#3 Fred Payne
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Gainesville, Ga.
High School: Gainesville HS
Height / Weight: 5-10 / 185
Position: DB
2013 (Freshman): Played in all 12 games on the season with one appearance in the starting lineup coming at Chattanooga ... Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Middle Tennessee State, tallying his first career tackle ... Credited with 11 seasonal tackles including seven solo stops ... Recorded a career-high four tackles twice including four at Chattanooga and at Appalachian State ... Tallied his first career interception against SEC-foe, Auburn, picking off a Jeremy Johnson pass over the middle, pulling it away from the receiver ... Also recovered a fumble against the Tigers ... Named to the 2013-14 Southern Conference Honor Roll ... Blocked a field goal attempt during WCU's annual Spring Game.
Prior to Western Carolina: A four-year varsity letter winner, credited with 360 career tackles with 14 interceptions and a quarterback sack ... Was a two-time first team All-Area selection and earned All-State in his final season ... As a senior, posted a career-high 121 tackles and five INTs while also catching five passes for 296 yards and four touchdowns ... Had a 90-yard kickoff return for a TD against Apalachee High ... Returned an interception 72 yards and a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown in a state playoff game ... Additionally tallied five receptions for 296 yards and four receiving touchdowns in his final season as a prep ... Finished with a career-best 136 total tackles including 88 solo stops as a junior ... Listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com.
Personal: Full name is Fredtavious Diquan Payne ... Is the son of Anita Harrison, grandmother Edith Williams and aunt, Crystal Wilmont ... Has two siblings - Anika Carrington and Nikita Payne ... His cousin, A.J. Johnson, plays football at Tennessee ... Worked as a mentor and volunteered with local elementary schools and the Boys & Girls Club.
Courtesy WCU Athletic Media Relations
