stars. Oh, yeah. Yeah, a lot more. And so uh I think you're a real inspiration to those kids, like what what in your mind, what helped you continue on the process and not give up? Because a lot of kids, you know, rightfully so, they might be like, hey, this just isn't for me.

SPEAKER_00 13:00

Yeah. I think uh coming out of New Mexico, it wasn't like you expected to go get Alabama, Georgia, Florida, uh, Vanderbilt, Tennessee as offers. It was more like you just needed an opportunity, maybe to the University of New Mexico to go prove yourself or uh New Mexico State to go prove yourself. And I remember I have a big um, I wouldn't say hate because I truly try not to hate anyone, but like the coach at UNM, it was kind of like he just he was like uh flirting in in the process and was just like, you know what, he's not good enough. You know, and he basically told my coach, he's not good enough. And I was thinking to myself, like, why am I gonna let that get to me? I've never given a piss about what anyone has ever said about me ever since I was a little kid, you know? And if you let someone else's opinion judge who you're gonna become or who you're gonna be, like that'll eat you alive, and you'll spiral and you won't become anything. But if you just keep being you, keep being in the process. Um, sky's the limit, you know what I mean? That's how I feel about myself. I've never give, I don't care what anyone says about me or like how I do things, or um like I just never care. And I think that's like one of my biggest gifts is just like blocking that all out. And I really only care about what my teammates think, coaches think, and my people around me, you know, my family. And so I think that's what got me to the point where I am today. And so I would just tell those kids that just stay in your close circle. Like you know how it is. Yeah, just stay in your close circle, be that uh with that supporting cast, and you'll be fine.

SPEAKER_01 14:39

It's awesome, it's a good message because a lot of times, uh uh how caught up were you on social media?

SPEAKER_00 14:45

Oh, I don't care. I like I like look at some of the stuff, and like, you know, there would be someone like uh they would say hating on me, and I'm just like, dude, that's funny. You know what I mean? So like I I take it as a joke. I think social media is a false reality of what people put out there. Um the way I use it is to make money, you know? And so I think that's uh good income source for a lot of people. So why not use it like that? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:11

That's a good that's a good point. I mean, I think I think a lot of athletes um they can get caught up in the in the hype and in the scrolling and and what people are saying, and they can lose themselves.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

A million percent.

SPEAKER_01 15:26

And so you I think you have to have a strong foundation to not lose yourself.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

Uh I think a lot of people do do that as well. Um hype is just people's opinion though, you know? Stars are just people's opinion. Like, think about it. It's like someone sitting on the couch, oh yeah, I think that kid's really good. Let's give him one more star. You know what I mean? So it's like an opinion based, but like it's like, all right, let's see it on the field. Let's see you versus you.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

So what was what was the thing you learned? So you went to uh New Mexico Military Institute. You're there two years. Yep. What what did you take away from that experience?

SPEAKER_00 16:03

Yeah, well, I would say for me, I had I didn't really have money, so I had no other choice to go really walk on. Because if I if I would have had money, I would have went and walked on to like an OU, a Texas Tech, kind of how Baker did. That was like someone who I looked up to because he walked on and then walked on, uh you know, got this scholarship and stuff. So I was gonna do that route, but I was like, I don't really have money, I can't do that. Um and I had two Division II scholarships, and I was like, I thought I'm better than that. And then so the reason why I chose New Mexico Military was because it was gonna be $427 to go there. They gave out scholarships. Um, so I it was in state, you know, so I that's why I took that. And then at the time, this was when JUCO was on Netflix um and all that. So it was kind of like popping, and then it was like, dude, this is my opportunity. And then what really stuck out to me was they posted a thing, was like five division one quarterbacks in the past three years, and I was like, oh dude, you go over there, you win, you're going division one, you know, and so that's why I chose that route. Um, but yeah, I I think kids can make it from Division II nowadays, D three, JUCO, like uh Trinidad. Yeah. You look at him last year, he's playing Division II football. This year goes to the uh almost goes to the national championship, you know? Yeah. So I think you can really make it from anywhere nowadays, but I think the most important thing like we were talking about is playing right now, going to a spot where you have a chance to play. And so I think that's that's what kids should just focus on is like getting on the field.

