Colorado State’s young kicker with a legit leg and upside
Payne Williams III enters the 2026 picture as a redshirt freshman/sophomore-style developmental kicker at Colorado State, bringing a strong high-school résumé: two-time all-state kicker, all-state punter, and a school-record 53-yard field goal at St. Mary’s. He’s a compact, multi-sport athlete with real leg talent and special-teams versatility, which gives him a clear path if Colorado State wants a kickoff/field-goal specialist with growth potential. The big question is volume and consistency at the college level, but the raw tools and pedigree make him an intriguing fit for a program willing to develop a kicker rather than rent one.
