“Even if you were better, my son is playing regardless.” Those words shaped Diego Pavia’s college career. After two years at New Mexico Military Institute, Pavia was weighing his options when Deion Sanders offered him a spot at Jackson State. However, the opportunity came with one condition. He would have to play second fiddle to Deion’s son, Shedeur, something Pavia was unwilling to accept.

Fast forward to today, and Pavia has some regret. Just 10 months ago, he was a Heisman Trophy runner-up. Now, he is an undrafted free agent whose first NFL opportunity with the Baltimore Ravens ended before the regular season. During a recent visit to Boulder ahead of Colorado’s clash with Utah, Pavia found himself reflecting on the offer he once turned down, admitting that he wished he could play for Coach Prime.

“I do wish I could, you know, play for Coach Prime,” Pavia said live on Twitch. “I feel like when you get offered in football, more offers come. So, in a way, I wouldn’t be here without Coach Prime’s offer. So, I came to support him, his team.”

Coach Prime is earning $10 million a year to lead Colorado. The Buffaloes backed Deion Sanders with a five-year, $54 million extension, making their commitment to the head coach clear as his increased annual compensation took effect in 2025.

Pavia recently visited the Buffaloes’ facilities, touring the indoor practice field and weight room. It would have been all too overwhelming for him, with the reality being that the 24-year-old has run out of college eligibility after six seasons, including two in junior college.

Pavia came out of Albuquerque without a single Division I offer and headed to New Mexico Military Institute, where he won the 2021 junior college national title. Sanders, then coaching at Jackson State, offered him a spot, but Pavia would have been the backup regardless of how well he performed, even if Shedeur was injured. Pavia appreciated Sanders’ honesty and wasn’t offended by the blatant favoritism. But he wasn’t there to sit on the sidelines. He wanted to be the starter.

Pavia chose New Mexico State before transferring to Vanderbilt in 2024. He helped turn around a program that had gone 8-30 over the previous four seasons, leading the Aggies to a 17-10 record in his two years there. In 2023, he threw for 2,973 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 923 yards and seven scores. He also led New Mexico State to a 31-10 upset over Auburn and was named Conference USA (C-USA) Offensive Player of the Year. His move to Vanderbilt would take his career to another level.

He led the Commodores to a 40-35 upset over No. 1 Alabama in 2024. The following year, he helped them reach their first 10-win season in program history. He finished 2025 with 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, along with 862 rushing yards and 10 scores. His performances earned him second place in the Heisman Trophy voting, behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

Pavia declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, hoping to take his career to the next level. Sanders, the coach he had turned down years earlier, showed his support on X, posting, “I BELIEVE IN YOU, MY MAN!” But despite his college success, Pavia went undrafted through all seven rounds.

The Baltimore Ravens gave him a chance, agreeing to a three-year deal on April 28 and officially signing him on May 1. However, his stint ended on July 23 when the team waived him to make room for center Ethan Pocic. Pavia has yet to find another team, with concerns about his size, age, and issues like a “F*** all the voters” comment on social media following the Heisman ceremony reportedly affecting his NFL prospects.

Of course, whether Pavia’s path to the NFL would have been smoother had he played under Coach Prime in college is impossible to know. But Shedeur’s numbers at Colorado show why Sanders was so reluctant to give up the starting job. Across four seasons at Jackson State and Colorado, he finished with 14,347 passing yards, 134 touchdowns, and only 27 interceptions. Shedeur is now in the NFL after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2025. He currently serves as the backup to Deshaun Watson.

Meanwhile, Colorado’s quarterback situation remains unsettled. Julian Lewis opened the season as the starter but lost the job after the Baylor matchup. Utah transfer Isaac Wilson took over against Texas Tech and will start Saturday against his former team. Pavia said Wilson seemed “super locked in” when they met and expects him to have a big night.

Colorado is 2-3 and 0-2 in the Big 12, with three straight losses after a 2-0 start. Last season ended 3-9, including a 53-7 loss at Utah.

Sanders believes the Utes are “probably the best team; we’re going to face this season”, but says his players haven’t quit: “They still believe. They still are working their butts off.”

For Pavia, the questions about his football career extend beyond Saturday night. The CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers hold his negotiating rights, and playing for the UFL is another option. Recent NCAA eligibility litigation could offer another route back to college football, but Pavia would need to file a new lawsuit to pursue an additional season.

As of August, he had not publicly taken that step. His visit to Boulder serves as a reminder of how differently things could have unfolded. Pavia now wishes he could play for the coach he once turned down.