SPEAKER_01 17:49

And how do they know that? So, like when you were looking at these schools, you're looking, were you looking at the depth chart and you're like, I can beat that guy out. Or or or you are you really just trusting the coach?

SPEAKER_00 17:59

Yeah, what they're saying. There wasn't NIL back then.

SPEAKER_01 18:02

Money talks. Money talks. Money talks.

SPEAKER_00 18:05

Uh, but Juco, you you get there is uh there is politics in the game, whether people want to hear it or not, there is politics of hey, people want to see, you know, the the fans want to see this kid more than they want to see you. We're gonna play him, um, type of deal. But for me at New Mexico Military, they recruited a four-star. He kind of had offers from all over the place. He hurt his shoulder and he was coming to JUCO to prove that he could do it still. And, you know, I felt this urge to like uh, because I feel like God just speaks to me, like he puts a gut feeling to me sometimes, just go talk and and do things. And I would I went to my offensive coordinator because I felt like they didn't want me to be the starting guy. I was like, hey, like I just want to be on the field, like whatever, just put me on the field. I could play anything. That next week they put started putting me at receiver, tight end, running back, quarterback. Well, I was even on special teams. Like, I have some tape of me on special teams running down during the game and going to make a tackle. You know what I mean? So I was literally playing it all. And then uh the week of the game, um the uh his name was Chandler. Chandler wasn't doing doing too good. They put in the second stringer Ephraim, he wasn't doing too good. So they put in me during practice, lit it up. They started me during the game. We go, we throw the first touchdown. I'm still on kickoff. So I threw the touchdown, I come back and I'm like dead tired on kickoff, like running down on kickoff, going to go make the tackle, you know what I mean? So it was just that's juco for you. And uh I was on uh onside kick recovery. Um yeah, it's just the opportunity. Once you get your opportunity, just don't look back.

SPEAKER_01 19:49

Oh, that's amazing. I'm running down on throwing a touchdown, running down on kickoff. That's amazing. All right, so so then you go to New Mexico, uh, and um, you know, look, I think we talked about it, how a lot of people help us in our life, and you've you found a great fit with a coaching staff. Uh that's the thing that pops off the page to me. Um, you know, what was it like going there? What were a couple things that that from that experience that helped you once again propel to the next spot?

