Motivation is a beautiful thing. Although it can come in many different forms, it is the driving force in all of our lives. For Las Lomas running back Frank Payne, the critics and the doubters are what motivate him to never let up.
When asked what he wanted to prove at the National Preps Collegiate Showcase at Vacaville Christian High School on November 21, Payne made his message very clear.
“I wanted to prove to myself and to everyone else that I got what it takes to play at the next level,” he said. “Going forward, I want to prove that I can play against top recruits despite what anyone else says.”
Payne came to the showcase a man on a mission and that paid off, earning him the Running Back MVP Award. The 5’10, 178-pound prospect ran a 4.59 40 and displayed his explosiveness and agility in various drills throughout the day.
“Winning that award meant a lot to me because this is only my second camp,” Payne said. “To get my name out there for the first time made me feel really confident and honored that I was chosen.”
Getting his name on the radar of scouts has proven difficult for Payne. As a junior, he has yet to receive any offers and with this upcoming season in jeopardy, garnering interest may very well be contingent on a stellar senior performance.
“He’s tested well on the camp circuit, but is still a relative newcomer to the scene,” says Brandon Huffman, National Recruiting Editor at 247Sports. “I anticipate things will pick up for him when he gets more varsity film.”
These are obstacles that Payne is well aware of, however he has done his best to re-calibrate and focus solely on what he can control. He has been constantly working on his craft, trying to “forget that Covid is in the way of having a season and stay focused on getting better.”
In the midst of such a tumultuous time, an athlete in Payne’s position could easily hang his head down low and give up. But for Frank Payne, football is not merely a game. Continuing his football career is a way for him to give back to those who got him to where he is now.
“I play for my family who I could soon pay everything back to,” says Payne. “For me, to give everything back is all I want to do, to put them in a nice home and make sure they don’t have to stress anymore.”
