Film Don't Lie | Gi'Bran Payne
It didn’t take Notre Dame fans long to put two and two together when Gi’Bran Payne announced he wasn’t going to attend Indiana. The coach who recruited him, Deland McCullough, had left to join the staff for the Irish so the connection was there for a player who also held a Notre Dame offer.
Things finally came to conclusion after Payne visited and now he’s announced he’ll be a part of the 2022 class for the Irish joining JD Price in the backfield.
Payne showed plenty of talent as a sophomore to help him earn his initial Notre Dame offer, but his last two seasons have been hampered by injuries. This makes him a bit of an enigma, but one that is worth taking a gamble on.
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190
Projected Position: Running back
ISD Grade: 91 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 90.5 (4-star)
What he does best:
This is all from his sophomore season, but there is a lot to like there with Payne.
First off, his burst is great. He can stick his foot in the ground and go like he does here on the swing pass. These defenders should have the angle on him, but the acceleration sees him pull away.
He displays good lateral agility and can make a defender miss in the hole like right here. This should be a two-yard gain and he turns it into a house call.
He’s certainly not the biggest back, but he can drop his pads and run with some power. This is exactly how any coach would want to see a back finish a run.
He played a lot of defense and made a significant impact for his team there. I see him as someone who can make an impact on special teams. Here he is blocking a punt, although the technique to do so needs some work.
What he needs to improve:
The saying that the best ability is availability is absolutely true. He only had 109 carries the last two seasons COMBINED. Maybe it’s just bad luck, it was a high ankle sprain that derailed his junior year, or maybe it’s something more. We’ll see how things progress with him.
Are his listed height and weight accurate? I’m not sure and that is a question for him that he’ll have to answer as well. People thought that about Price and he came in physically ready to work so perhaps that will be answered quickly.
He hits the hole with authority, but I think he can get better at reading his blocking a bit better on some runs while showing a bit more patience.
What’s his ceiling?
If he’s healthy and looks like the back he was as a sophomore, then this could be a significant addition to an already strong running back room. Payne has the talent to become a starter at Notre Dame.
They must feel good about his health and he won’t be counted on to play early with the depth already in front of him. He shows the ability to run away from people and be a force as an inside runner, which is exactly why I still have him as a 4-star prospect.
Who he could be:
Former Oklahoma State running back Jaylen Warren