SPEAKER_00 20:20

Yes. Uh obviously out of JUCO, I I basically had one offer that was able to commit to, which was New Mexico State. Um so I went there. Coach Keel's real. That's what I like about Coach Keel. He won't tell you a lie, he'll tell you straight up how it is, what he needs to see. And uh so obviously we went to I went to New Mexico State. Me and this freshman, Gavin, um, were um in and out of the lineup together with each other. We were one and five, and then game six, or yeah, one and five. So we go to UMass and Gavin's, Gavin's starting. Like, I'm not even playing that much, you know. I'm playing probably like three snaps a game, and then Gavin's in there, and we're one and five, and it feels like they they want him to be the starter, be the guy throughout the season. We're one and five, going at halftime down to UMass, I think 13-3, 16-3, something like that. And we go to uh halftime in the middle of the locker room. Coach's like, all right, Diego, you're starting. And I told myself before that, because I felt like I started the first game and I had three interceptions, it didn't go well. Um, and I told myself, I was like, because I felt myself like playing like a robot. I thought I had to do something special to play Division I football. And it really wasn't. It was my game was good enough. I just had to keep uh translating it and doing all that stuff. So I got, I threw those three interceptions, and I told myself, when I get this opportunity again, I'm gonna play it my way, how I want to. I'm gonna go, if I go out, I'm gonna go out on my terms. You know what I mean? Went out there, came back, we beat them like 27 to like 20 game up. Over ever since then. I was a starter. So we went from one and five, ended the season six and six. Went to a bowl game, won the bowl game. So we finished that year seven and six. Then the next year had a 10-win season, went to the conference championship. We lost to Liberty. And then our whole coaching staff got hired to uh Vanderbilt. But at the time, Coach Kill entered retirement. So Coach Kill wasn't going. So I went to the transfer portal, not knowing if I was going to go to Vanderbilt. And um so I got in the transfer portal. I committed to Nevada with Coach Cho. And when I committed, Coach Beck called me and was like, hey, um, I'm gonna have someone call you. Don't sign anything, don't put any pen to paper, like just wait. Just give us literally, he's gonna call you right now. He hung up the phone. Literally, like 30 seconds to a minute later, Coach Kill calls me. Answer the phone from Coach Kill. He's like, hey, I just got off the boat down to Mexico. Uh, I'm going to Vanderbilt to be the chief of staff to the head coach or whatever. I'll see you at Vanderbilt. And he just hangs up. Like, no answer from me, nothing. He just hangs up and puts his phone down. And I'm like, I look at my mom, like, shh, looks like I'm going to Vanderbilt, you know? Um, and it was just because I knew one, obviously Vanderbilt picked up a quarterback from the transfer portal, Nate, and I knew with Coach Kill, I was gonna get a fair shot where it was 50-50, the better player is gonna play. And so for my, I thought for what I thought my last year was gonna be, I needed to be on the field. And so I told him, as long as I get a 50-50 shot, I'm coming. I had to take 20, I so had to go back to Mexico State in the spring, work at D1, and uh took all those credits online, finished at D1, would work out at Vandy, uh, take all those reps at Vandy, um, do all that stuff. And then um went into in in fall camp, basically won the job, was a starter, we went seven to six, and then this next year had 10-win season.

SPEAKER_01 24:12

Dude, it's amazing. Well, I I I remember when you came. So Barton Simmons, who's the general manager at Vandy, called me. He's like, hey, we got this new quarterback who's coming. Uh, you know, you think you could help him out, like, you know, get you know, find find some work. We've got to finish some classes. He can't, he can't be on campus yet. And um anyway, you were coaching over at D1, and I I called Diego and I said, Hey, uh uh, you know, I'm going over to Vanderbilt. I'd love to meet you or something like that. I was like, you want me to pick you up? I don't know if you remember this.

SPEAKER_00 24:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:44

And you're like, you're like, you're like, no, I'll just meet you over there. I'm like, like D1 to Vandy's like about two miles, mile and a half. You're like, hey, I'll just run over there.

SPEAKER_00 24:54

Yeah. You got there and you went just run. Dude, my schedule was crazy. I used to wake up literally 3:30, 3:45 in the morning, um, kind of get ready, get myself together, run over to Vanderbilt, work out at Vanderbilt, because I didn't want it, it was like illegal, you know, to be on the campus, but there was a broken door that I could go in the weight room and lift. So I would go in the weight room, lift there. After that, then everyone kind of came in for breakfast. Uh Blaze used to get me like breakfast every morning. We used to watch tape while I was eating breakfast. After breakfast, then we went out to the field, and that's when like it was spring ball. So like everyone's throwing stuff. And I remember being behind, they have a camera behind us, and I knew all the I knew all the concepts because of we were all at New Mexico State. And so like I would drop back like I'm the quarterback, and then I would deliver the ball, acting like I was the quarterback. So I would do that. After that, I would used to run home, um, eat, take like a take like a little, I don't know, hour nap, and then go work, go work out at D1 after I would work out, then I would uh go home, change my clothes, shower up, and then go work, work.

SPEAKER_01 26:09

You know, you go train kids.

SPEAKER_00 26:11

Yeah, I gotta go train kids, and then that would be my day.

SPEAKER_01 26:15

I was a busy, those were some busy days.

SPEAKER_00 26:17

That was a busy day. But that's the grind, that's what it's about.

SPEAKER_01 26:20

Uh let's let's talk about your training. Because I think, you know, as you as you mentioned that, um throughout the years that you've changed.

SPEAKER_00 26:29

You've gone from, you know, I appreciate you for that too. Thank you. Seriously.

