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Diego Pavia is getting his shot.

The sa国际传媒官网网页入口 native and Heisman Trophy finalist has accepted an invite to the Baltimore Ravens鈥� rookie minicamp, per multiple reports Sunday.

The invitation came less than a day after Pavia was not selected in the NFL draft or signed as an undrafted free agent within hours of its conclusion. Despite earning All-SEC honors and being named the league鈥檚 Offensive Player of the Year last season at Vanderbilt, questions around his size and ability to adapt to more rigid NFL offenses are believed to have hindered his draft grade among clubs.

ESPN was the Pavia鈥檚 invitation. The minicamp is scheduled for May 1-3 in Baltimore. 

With 7,494 total yards and 67 touchdowns over his last two seasons at Vanderbilt, Pavia has been regarded as one of the best college quarterbacks in recent memory. He was not, however, a surefire draft prospect 鈥� at 5-foot-10, his height is well below NFL standard 6-3 at the position and the

Pavia also played in a run-pass-option-oriented offense at Vanderbilt, one unlike much of what most NFL clubs run.

鈥淧avia has a skill set that is both unique and limited,鈥� . 鈥淗e is accurate in the short-to-intermediate passing game (slants, digs, screens, outs), and his bulldog competitiveness is exceptional in all phases 鈥� especially as a runner. Moving the pocket and the quarterback run-game were staples of Vanderbilt鈥檚 scheme, and Pavia鈥檚 execution made it challenging to defend.

鈥淏ut most NFL offenses are far more expansive, so his 鈥榖ackyard football鈥� style will catch up with him against NFL speed.鈥�

Before receiving national recognition with the Commodores, Pavia led New Mexico State to consecutive bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023. The latter season saw the Aggies post a historic 10-5 record while Pavia earned Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors after passing for 2,973 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

A Volcano Vista High School graduate, Pavia was a highly successful prep wrestler but received minimal interest from schools as a football prospect. He started his college career at New Mexico Military Institute, leading the Broncos to a junior college national title in 2021.

Controversy has followed Pavia throughout his career. After finishing second to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in last year鈥檚 Heisman Trophy voting, he received criticism for posting an Instagram story captioned 鈥淔-All THE VOTERS,鈥� one he apologized for shortly after.

鈥淏eing a part of the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist was such an honor. As a competitor, just like in everything I do I wanted to win,鈥� Pavia posted on X. 鈥淭o be so close to my dream and come up short was painful. I didn鈥檛 handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to.鈥�

Midway through his second year with NMSU, a video was released depicting Pavia urinating in rival New Mexico鈥檚 indoor practice facility prior to the season. Former Aggie head coach Jerry Kill did not let him speak to the media for the rest of the regular season, a silence he eventually broke in

鈥淲hen the thing happened, it was a big distraction to the team, so I apologized to the team,鈥� Pavia said. 鈥淎fter that, I feel like we got even closer as a group and ever since we鈥檝e been on a roll and playing really good football.鈥�

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .