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In many instances, the NFL Combine is used as an introduction for teams to prospects. There's no secret that Diego Pavia doesn't care about good first impressions. Yet again, he's just being the most authentic version of himself and isn't concerned with what "clickbait" critics are saying about him.
"One thing about me is I don't care what people think about me," Pavia said via ESPN.
The undersized quarterback led the Commodores to a 10-3 record, which was the first 10-win season in school history. However, he's unfazed by the jitters of the next step in his career. Many in NFL circles thought Pavia would scale back the edgy attitude and realize what is at hand. But that's not reality for the projected fourth-round pick.
Are we watching history being repeated right before our eyes?
Remember what Shedeur Sanders told reporters last year? The message sounds eerily similar from two different places, but carries the same tone of being drunk of confidence.
“You think I’m worried about what critics say or what people got to say? You know who my dad is? They hated on him too. So, without people hating, it’s not normal for us,” Sanders told reporters in the same room just a year ago.
We all witnessed what happened to Sanders during last year's draft. Needless to say, Pavia seems to be taking the same road. Except the Vanderbilt star doesn't have a Hall-of-Fame father to work the phones on his behalf when teams start going in different directions.
Now, to be clear, Sanders chose to opt out of throwing at the Combine, just like Fernando Mendoza did this year. However, nobody had Deion's son as the top overall pick going into the scouting period like almost everyone does with Indiana's Heisman winner.
What Pavia needs to do at this point
For Pavia, now would be a great time to get a better PR team around you and guide you into a space you've never been before. It could be the difference between millions of dollars and rounds going by in the draft.
Pavia didn't do himself any favors up to this point. The Heisman runner-up had to issue an apology after posing "F-All THE VOTERS" on social media. While emotions run high with him, the underdog mentality isn't winning the hearts and minds of decision makers. His quest to make it in the NFL should be based on the ability to make plays and less about what he says. But he's not at that point yet.
More: One NFL team asked Fernando Mendoza to get arrested to slide in the NFL Draft
"I feel like a lot of teams love the tenacity, the fight," he said. "The life of an underdog, that's for sure. And, so, they ask questions. But you go back, you look at my record, ain't nothing on my record."
He added, "I just want everyone to know what's true about me is I'm humble and I get my confidence from my process. And if you saw how much I put into this, you would see where I get my confidence."
More: Warren Sapp resigns from Deion Sanders' Colorado staff
Pavia should know what is at stake. It's not the time to show how you don't care. Save that nonsense for the middle of your established NFL career. Otherwise, you'll end up being on the same path as Sanders. Except nobody will predict how long you'll wait to hear your name called.
More college football news:
- Oregon's Dan Lanning rips College Football Playoff, calls for major changes
- Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
- Steve Sarkisian blasts Ohio State players for not going to class
- NCAA targets exposed calves in latest proposed college football rule change
- High school football recruits using AI-generated highlight tapes is on the rise
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