During his time as a Kansas State football player, VJ Payne was well known for his speed.
He was the fastest player on the entire roster last season, as his top speed in practice was clocked above 23 miles per hour.
That kind of athleticism helped him make plays for the Wildcats for four straight seasons as a safety. He finished his college career with 207 tackles to go along with nine passes defended and four interceptions.
It could also help him land a roster spot in the NFL. Payne has spent the past few months training at XPE Sports in Fort Lauderdale, and he says he is even faster now than when he played in Manhattan. How much faster? He doesn’t want to say. He would rather wait and prove himself next week at the NFL Draft Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
“I don’t want any numbers running around on the internet right now,” Payne said. “But my weight is really good. I can tell that I am a lot stronger by the way the numbers are correlating to my speed. I can tell a difference in my body.”
Payne is hoping to showcase his physical traits in front of NFL scouts at the 40-yard dash and other events.
He is hopeful that he has put himself in a position to hear his name called at the NFL Draft. A solid showing at the Senior Bowl helped him get his feet wet in the professional waters.
“I showcased my speed, my length, my physicality and my man cover skills while I was down there,” Payne said. “I also showed my intelligence on and off the field. I got really good feedback from the Senior Bowl.”
His favorite part of the process: interviews.
Some players find it tedious to answer repetitive questions from dozens of NFL teams, but Payne loved that part of the experience. He said he spoke with representatives from all 32 NFL teams. He enjoyed talking football with them and sharing his knowledge of the game via X’s and O’s on white boards.
“The way I prepare for an interview is second to none,” Payne said. “I was able to go in there with confidence. It came easy to me just talking to talking with teams and seeing how they see me fit or how I fit their schemes.”
He felt at home as they quizzed him on defenses.
“I loved it,” Payne said. “That’s just another thing I got to showcase, how smart I am.”
Payne used his speed and smarts to make memorable plays with the Wildcats, including a game-clinching interception against Tulane when he was a junior. That was his favorite play in a purple uniform.
Most project Payne as a potential late-round pick in the NFL Draft. But he can improve his stock next week at the combine.
Proving that he has gained speed from his college days would be a great place to start.
“My goal is just to be the best version of myself,” Payne said. “I feel like if I do that each day then everything else will fall into place.”