A converted linebacker who became a four-year captain and 42-game starter at Kansas State before the Jets drafted him in the seventh round.
VJ Payne moved from linebacker to safety early in his Kansas State career and grew into one of the Big 12's steadiest defensive backs, serving as a team captain from 2023 through 2025. The Gainesville, Georgia native brings prototype size at 6-foot-3 and elite long speed to the Jets' secondary as a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Path to the league
A three-star recruit out of Buford High School in Georgia, Payne played all 14 games as a true freshman in 2022, including the Big 12 Championship Game and Sugar Bowl. He was originally recruited as a linebacker before Kansas State moved him back to safety, where he made 42 career starts. The Jets selected him with the 228th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Payne finished his Kansas State career with 207 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions and four forced fumbles across four seasons. He earned honorable mention all-Big 12 recognition as a junior in 2024 and played in the East-West Shrine Bowl ahead of the draft. His combine testing, including a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, stood out for a safety his size.
2025 season recap
In his final season at Kansas State, Payne started all 12 games and recorded 59 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, an interception, four passes defended and two forced fumbles as a senior captain before declaring for the draft.
Sources
- Wikipedia: VJ Payne
- ESPN: VJ Payne
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Safety
- Group
- defense
- College
- Kansas State
- Hometown
- Gainesville, GA, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
