Toby Payne

NFL Draft Profile: Toby Payne

Position: Tight End | School: Marshall | Class: Senior

Height: 6'4" | Weight: 237 lbs | Archetype: Hybrid / Receiving

College Career Summary

Toby Payne’s journey at Marshall is a testament to resilience and steady development. After seeing limited action as a freshman in 2022, Payne’s 2023 season was derailed by a season-ending injury. He returned in 2024 to establish himself as a premier red-zone threat, catching 6 touchdowns on just 17 receptions—an elite efficiency rate.

In the 2025 season, Payne took over as the focal point of the Thundering Herd's tight end room. He evolved from a niche scoring threat into a high-volume chain-mover, doubling his career output in receptions. His performance against Georgia State (110 yards) was the crowning moment of his career, proving he could dominate a game as the primary target. While smaller than the prototypical "Y" tight end, his reliability and competitive fire made him a favorite of the coaching staff and a key component of Marshall's top-20 rushing attack.

2025 Regular Season Stats

• Receptions: 36 | Receiving Yards: 387 | TDs: 3

• Average: 10.8 YPC | Long: 48 | Drops: 2

• Career Totals: 55 Rec, 582 Yds, 10 TD.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	@ Georgia	0 / 0 / 0	C+	Stifled by elite speed; focused primarily on pass protection.
2	vs Missouri State	4 / 43 / 0	B	Solid bounce-back; became a reliable safety valve in a tight loss.
3	vs Eastern Ky	1 / 18 / 0	B-	Low volume but high impact on a key first-down conversion.
4	@ Middle Tenn	4 / 46 / 2	A+	Red Zone Master. Two clinical TD catches; high-pointed the ball.
5	@ Louisiana	3 / 29 / 0	B	Strong effort in 2OT loss; provided key blocks for the run game.
6	vs Old Dominion	3 / 31 / 0	B+	Dominant in-line blocking; helped seal the edge for explosive runs.
7	vs Texas State	5 / 46 / 0	A-	High-volume usage; moved the sticks consistently in a 2OT win.
8	@ Coastal Carolina	3 / 26 / 0	C+	Worst Game. Struggled to separate from athletic nickel safeties.
9	vs James Madison	3 / 14 / 0	B-	Quiet day in the box score but was an "A" level lead blocker.
10	@ Georgia State	5 / 110 / 1	A+	The Apex. Career-high yardage; showed elite vertical seam speed.
11	@ App State	3 / 18 / 0	B	Gritty performance in the cold; fought for every yard post-catch.
12	vs GA Southern	2 / 6 / 0	B-	Limited by game script; utilized mostly in "heavy" sets.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Leadership: Respected veteran; praised for mentoring younger TEs after his 2023 injury.

• Mental Toughness: High; successfully returned from a major injury to become a starter.

• Competitor: High. Plays with a "small school" chip on his shoulder; loves contact.

• Team Player: Major contributor on special teams (Kickoff Return) and as a lead blocker.

• Star Power: Flashes "takeover" ability in the red zone; a magnet for the ball near the pylon.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 82/100

• Height/Weight: 6'4", 237 lbs. (Under the 6'5"/250lb benchmark for "Y" TEs).

• Stamina: Exceptional; stays fluid and explosive late into the 4th quarter.

• Durability: Good post-2023; played every game in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

• Injury History: Significant season-ending injury in 2023; medically cleared since.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 89/100

• Catching: Elite. Natural hands; 10 career TDs on limited targets shows clinical finishing.

• Route Running: Technical; understands how to "blind" linebackers in zone coverage.

• Strength: Good functional strength; punch at the line is heavier than his 237 lbs suggests.

• Blocking: Solid. Technically sound and feisty, but can be out-leveraged by NFL-sized DEs.

• Release: Sudden; uses quick feet to avoid jams and stack defenders.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 90/100

• Speed: 4.68 (Estimated). Very good vertical speed for a hybrid player.

• Agility: Strength. Snap at the top of the route is crisp; can win on choice routes.

• Jumping: Excellent; consistent winner in "above the rim" situations.

• Acceleration: Explosive first step; threatens the seam immediately off the snap.

• Break Tackle: Good; relies on wiggle and balance rather than pure "trucking" power.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 94/100

• Awareness: High; former multi-sport background aids his spatial positioning.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Clinical red-zone producer (10 career TDs); elite hands and high-point ability; highly versatile "Move" TE potential; durable and productive post-major injury; high football IQ.

• Weaknesses: Undersized for a traditional in-line "Y" role; needs to add 10-15 lbs of functional mass for NFL blocking; long-speed is good but not "elite."

• Scheme Fit: Ideal F-Tight End / H-Back in a West Coast or RPO-heavy system (e.g., Rams, Dolphins, 49ers).

• NFL Comparison: Trey McBride / Gerald Everett.

Scout's Final Word

"Toby Payne is a classic 'diamond in the rough.' While he lacks the 6'6" frame that scouts drool over, his tape shows a player who simply knows how to get open and finish drives. His 2025 campaign proved he can handle a high-volume workload, and his efficiency in the red zone is among the best in this class. He will likely start as a special teams ace and 'Big Slot' weapon before developing into a reliable TE2. Draft Projection: Round 5–6."