Nicholas Anthony Payne Jr. (b. Nov. 12, 1998) signed with K-State as a defensive end on National Signing Day. With steady weight gain, he could be a future defensive tackle.
Payne played under head coach Tom Kruse for Raymore-Peculiar High School, where he was regarded as the nation’s 13th-best strongside defensive end and the best player in the state of Missouri in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports.
He also was named the 53rd-best overall defensive end by ESPN, and a two-time first-team all-state and all-district performer by the Missouri Football Coaches Association.