SPEAKER_01 26:32

Thank you, man. Thank you. Uh no, but like you've gone from we talked about power cleaning in high school, and I remember watching the ESPN Doctor uh show on you, and you're you're in uh doing hot yoga early in the morning. You know, um, as you've as you've developed as an athlete, and I'm a big believer in as a youth athlete, you've got to have a really strong foundation. So like I'm I'm a big believer in power cleanings and squats and building that. Uh we're we're not doing, we're not just working on flexibility and fast switch when you don't have any muscle already. You got to have that muscle base first. But now as things have transitioned, uh, you know, and you know, you've been been in college and then now you're trying to transition to the pro, how's how's the training changed?

SPEAKER_00 27:15

Uh I think it's it's way different from from New Mexico training. Um, I don't know, obviously don't know. I haven't been here as a kid and things like that. But what I have seen at like uh the stuff at D1, the box jumps, the hand, the hamstring kind of stuff, uh the squats. Um that's what you need as a kid. You need to develop those big muscles, the muscle belly and the hamstrings. And I think that's a big reason why I used to have hamstring problems was because I never really knew the right workouts to do. It was kind of just like muscle through everything, you know, instead of just, you know, there's the attention to detail, the uh um where you put your leg on like this, you know, and you're doing some of those. Uh I just never knew those workouts. Like that growing. Yeah, working the growing, um, my hamstrings, and then like obviously like my shoulder, there's like certain stuff uh that John has me doing at Vanderbilt that it's taking me through the roof to the next level. And so like without that, like I I wouldn't, like this would not be possible. Um, I used to have ankle problems, and then at New Mexico State, they kind of got my ankle right of the flexibility, all that. And it's just been amazing because I've I've always had like a lot of muscle on me, but I never knew how to use it. And so now they're kind of like Coach Yo is hey, this is how you you bend, you lean. Um, this is how you properly run the 40. You know, this is like my first time ever running a 40. So it's like crazy to think about.

SPEAKER_01 28:47

Really? You haven't run a 40-yard dash?

SPEAKER_00 28:50

I ran, I think I ran one like uh like at one camp when I was a kid, but they never told me my time. But yeah, I'm I'm really excited for uh for that pro day.

SPEAKER_01 29:00

What was uh speaking of Senior Bowl, what was any any uh any crazy stories happen down there? Any uh any any moments where you're like, man, I'm gonna remember that one.

SPEAKER_00 29:11

I remember my roommate's Aaron Anderson from LSU, and we're up till 11 p.m. study the playbook. And I, you know, I bought this whiteboard at Target, and he would read me a play, and I would just draw it up as fast as I can, you know, to just get my brain working and stuff. And then you wake up the next morning, you're like doing it again, just making sure you got it. And they taught me a trick on my phone. Um, it's like the voice memos, and you would voice memo it, and then you would just play it and be like, snug right, uh two flag X Dragon or something like that, you know, and so then you're just drawing it up and you're doing it. That's good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:48

Gotta use the technology. The technology. You get you right. All right. So uh let's let's talk a little bit, we gotta talk vanity football for just for a second. I mean, God, we you skipped over that one kind of quick. Uh so um obviously you go from New Mexico State to SDC ball. Uh, you have been there, you beat Oliver. So you have seen what the SDC crowds are like. Uh you know, when when I look at Vanderbilt football and you in particular, and with Coach Lee, and uh with just that whole environment, I feel like, man, it was like the perfect recipe. Like I don't think um you have just Coach Lee and that it all works out the way it did. I don't think if you just have you, it works out the way and you don't have just like it was like all the things kind of came together. When you look back, uh when you you know were going through that time, was it um like what did it feel like? Like, I mean you you you train you you uh I would say changed the trajectory of Vanderbilt football.

