Brian Schaible
The easy storyline is athletic tight end. Former quarterback. Mismatch creator.
The more interesting one centers on a potential first round riser who spent the last two seasons rooming with one of college football’s most debated quarterbacks and defending him without hesitation.
Eli Stowers’ belief in Diego Pavia wasn’t calculated. It was real.
“As a person, I love him to death,” Stowers said. “He’s the best teammate you could have. I was roommates with him [at Vanderbilt] for the last two years, and it was an amazing experience.”
Around the league, evaluators are trying to decide just how high Stowers can climb. Some believe his blend of size, movement skills and positional intelligence could push him into late first round territory. At the podium, what stood out wasn’t buzzwords. It was conviction.
He knows exactly who he is.
“I think they’re getting a tight end with a special blend of athleticism that’s tough, has a high football IQ,” Stowers said. “Being a former quarterback, I understand the game at a higher level than a lot of tight ends do.”
The quarterback background shows up in subtle ways. He talks about seeing coverage the same way his signal-caller does. About being quarterback friendly. About understanding spacing without needing it drawn up twice.
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And yes, about blocking, the part many still question.
“My underrated trait, I would say blocking,” Stowers said. “I think people don’t give me enough credit for the strides I’ve already taken.”
That humility runs through everything. Faith. Family. Growth. Even his favorite Coach Clark Lea story, the head rubbing when stressed, came with a quick apology and a grin.
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But the most revealing answer might have been about Pavia’s public perception.
“He just kind of says whatever he wants to say sometimes,” Stowers admitted. “But as a person, who he really is, he’s an amazing guy.”
That loyalty matters in NFL rooms.
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So does production. So does tape from Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama where he believes he showed his most complete form, receiving threat and functional blocker.
He entered college believing he could reach the NFL. He just didn’t know it would be at tight end.
Brian Schaible is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience covering college and professional sports. Brian holds a master’s degree in journalism/public relations from Kent State University.
