#44 Aubry Payne
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Locust Grove, Ga.
High School: Locust Grove HS
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 255
Position: TE
2016 (Freshman): Played in 10 of the team’s 11 games with six starts, five coming in the final six games of the season … Recorded 14 receptions for 123 yards … Made his first collegiate reception against ETSU (Sept. 17) in a game played at the Bristol Motor Speedway … Caught a career-best six passes for a career-high 44 yards at Mercer (Oct. 15) … Scored his first two career points on a two-point conversion against Chattanooga (Oct. 28) … Added two solo tackles … Named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team on offense … Pulled down a team-best six catches for 60 yards and a five-yard touchdown reception in WCU’s annual Spring Game.
Prior to Western Carolina: Two-time first team all-region selection ... Received second team Class AAAA All-State honors from the Georgia Sports Writers Association, as well as first team All-Metro ... Had 30 receptions for 575 yards and five TDs as a senior ... Was a five-time player of the week selection including three as a senior ... As a junior, caught 15 passes for 209 yards with an average of 13.9 yards per reception with five touchdowns ... Also had 21 tackles with a sack as a defensive end ... Listed as a two-star athlete by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com ... High school coach was Clint Satterfield.
Personal: Full name is Aubry William Payne ... Is the son of Scott Payne and Jennifer Prater ... Has four siblings; Ashtin Prater, Triston Payne, Robbie Prater and Mitchell Prater.
Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations
