#3 Fred Payne
Class: Junior
Hometown: Gainesville, Ga.
High School: Gainesville HS
Height / Weight: 5-10 / 195
Position: DB
2014 (Sophomore): Started all 12 games in the defensive secondary between cornerback and safety … Was fifth on the WCU squad with 68 total tackles including 33 solo stops and one TFL … Charted tackles in each game with three-or-more hits recorded in 11 of the 12 games on the year … Tallied a career-high nine tackles three times during the season including at home against The Citadel (Oct. 25) and Chattanooga (Nov. 1) and again at top-ranked Alabama (Nov. 22) … Recorded five pass break-ups … Made his first career interception at Furman (Sept. 27), returning the pick 11 yards … Named to the 2014 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference team and to the 2014-15 Southern Conference Honor Roll … Playing for the Purple squad, recorded four tackles in WCU’s annual Spring Game.
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 then 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.
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#3 Logan Chester
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.
High School: Hopewell HS
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 205
Position: TE
2014 (Freshman): Did not see game action ... Named to the 2014-15 Southern Conference Honor Roll.
Prior to Western Carolina: Is an invited walk-on to the WCU football team as a wide receiver ... Played as a wide receiver / tight end in high school ... Honored as the 2013-14 Hopewell High Athlete of the Year ... Was a part of four teams at Hopewell HS including football, swimming and indoor/outdoor track & field as a prep ... Helped the 4x400-meter unit win the 4A West Regional title and place fourth in the state ... Was also on the 4x200-meter relay team that was third at regionals and eighth in the state - and both relays placed in the top 15 at the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro.
Personal: Is the son of Larry and Leanna Chester ... His father, Larry, played football at Western Carolina under head coach Bob Waters and is a 1989 graduate.
Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations
