Goal No. 7: GREAT EFFORT.
True Senior | 6-3 | 208 lbs. | Gainesville, Georgia
VJ Payne Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
Position: SafetyPrevious College: NoneProjection: StarterStatus: On Scholarship
Victor J. Payne (b. March 17, 2004) is a hard-hitting strong safety who is majoring in kinesiology. And this summer, he clocked the fastest time on the team — 23.37 mph! — as part of the vaunted four-man, 23-mph club.
A true freshman who did not redshirt and played in every game in 2022 with four starts — against South Dakota and Kansas, in the Big 12 Championship against TCU, and at the Sugar Bowl against Alabama — Payne started the season opener at free safety, becoming the first K-State true freshman to start a season opener since tight end Jeron Mastrud in 2006 and the first on defense since at least 1988.
After settling in as the starting strong safety following season-ending injuries to Kobe Savage and Cincere Mason, he carded a season high with 10 tackles in the Sugar Bowl — which included his first career sack — as he tied for 10th in K-State bowl history in tackles.
That topped Payne’s previous high of eight tackles, set against Kansas. He also had four tackles in the Big 12 Championship game against TCU and two at West Virginia as he saw time on 355 defensive snaps and 85 special teams plays during the season.
Payne started all 13 games in 2023, tying for third on the team with 57 tackles to go along with three tackles for loss, an interception, four passes defended and a fumble recovery over his 694 defensive snaps.
He tied his career high and also tied for 10th in K-State bowl history with 10 tackles in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State, a game that included an absolutely devastating sack of the NC State quarterback, Brennan Armstrong, on a two-point conversion attempt.
Payne’s effort against the…
Source link : https://www.bringonthecats.com/2025-k-state-football-roster-countdown/27635/7-days-to-2025-kickoff-vj-payne
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Publish date : 2025-08-18 01:00:00
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