2021 Football Roster
Roster
Payne Jr., Leonard
DL
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Jersey Number 55
Leonard Payne Jr.
- Position:
- DT
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 315
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Downey, Calif.
- High School:
- St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy
Bio
Last updated on January 11, 2023
2022 (SENIOR): Appeared in 11 games … got the start in the Mountain West Championship against Boise State (Dec. 3) … had 10 tackles (six solo) this season … added 5.5 tackles for loss .. had 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries … had a season-high three tackles against San Diego State (Oct. 29) … recorded a safety against Washington State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl (Dec. 17) … preseason honors included fourth team All-MW by Phil Steele and a listing on the Shrine Bowl 1000.
2021 (JUNIOR): Played in 11 games and started nine … missed the final two games with injury … totaled 22 tackles (10 solo) … had 5.0 tackles for loss … added 3.5 sacks … also had a fumble recovery … had a career-high four tackles three times - against Cal Poly (Sept. 11), at Wyoming (Oct. 16) and against Boise State (Nov. 6) … had a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss twice - Cal Poly (Sept. 11) and Wyoming (Oct. 16) … had a career-high 1.5 sacks at Wyoming … had a fumble recovery at then-No. 13 UCLA (Sept. 18) … part of a Bulldog defense who only allowed 20.5 points per game this season, while also holding two opponents scoreless. It was the first time since 2017 that a Fresno State team had multiple shutouts in a season … helped Fresno State to two wins over ranked opponents, both on the road. It was the first time Fresno State defeated two Top 25 opponents in a season for the first time since 2004, and the first time both wins came on the road in the 100 year history of the program.
2020 (SOPHOMORE): Inactive for the 2020 season.
2019 (R-FRESHMAN): Appeared in seven games, primarily as a member of the special teams unit … totaled three tackles on the season … got his first career tackles (2) at Air Force (Oct. 12) … also recorded a tackle at San Diego State (Nov. 15).
2018 (FRESHMAN): Did not participate in any games, redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Defensive standout captain for St. Puis X-St. Matthias Academy … transferred to St. Puis X-St. Matthias Academy for his senior year as the school transitioned its flag football program back into 11-on-11 contact … led the team to three wins, its first in 21 years after bringing back the program in 2017 … led the Warriors with 79 total tackles, 57 solo, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2017 … posted 24.0 tackle for loss and 8.0 sacks … recorded four games with 10-plus tackles … in his team’s first win, Payne recorded a season-high 14 tackles along with 4.0 TFLs and a forced fumble against Panorama … had a season-best 5.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks versus The Webb Schools.
PERSONAL: Born in Los Angeles, Calif. … son of Nesha Drape and Leonard Payne … has three brothers Josiah, Kris, John and one sister, Journee … is a philosophy major at Fresno State.
2022 (SENIOR): Appeared in 11 games … got the start in the Mountain West Championship against Boise State (Dec. 3) … had 10 tackles (six solo) this season … added 5.5 tackles for loss .. had 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries … had a season-high three tackles against San Diego State (Oct. 29) … recorded a safety against Washington State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl (Dec. 17) … preseason honors included fourth team All-MW by Phil Steele and a listing on the Shrine Bowl 1000.
2021 (JUNIOR): Played in 11 games and started nine … missed the final two games with injury … totaled 22 tackles (10 solo) … had 5.0 tackles for loss … added 3.5 sacks … also had a fumble recovery … had a career-high four tackles three times - against Cal Poly (Sept. 11), at Wyoming (Oct. 16) and against Boise State (Nov. 6) … had a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss twice - Cal Poly (Sept. 11) and Wyoming (Oct. 16) … had a career-high 1.5 sacks at Wyoming … had a fumble recovery at then-No. 13 UCLA (Sept. 18) … part of a Bulldog defense who only allowed 20.5 points per game this season, while also holding two opponents scoreless. It was the first time since 2017 that a Fresno State team had multiple shutouts in a season … helped Fresno State to two wins over ranked opponents, both on the road. It was the first time Fresno State defeated two Top 25 opponents in a season for the first time since 2004, and the first time both wins came on the road in the 100 year history of the program.
2020 (SOPHOMORE): Inactive for the 2020 season.
2019 (R-FRESHMAN): Appeared in seven games, primarily as a member of the special teams unit … totaled three tackles on the season … got his first career tackles (2) at Air Force (Oct. 12) … also recorded a tackle at San Diego State (Nov. 15).
2018 (FRESHMAN): Did not participate in any games, redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Defensive standout captain for St. Puis X-St. Matthias Academy … transferred to St. Puis X-St. Matthias Academy for his senior year as the school transitioned its flag football program back into 11-on-11 contact … led the team to three wins, its first in 21 years after bringing back the program in 2017 … led the Warriors with 79 total tackles, 57 solo, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2017 … posted 24.0 tackle for loss and 8.0 sacks … recorded four games with 10-plus tackles … in his team’s first win, Payne recorded a season-high 14 tackles along with 4.0 TFLs and a forced fumble against Panorama … had a season-best 5.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks versus The Webb Schools.
PERSONAL: Born in Los Angeles, Calif. … son of Nesha Drape and Leonard Payne … has three brothers Josiah, Kris, John and one sister, Journee … is a philosophy major at Fresno State.
FB Media Availability [9/2]: QB E.J. Warner
Tuesday, September 02
FB Weekly Press Conference [9/1]
Monday, September 01
FB highlight vs Georgia Southern [8/30/25]
Monday, September 01
Post-Game Press Conference [8/30]
Saturday, August 30
