Tag: Leonard Payne Jr.

After one season with the Colorado Buffaloes, defensive lineman Leonard Payne Jr. announced on Thursday that he’ll be declaring for the 2024 NFL draft.

“To Buff Nation, I would like to thank you guys for all the love and support throughout the season you guys deserve what’s coming your way in Boulder! With that being said I would like to announce I will be pursuing my dreams and entering the 2024 NFL draft,” Payne wrote on social media.

Payne began his college career at Fresno State and played five seasons there before transferring to Colorado as a graduate student. In his lone season in Boulder, he played 12 games and had 10 tackles with a pair of sacks and one forced fumble.

Congrats Leonard Payne Jr ! 💪🏾 Go get it #NFLBuffs #SkoBuffs🦬 pic.twitter.com/YfbTWC2zx5

— KeepItRealBuffs (@keepitbuffs) December 21, 2023

Other CU defensive players who have declared for the draft include safety Rodrick Ward, former Florida State linebacker Derrick McLendon and defensive end Taijh Alston.

Payne finished his five-year college career with 45 total tackles, 7.5 sacks.

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Colorado’s defense was not good last season.

The Buffaloes struggled to get opposing offenses off the field and were often overmatched in the run game. Enter Leonard Payne Jr.

The former Fresno State Bulldogs defensive tackle joined the Buffs in December and about four months later, he was on CU’s starting defensive front during the spring game in April. Payne flashed his skills in both the run and pass game while going up against the Buffs’ second-team offense, and he figures to be a big part of Colorado’s revamped defensive line next season.

Here are five things you need to know about Payne: