Michael Payton
School: Marshall (SoCon member 1976-97)
Sports: Football
Years Competed: 1989-92
Relevant Statistics
- Started 38 games at quarterback, going 28-10 (.737)
- Passed for 9,411 yards, amassed 9,704 yards of total offense, and threw 69 touchdown passes, all school records at the time
- SoCon record-holder for total offense plays in a half (59), highest average gain per play in a game, min. 20 plays (17.00), most passes attempted in a half (55), most passing yards in a half (383, NCAA I-AA/FCS record for more than 20 years)
- 57 career TD passes is seventh in SoCon history
- Led the SoCon in total offense and passing yards per game in 1990, 1991 and 1992
- Led FCS in pass efficiency in 1991 at 181.3, a I-AA record at the time (now t8th)
- Averaged 8.94 total offense yards per play in 1991 (second in SoCon history) and averaged 7.00 for his career (sixth in SoCon history)
- 31 TD passes in 1992 was a SoCon record that was finally matched in 2007 and surpassed in 2016 (now tied for third)
- Fourth in SoCon history with a 147.22 career passing efficiency
- Three career 400-yard passing games; 496 yards against VMI in 1991 was a Marshall and SoCon record at the time
- Holds school record for most passing yards per attempt in a season (9.80 in 1991) and second in his career (8.49)
Team Record(s)/Finishes
1989: 6-5 / 4-3 SoCon (t3rd)
1990: 6-5 / 4-3 SoCon (t4th)
1991: 11-4 / 5-2 SoCon (t2nd) - reached NCAA I-AA championship game
1992: 12-3 / 5-2 SoCon (t2nd) - won NCAA I-AA championship (first in program history)
Conference Honors/Awards
- SoCon 100th Anniversary team
- SoCon Male Athlete of the Year, 1991-92, 1992-93
- SoCon Offensive Player of the Year (coaches and media), 1991 and 1992
- Two-time first-team All-SoCon (1991, 1992)
- Six-time SoCon Player of the Week
National Honors/Awards
- Walter Payton Award winner, 1992
- First-team All-America (AFCA/Walter Camp, Associated Press), 1992
Professional Career
- After spending part of 1993 with the Dallas Cowboys, Payton played two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League before finishing his career with the Florida Bobcats of the Arena Football League in 1996
Other Notable Information
- Inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999
- West Virginia Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1991 and 1992
- Became active in DARE and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
- Became a personal trainer and life coach