BYU safety Payton VanSteenkiste is a depth piece with upside and special-teams grit
In the 2025 season, Payton VanSteenkiste logged 7 games and 1 tackle for BYU, a modest stat line that still fits a young safety carving out a role in a crowded room[15]. At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, he brings compact size, willingness to hit, and roster value as a developmental defender who was part of BYU’s 2025 safety mix and also earned Big 12 Fall Academic Team recognition for the 2025 season[1][10][12]. If a team wants a tough, coachable, back-end defender with room to grow rather than a finished product, he’s the kind of player who earns a hard look[1][12].
