Football fans are learning something women on dating websites have understood for a long time: Listed heights may not be accurate.
Former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is the latest to try to pass himself off as taller than he really is. Listed at 6ft even for the Commodores, the New Mexico native at 5-9 7/8 inches at the Senior Bowl.
That’s not much shorter than current NFL starters like Arizona’s Kyler Murray or Carolina’s Bryce Young, both of whom stand about 5ft10, but it is far from the listed height Pavia has been giving since he first arrived on a college campus in 2022 at New Mexico State.
‘Won’t make it in the NFL or Tinder,’ one fan joked on X.
This wasn’t entirely a surprise to college football enthusiasts.
Back in December, when Pavia was up for the Heisman Trophy in New York, the 23-year-old was significantly shorter than 6ft5 finalist Fernando Mendoza, who would go on to win the honor. For that matter, Pavia appeared shorter than 6ft1 finalist Julian Sayin.
Heisman candidates, from left: Jeremiyah Love, Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia and Julian Sayin. Despite having an official height of 6ft, Pavia was noticeably small than everyone else
Diego Pavia did have an impressive year for the Vanderbilt Commodores, throwing for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while surrendering just eight interceptions
Diego Pavia is seen practicing ahead of the 2026 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama
‘Someone is lying about their height,’ one fan captioned a photo of all four Heisman finalists back on December 13. ‘Or 3 people are lying about their height.’
Pavia has declared for the NFL Draft, but only after initially challenging NCAA eligibility rules in court in a doomed attempt to remain in college.
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea has stayed in Pavia’s corner, arguing his pupil will be a success at the next level.
‘I’m so excited for him to be able to shoot his shot in the NFL, and I’m never betting against that guy,’ Lea said after the Reliaquest Bowl. ‘He’s not only going to make it, he’s going to find a way to play at the level he’s found a way to play at for us.’
Pavia did have an impressive year for the Commodores, throwing for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while surrendering just eight interceptions. Best of all, he completed more than 70 percent of his passes, which was more than all but seven NCAA quarterbacks in 2025.
