As Vanderbilt quarterback prospect Diego Pavia navigates the NFL draft process, he can lean on someone who did it before, Johnny Manziel. Pavia told reporters at the NFL combine on Friday that he receives advice from Manziel.
Asked #Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia what Johnny Manziel’s mentorship has meant to him 👀 pic.twitter.com/YBwKspVp3n
— Vikes/erified (@VikesVV) February 27, 2026
“He’s giving me some good advice, for sure,” Pavia said. “He always reaches out, too, checks up on me to make 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 know.”
Manziel played quarterback at Texas A&M from 2011 to 2013 and won the Heisman trophy in 2012. Manziel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2014. The 33-year-old former quarterback spent time in the CFL, AAF and an indoor arena football league after being released by the Browns in 2016. Manziel’s release stemmed from off-field issues.
Like Manziel, Pavia’s maturity has also been in question.
“Coach Lea always preached that your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed til you’re 25, and I just turned 24, so I’ve got like 365 days to go,” Pavia told reporters at the combine.
Despite Manziel shorten career, he has reportedly tried to help Pavia learn from his mistakes.
“I’m like, ‘Learn from my mistakes, brother. Learn from Johnny. Don’t be Johnny off the field,’ Manziel told On3’s Chris Low. “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.”
Manziel was seen at Vanderbilt’s game against Alabama wearing a Pavia jersey. Pavia finished the season throwing for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He also added 862 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Pavia finished just short of the Heisman, finishing as runner-up to Fernado Mendoza.
40 Yard Dash Bet: Johnny vs. Diego
Johnny ran a 4.68 at the 2014 Combine, do you think Diego can beat him? pic.twitter.com/AMtjjrJULy
— Glory Daze Podcast (@glorydazepod) February 23, 2026
Manziel has also looked to challenge Pavia to a friendly competition. On Manziel’s Glory Daze podcast, the two made a $1,000 wager on whether or not Pavia can run a better time than Manziel’s 4.68 40-yard dash that he ran in 2014.
Pavia now has his eyes set on the NFL draft with Manziel in his corner.
