Payton Payne Brings Veteran Interior Power to Southern Utah’s Defensive Front
Payton Payne is a seasoned Southern Utah DT who has been a steady interior presence, posting 30 career tackles for the Thunderbirds and earning third-team All-WAC recognition in 2022 plus preseason All-UAC attention in 2023. In the 2023 season, he appeared in 10 games and recorded 8 tackles, and in 2024 team stats he was credited with 5 tackles and 2.0 sacks, showing he can still disrupt from the inside. His calling card is veteran consistency, leverage, and line leadership rather than flashy volume. If a team needs a rugged, experienced trench player who helps set the tone, he’s a fit.
