Comparing Diego Pavia, Jordan Lynch, the last two undrafted Heisman Trophy finalists
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia and Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch, the last two Heisman finalists snubbed in the NFL Draft, were a lot alike.
Former Vanderbilt football quarterback Diego Pavia became the first Heisman Trophy finalist not taken in the NFL Draft since Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch in 2014. And it turns out that Pavia and Lynch shared many similarities. Following the draft, Pavia accepted an invitation to the Baltimore Ravens ' rookie minicamp, which is May 1-3.
Pavia, who led Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season, could sign a contract for likely the league minimum. That would allow him to participate in the Ravens' training camp and preseason, competing for a place on the 53-man roster. Comparing Diego Pavia to Jordan Lynch, the last undrafted Heisman finalist Diego Pavia finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who led the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and the national championship.
Lynch finished third in the 2013 Heisman voting behind the winner Jameis Winston, a quarterback who led Florida State to a 14-0 record and the national championship, and the runner-up AJ McCarron from Alabama. Pavia threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He was a dual-threat quarterback who also rushed for 862 yards on 167 attempts and scored 10 touchdowns.
He was the SEC Offensive player of the year. Lynch was also a dual threat. He passed for 2,892 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a senior while rushing for 1,920 yards on 292 attempts with 23 touchdowns.