Of the four finalists for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, Vanderbilt Diego Pavia almost certainly emerged onto the college scene with the least amount of fame out of high school.
Before becoming a college football star, Pavia began playing during his high school years in Vulcan Vista from Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is where Pavia's legend began, as the current college football star was then a three-sport athlete in high school: football, baseball and wrestling.
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What helped Pavia get a shot at college after high school was what he was able to accomplish in his senior season for the Hawks. In his senior campaign at Vulcan Vista, Pavia completed 108 of 165 passes for 1,485 yards and 14 touchdowns. Strives to model his game after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback. Baker MayfieldPavia showed off his wheels and rushed for 464 yards and nine touchdowns.
It wasn't just about achieving individual accomplishments, but ensuring that Vulcan Vista could stand toe-to-toe with whoever was in New Mexico State as Pavia led the Hawks to an 11-1 record and a berth in the conference standings. NMAA Class 6A state semifinals.
After graduating from high school, Pavia took up wrestling, where he won a state championship, and also played on the baseball team.
With interest only coming from Division II and junior colleges, Pavia played at New Mexico Military Institute before joining New Mexico State, where he spent two seasons. During Pavia's time with the Aggies, the quarterback passed for 4,423 yards, 39 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions. The dual-threat quarterback finished the 2023 campaign with 928 rushing yards and seven more scores.
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Now the 5-foot-11, 205-pound quarterback, with all of the above, has a chance to go from his days at Vulcano Vista High School to Saturday night's Jazz at Lincoln Center's Appel Room in New York City and leaving with the prestigious Heisman Trophy in hand.
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