Marshall’s fourth week of Spring Football Practice begins Tuesday afternoon
By Bill Cornwell
Marshall Football hopes to extensively use the tight end in new offensive coordinator Rod Smith’s attack.
One potential beneficiary of that renewed emphasis is redshirt junior tight end Toby Payne of Poca, W.Va.
Payne had a productive 2024 season as the Thundering Herd won the Sun Belt Conference Football title.
The Herd kicks off its fourth week of spring practice on Tuesday afternoon, and Payne says that he and other veterans on the team need to be guides for many of the new faces brought to Huntington by head coach Tony Gibson and his staff.
“We’ve got to find some leadership on this football team, and I’ve got to step up in that role,” Payne said.
After sitting out the 2023 season due to injury, Payne saw action in all 13 MU games last fall, starting in 11 of those contests. He caught 17 passes for 168 yards and 6 TDs for the Herd while also being a key blocker for a top-20 rushing attack.
Payne was also a key blocker on the kickoff return unit, which ranked as one of the nation’s best. He caught a pair of TD passes against Georgia Southern and also had a season-long 32-yard TD catch against Western Michigan. Other TD catches came against Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina, and James Madison.
For his efforts, Payne was an All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention pick.
Payne says spring drills are important in adding speed and strength and making himself more valuable to the Marshall attack.
“It’s important for me to get back to my fundamentals and technique,” Payne said. “We’re taking huge steps in each practice, and I really feel good about things overall.”
Last Monday was special for Payne as he saw his brother, Ethan, take part in Marshall’s annual Pro Day event. Representatives of all but one NFL team were on hand for the event, which saw 15 former Herd players work out in hopes of attracting the attention of pro scouts.
Toby Payne says seeing his brother take part in Pro Day brought pride to him and the entire Payne family.
“It was a surreal moment,” Payne said. “It was so special seeing Ethan make the jump into Pro Day. He’s trained his whole life for that, so it was kind of cool.”
Marshall has seven spring practices remaining, with the wrap-up coming on April 12 with the annual Green-White Spring Game at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Spring Game kickoff time is 3 p.m.