SPEAKER_00 30:55

It's uh it's different, you know. Like when I first told everyone that I was going to Vanderbilt, there was like um, for example, it was like UTSA reached out and they're like, dude, you go in there, you go in there to win two games and call it a year, and I was just like, you know, I didn't even respond or whatever. And then like another guy's like, yeah, it sounds good until that until you're down 30 and that pass rush and is coming to you fast, you know, like you got first rounders on the other side. And I'm like, that's that's what we all want. Like, why why wouldn't I want that, you know? And so um I think just playing in the SEC was my dream as a kid. And if I would have said no to playing in the SEC and playing at like a another school, like a UTSA or or um Nevada, it would have just eaten me alive of like the what-ifs, what it could have been, you know. So I'm super glad thankful that I did take the Vanderbilt route. Um, but yeah, like you said, I think if if it ain't for Coach Lee, um, Coach Kill, uh, you know, Eli, it was like the puzzle just all fit together, you know. And it was just it was an amazing two years. It was some of the best moments of my life, you know. And so I think I think Coach Lee did a perfect job of letting the players be the players while still holding us accountable and making sure like he's it's known that like um these are the steps we gotta take, really process oriented in order to get what we want.

SPEAKER_01 32:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:37

And that probably allowed you to be able to like cut loose. Oh yeah. And he he didn't he didn't hold like uh he didn't hold over anything over my head of just like, hey, it was more like just like, hey, go go play. Like this is all we want was just go be you, and then obviously, you know I had some mistakes along the way. And so he was always in my corner, dude. He was Coach Lee's a real one, I'll tell you that. I I would play for Coach Lee every single day. That's awesome. Yeah, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 33:06

So uh, man, you you and I've I've watched you over the past couple years, you know, grow into the man you are today. And to your point, there's ups and downs and all of those things. And what I would say is one of the things like when I think of you is like you have a humility about you, you have like a kindness, and but then you also have this uh drive.

unknown 33:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:30

Uh and so how do you balance that? How do you balance um you know, you have that competitive spirit? And uh, you know, I think some people can can misread that for sure.

SPEAKER_00 33:43

I think I almost live like a I don't want to say a double life, but that's like almost what it is. It's just like when I turn it on, sometimes I don't know how to just turn it off. You know what I mean? I just like um you I I don't know, I don't know what happens when it's on, it's on, and then you know, I like it's it's just hard to turn off sometimes. And I think you know, my my competitive edge um sometimes gets you in trouble and sometimes is your best friend, you know. So I think that's how my life has always been. Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:17

I actually, you know, like I think I think a lot of people just thinking about parents out there. I mean, we have we, you know, I think about my kids. It's like, man, you want them to have that edge and that chip and that excitement for life because I think um uh the biggest thing that kills dreams is fear.

SPEAKER_00 34:36

You're not lying. You're a hundred percent right. Kids will shoot themselves in the foot just with fear and doubt in their mind without even trying.

SPEAKER_01 34:47

And to me, it's like the man in the arena. Like, I'd rather be the man in the arena.

SPEAKER_00 34:51

Exactly how it should be. And that's why I that's why I played quarterback is because I want the ball in my hands in the biggest situations. Every teammate looking at me like, uh, you gotta make the play now, you know? It's like, hey, it's up to you. And I'm like, perfect. This is my time to shine. Let's do it.

SPEAKER_01 35:10

How did how did that and I'm I'm this is like just curious because I've been around, I've been around so many great athletes. I've had the you know, just through this business, been fortunate enough to be around the best. I I'd love to hear from your perspective, like, you know, what's what's like what a moment or a story of when you were like, I willed this game, or I took over, or like what when that when I know I know there's a story in there that I love to kind of hear. Uh let me think.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

