Donald Payne (American football)

Donald Payne (born July 12, 1994) is an American football linebacker for the Arlington Renegades of the XFL. He played college football at Stetson and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2017 as the first player from Stetson to play in the NFL. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Washington Football Team, the Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers.

Donald Payne
refer to caption
Payne with Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018
No. 18 – Arlington Renegades
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1994-07-12) July 12, 1994
Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Landmark Christian School (Fairburn, Georgia)
College:Stetson
Undrafted:2017
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • XFL champion (2023)
  • All-USFL (2022)
  • USFL tackles leader (2022)
  • 3× FCS All-American (2014–2016)
  • 3× PFL Defensive Player of the Year (2014–2016)
  • NCAA tackles leader (2014)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:76
Sacks:1.0
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:2
Interceptions:0
Player stats at NFL.com

College career

Payne finished his college career as a three-time All-American and a three-time Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Year, the first PFL athlete to win the award three times during their career.[1][2] In his first season at Stetson, Payne was named the 2013 Pioneer Football League Defensive Freshman of the Year.[3] In his sophomore season, Payne led the entire NCAA with 185 total tackles on the year and at the time tied an all-time all-division NCAA record with 30 total tackles in the win over Campbell University.[4][5] Payne recorded 538 career tackles, which is the 3rd most in Division 1 history, 14 sacks and 9 interceptions during his collegiate career.[6][7] Donald Payne was inducted into the Stetson University Athletics Hall of Fame on October 29, 2022.[8][9]

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

Payne signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2017.[10] He was waived on September 2, 2017.[11]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On September 3, 2017, Payne was claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars.[12] The Jaguars advanced all the way to the AFC Championship where they lost to the New England Patriots, 20–24.[13] Payne finished the season third in the NFL in special teams tackles with 16.[14][15] On October 25, 2018, Payne was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.[16] He was activated off injured reserve on December 28, 2018.[17] On May 9, 2019, the Jaguars waived Payne.[18]

Baltimore Ravens (second stint)

On August 16, 2019, Payne signed with the Baltimore Ravens.[19] He was waived on August 31, 2019, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[20] He was released on September 10.[21]

Jacksonville Jaguars (second stint)

On October 22, 2019, Payne was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars.[22] In week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Payne recorded a team high 13 tackles and sacked Jameis Winston once in the 28–11 win.[23] Payne was also featured on NFL's mic'd up in week 15 vs. the Oakland Raiders.[24] The Jaguars won 20–16, the last Raiders game ever played in the Oakland Coliseum before they relocated to Las Vegas.[25] Payne finished the 2019 season playing in nine games (five starts) and registered 61 tackles, a sack, a pass defense and a fumble recovery.[26][27]

Washington Football Team

Payne signed with the Washington Football Team on July 28, 2020.[28] He was waived on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[29] He was released on October 26.[30]

Miami Dolphins

On November 11, 2020, Payne was signed to the Miami Dolphins' practice squad.[31] He was released on November 23, 2020.[32]

San Francisco 49ers

On August 11, 2021, Payne signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers,[33] but was waived a few days later.[34]

Houston Gamblers

Payne was selected by the Houston Gamblers in the inaugural 2022 USFL draft.[35] On May 31, 2022, he was named the USFL Defensive Player of the Week in Week 7.[36] In Week 10, Payne was again named the USFL Defensive Player of the Week in the final regular season game.[37] Payne lead the USFL in tackles with 117 tackles in 10 games.[38][39] He was named to inaugural All-USFL Team Defense.[40]

Arlington Renegades

The Arlington Renegades selected Payne in the third round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft on January 1, 2023.[41] He was placed on the team's reserve list on April 14, 2023, and activated on April 29.[42]

Spring League Statistics
Year League Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPCmbSoloAstTFLSckIntYdsY/ITDFFFR
2022USFLHOU 10117714662.036521.7211
2023XFLARL 174310.5000000

References
  1. "Donald Payne – Football". Stetson University Athletics. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  2. "Stetson’s Payne becomes first three-time winner, highlights 2016 Pioneer Football League Major Award recipients". Pioneer-Football.org. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  3. "Pioneer Football League Announces 2013 Major Award Winners". Pioneer-Football.org. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  4. Staff Reports. "Stetson's Donald Payne named to Walter Camp All-America Team". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  5. Staff Report. "Payne, Saunders named to AP All-American Team". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  6. Boyle, Chris. "Stetson's Donald Payne signs with Ravens as undrafted free agent". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  7. "Donald Payne – Football". Stetson University Athletics. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  8. Vinel, Chris. "Stetson set to induct six-person class into athletics hall of fame later this month". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  9. Candelaria, Michael (September 1, 2022). "Stetson Athletics Selects Six to Hall of Fame". Stetson Today. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  10. "Ravens Officially Sign 16 Undrafted Rookie Free Agents". BaltimoreRavens.com. May 5, 2017. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  11. Downing, Garrett (September 2, 2017). "Ravens Make 15 Moves To Set 53-Man Roster Ahead Of 2017 Season". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018.
  12. "Jaguars claim five players off waivers". Jaguars.com. September 3, 2017. Archived from the original on November 5, 2017.
  13. "Jaguars vs. Patriots – Game Summary – January 21, 2018 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  14. "Washington Football Team signs LB Donald Payne, OL Kevin Pamphile". Riggo's Rag. July 28, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  15. "NFL Football Player Stats & Stats Leaders – Special Teams Total Tackles". www.teamrankings.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  16. "Jaguars put LB Donald Payne on injured/reserve, promote CB Dee Delaney to active roster". BigCatCountry.com. October 25, 2018.
  17. "Payne, Lee, Flowers to active roster". Jaguars.com. December 28, 2018. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  18. Bouda, Nate (May 9, 2019). "Jaguars Waiving LBs Blair Brown & Donald Payne".
  19. Schaffer, Jonas. "Ravens sign linebacker Donald Payne, waive punter Sean Smith". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  20. Brown, Clifton (September 1, 2019). "De'Lance Turner, Maurice Canady Among 10 Players Signed to Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  21. Brown, Clifton (September 10, 2019). "Ravens Sign Two Players to Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  22. "Jaguars Sign Two Linebackers to Active Roster". Jaguars.com. October 22, 2019.
  23. "Bucs turn Foles' turnovers into touchdowns, beat Jags 28-11". www.espn.com. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  24. "Mic'D Up: Donald Payne". www.jaguars.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  25. "Raiders Fall To Jaguars In Final Minutes Of Farewell Game At Oakland Coliseum". December 15, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  26. "49ers' Donald Payne: Lands with San Francisco". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  27. "Washington Football Team training camp profiles: Linebackers". Riggo's Rag. August 3, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  28. "Washington Football Team Signs T Kevin Pamphile, LB Donald Payne". WashingtonFootball.com. July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  29. "Washington Football Team Reduces Roster To 53 Players". WashingtonFootball.com. September 5, 2020.
  30. @WashingtonNFL (October 26, 2020). "We have released the following players from the practice squad: DE Gerri Green DB Manny Patterson LB Donald Payne" (Tweet). Retrieved November 8, 2020 – via Twitter.
  31. @flasportsbuzz (November 11, 2020). "Dolphins sign veteran linebacker Donald Payne to their practice squad. The 2017 Stetson product appeared in 30 games and started 5 for the Jaguars from 2017 to 2019. Had 76 tackles and a sack" (Tweet). Retrieved December 17, 2020 – via Twitter.
  32. @apoupartFins (November 23, 2020). "The Dolphins have released two players off the practice squad: CB Tae Hayes and LB Donald Payne" (Tweet). Retrieved December 17, 2020 – via Twitter.
  33. "49ers Sign LB Donald Payne; Release WR Kevin White". 49ers.com. August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  34. "49ers Sign LB Mychal Kendricks; Waive Three Others". 49ers.com. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  35. "10 Former Ravens Drafted Into the USFL United States Football League". www.baltimoreravens.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  36. "USFL Week 7 Players of the Week: Kyle Sloter, Donald Payne". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  37. King, Peter (June 27, 2022). "Four USFL stars with best chance to make NFL roster". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  38. "USFL: Six Things To Know For Playoff Weekend | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". pfhof. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  39. "2022 USFL Defense Stats & USFL Defense Leaders – Total Tackles". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  40. "2022 All-USFL Team defense unveiled". FOX Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  41. "Supplemental Draft Picks 2023". XFL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  42. "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
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