Cole Payton

Cole Payton is an American college football quarterback for the North Dakota State Bison.

Early life

Payton grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and attended Westside High School. He was named the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year after passing for 1,704 yards and 22 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,029 yards and 17 touchdowns. Payton committed to play college football at North Dakota State. He maintained his commitment despite late recruiting pushes from Iowa State and Nebraska. He is a left-handed thrower.

College career

Payton played in three games during his true freshman while maintaining a redshirt on the season. Payton was used in various play packages as a redshirt sophomore and rushed for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns while also completing 18 of 27 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Payton completed 10 of 16 passes for 123 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and rushed for 164 yards and one touchdown as a redshirt junior before suffering a season-ending injury. Payton was named the starting quarterback going into his redshirt senior season.