I think there was like uh one I think I get my confidence and all that from like the process of what it takes to actually go win a game. And I remember um I hate to say I hate to say this, but like in Utah State this past year, there was a coach who was it was there was the coach, I'm not gonna say what what position he was or what he did, but he was a coach over there, and he called one of our players and was like, hey, you should transfer over here. Like the quarterback you guys are getting is fucking shit. He's terrible. Like, go look at him, go look at his tape. He's fat, he can't run. He has him on speaker, and I'm like hearing this, and I'm and he's like, don't say anything, you know what I mean? And I was like, I can't wait to play Utah State. So we go to Utah State, we score on every single drive that we're in 55 points, and they pulled me out. Good to get that. Good to get that. So it was like and and I just like that kind of fuel of uh I don't know, it just entertains me for some reason. Like, all right, that you think I can't do that, you think I'm that? I'm gonna bring it now. That's exciting. And bring some more. But yeah, I think that one, I think the LSU game was one where it was just call whatever, it's gonna it's gonna shake. And so I think I think, yeah. But like I I used to tell Coach Beck of just drop me back, and as long as they don't um, you know, if they force you to get the ball at your hand right away, then it's up to another player to make the play. But if they let it sit in my hands, it's over with. I'll I'll make something happen. That's awesome. What uh what what are you looking forward to the most at the next level? I think I want I want to play against the best. You know, I want to play um just just every everyone that's you know, there's a lot of greats that are in the NFL right now, and I want to prove it to myself that like I am I am good enough. Like this is what I dream for, this is what I've always wanted. Um, I belong here. You know what I mean? So that's just something that that I I have a crave for. Um I want to be a a team guy, and obviously I want to win the most Super Bowls to ever, you know, for someone to ever win.

SPEAKER_01 38:11

Everything's about measurables, you know. The NFL has a way of of of putting everybody to a number. Uh and you know, most recently, you know, uh is your height, you know, you're not tall enough. Uh, you know, what does that do when you hear that? What do you think? Like, how how does it motivate you?

SPEAKER_00 38:29

Well, I'll tell you this. The guy measured it and it was at 5'10. No, I'm just good. But um, yeah, I I just I just tell everyone like yeah, I was 5'10 a year ago at Vanderbilt playing the same first-round draft picks that you're gonna take in the next three months. You know what I mean? So I'm it's not like I'm oh, they grew over or they got bigger, faster. Like these are the same guys I'm gonna be playing. Like these right here, I can show you tape against me playing them right now. Like I'm like, I I just don't, I don't get that aspect of it. But I understand that there's guys all over the um place like that. But yeah, I'm um super excited for it. And whatever team gives me the opportunity to go play for them, they're gonna get my own, you know.

SPEAKER_01 39:19

I love that. I mean, I've just watching you, I think uh measurables, measurables can't measure, you know, sometimes they can't measure heart and drive and competitiveness. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. That's right. That's right. Uh ultimately, because that's what you want. You want a winner.

SPEAKER_00 39:40

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 39:41

You know, can you measure being a winner?

SPEAKER_00 39:43

Can you and that's all they care about is can you win? And so that's that's what I'm here for.

SPEAKER_01 39:49

So, like, uh, you play youth sports just recently, you know, and we get, you know, parent, parent, you know, you can have some crazy parents. You know what I mean? Uh would love would love to, you know, hear, you know, what was your mom telling you in the car on the ride home after after little Diego scored four touchdowns or whatever?

SPEAKER_00 40:09

Uh to be honest, there was a three-year stretch where we didn't, we we we didn't lose a game, you know, but um so they're always usually pretty good. Um but I remember like we would we would lose, say, say we lost like a wrestling match or whatever, and it was like if if I lost, it was like all the I wouldn't say pressure, but like I didn't even know about pressure because of anything, but it was just like all lies and everything was on me. And if I lost, like I remember we went to Reno and I won the biggest tournament, which is Reno in wrestling, and then the next week I went back to and I beat the kid from New Mexico. It was like me and this kid who were the best in the country, and I beat him in Reno, which is the biggest tournament. And then I a week later came back to state and he beat me, and it was just like no one wanted to talk to me. You know, it was like, all right, get away from me. My mom didn't even want to talk to me, and it was like F this, I'm not losing no more. And I and I think that's like a big reason of why like I I go so hard because um I hate I hate losing more than I like winning.

SPEAKER_01 41:20

You know, one day, one day down the road, God willing, you might have kids. Uh and uh uh you're gonna be a uh you're gonna be a uh a sport parent, uh you know, riding in the car with your boys or your daughter, whatever. Well, you know, when you look at that, like how are you gonna be? Like what type of parent?

