CAREER STATISTICS
ACADEMIC HONORS
• Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll, 2014-15
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Fall 2014, Spring 2015
• Earned his degree in economics in May 2017
AT GEORGIA STATE: Inside linebacker who finished his career tied for second in GSU history with 264 career tackles ... Four-year letterwinner (2014-17) and three-year starter who played in 45 games ... Also had 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and one recovery and three pass breakups.
2017: Team’s leading tackler with 67 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss with two sacks ... Helped the Georgia State defense set records for fewest points per game allowed (24.75), fewest rushing yards per game (136.4), fewest yards per rushing attempt (4.13) and most sacks (24) ... Made a potentially game-saving tackle to help preserve the Panthers’ 21-17 win at Georgia Southern as he tripped up QB Shai Werts at the GSU 17 on the game’s final play ... Opened the season with eight tackles and a sack vs. Tennessee State ... Six tackles with a TFL in shutout of Charlotte ... Made seven tackles with a sack for a 17-yard loss in win at ULM ... Six tackles vs. App State, when he was in on a fourth-down, goal-line stop ... Received the Community Soldier Award at the AutoNation Cure Bowl in recognition of his community service efforts. 2017: Team’s leading tackler with 67 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss with two sacks ... Made a potentially game-saving tackle to help preserve the Panthers’ 21-17 win at Georgia Southern as he tripped up QB Shai Werts at the GSU 17 on the game’s final play ... Opened the season with eight tackles and a sack vs. Tennessee State ... Six tackles with a TFL in shutout of Charlotte ... Made seven tackles with a sack for a 17-yard loss in win at ULM ... Six tackles vs. App State, when he was in on a fourth-down, goal-line stop ... Received the Community Soldier Award at the AutoNation Cure Bowl in recognition of his community service efforts.
2016: Starting inside linebacker who was fourth on the team in tackles with 66 in 10 games ... Pressed into service as a long-snapper due to injuries ... Eight tackles and a pass breakup at No. 9 Wisconsin ... Six tackles and his first career interception in 31-6 win over UT Martin. Also handled long-snapping and fielded a pooch kickoff and returned it 11 yards ... Season-high 11 tackles at South Alabama.
2015: Top backup at inside linebacker who also made three starts at midseason ... Totalled 42 tackles on the season with four tackles for loss ... Opened 2015 with five tackles, including one sack, and a forced fumble vs. Charlotte ... Tied his career high with 12 tackles and a pass breakup in win at Ball State. Had a tackle for loss in the red zone to help hold the Cardinals to a field goal ... Missed the UL Lafayette game with a hamstring injury.
2014: Second on the team in tackles with 88, the third-highest season total in GSU history. Also second with 6.5 tackles for loss ... Had five games with 10 or more tackles ... Played in 11 games, starting nine ... Moved into the starting lineup at inside linebacker in Game 4 vs. Washington ... Made 10 tackles vs. Air Force and then a career-high 13 at Washington in his first start ... Finished the season with 12 tackles, including one tackle for loss, vs. Texas State ... Had 10 tackles and a sack at South Alabama and 11 tackles at Appalachian State ... Made six tackles with a tackle for loss and fumble recovery vs. Arkansas State.
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team all-state in Class AAAA as a junior ... First-team all-region in 2011 and 2012 ... Three-time All-Middle Georgia pick by the Macon Telegraph ... Finished his senior season with 85 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two interceptions ... Returned a fumble 73 yards for a touchdown in a state playoff game ... Chosen for the GACA North-South All-Star Game, played in December in Columbus ... Three-year starter for coach Kevin Kinsler at Northside High.
PERSONAL: Full name is Horace George Payne III ... Son of George and Ophelia Payne ... Born Jan. 27, 1995 ... Earned his degree in economics in May 2017.