SPEAKER_00 41:41

I'm gonna I I would say looking back, I'm gonna keep my kids in many sports, like three to four sports a year round, um, because I think each sport teaches you a different quality. Um, I think it teaches you a different uh life lesson. So I'm gonna put them in wrestling at the youngest ages that I can, and I'm gonna put them in baseball, and then I'm gonna put them in football, um, probably around like seven or eight. Um and then obviously their heart has to be in it. So with whichever one that their heart picks, um, I'm gonna allow them to play. And then I'm gonna let them play basketball a little bit, like I'm gonna wait a little bit, and then I'm gonna let them play basketball year like year four of uh of a football. But I think, you know, obviously they want to do what their friends do. So if their friends were playing hoops, um, I'll probably let them play hoops. But yeah, that's what I would probably do and then obviously keep it uh consistent year round and just make sure they're heavily involved, keep them out of trouble. And I think that was the biggest thing for me, was why you know I wasn't, you know, ever in jail or anything like that. It was because, you know, I was always in sports, traveling. Um, I remember we used to we didn't have a lot of money, so you would have to drive that car freaking 15 hours and stuff. And so, but those were some some of the funnest times of my life. You you have your DS, I got my cousin in the car behind us, and we're like trying to connect, and it's like not working, but it it was just an awesome time. Those are some of the best memories. Some of the best memories.

SPEAKER_01 43:11

Those road trips. Oh, yeah. You mentioned a little bit ago about uh you know, you pray about things in your faith. Uh I'd love, I'd love for you maybe just expand on that a little bit because I think there's a lot of young athletes out there that um, man, athletics can mess with your mind a little bit, you know, and uh I think when you have a strong faith, it helps you. Um I don't know what you want to share about it, but I I do think, you know, you know, ref reflecting in and praying and uh, you know, just letting it go and giving it to God really helps athletes play better.

SPEAKER_00 43:45

Yeah, you know, it's it's like kind of cliche when people say just give it to God, but I really believe in that. Like just like just asking him to, hey, take these negative thoughts away, just help me think positive. Um, that's what the kind of things that like, you know, I pray for just how much. A positive person, help me be a light in someone else's life, help me speak positivity, help me speak um confidence into other people, you know. And so like it won't start with it whether uh unless it starts within yourself. And I didn't start, not I didn't say I would I didn't start believing in God, but I didn't really know God until like my freshman year uh at JUCO. Had some good friends who introduced me. Um, you know, we started praying, having Bible study, and it was just like when I opened the Bible, it just got more interesting and interesting and interesting. And then um now I'm reading Mark and it's like more interesting, more interesting, and I'm just reading all of it, you know. And so I'm just it's like my first time ever experiencing something new, and it's just like there's there's a reason to why, you know, the success is coming and like it's God, like God is real. I'm telling you right now, like I wouldn't be here without God. Um, I'm thankful for my friends who push, you know, for me to keep praying. Like Eli, it ain't no, like it's it ain't a fluke that Eli's in the position he is in. It's it's because of God. Like he lives by the word and does that. And so I'm trying to get better in my faith um every single day. Obviously, no one's perfect, things like that. But when you have faith, trust, and you just ask God for wisdom, ask God for signs um of of what you should do and just to, you know, just to help yourself, there's no better feeling than just being tight with God. I'm telling you, it's it's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 45:32

That's awesome. Yeah, I think there's a there's a great scripture that says God is all, God was all, and God is in all. And I think uh the reason I love that scripture is because when you um around people where God is in them and is exuding from them, uh it's it sparks an energy and an excitement. And it's like when you're around Eli, probably y'all get like, you know what I mean? And I've I've always felt that when I'm around you, like you get like you're like ready to go. Uh and um to me, it's not about being perfect. Like God didn't put us here to be perfect. He he he put us he put us here to glorify him. And the way you glorify him is you you do got to go make mistakes for sure, you know, and you gotta go live life without fear. Exactly. Thank y'all so much for uh joining us with Diego Pavia. We'll see you next time here on the turf, powered by D1.