* 2022 MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
* 2022 MVFC Honor Roll

2022 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in 13 games as the team's No. 2 quarterback...Rushed 38 times for 284 yards and two touchdowns...Averaged 7.5 yards per carry...Tied a career high with 48 rushing yards against Montana in the second round of the NCAA playoffs...Completed all four passing attempts against North Carolina A&T and finished the season 8 of 12 for 51 yards with one interception and no touchdowns...MVFC Honor Roll...MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award.

2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Used a redshirt season with the Bison...Played in three of a possible four games under NCAA rules but dressed with the team in all 15 games...Completed 1 of 3 passing attempts and rushed eight times for 78 yards and two touchdowns...Ran three times for 48 yards including a 37-yard TD in the home win over Valparaiso...Had four carries for 28 yards with an 18-yard TD against Indiana State...Also appeared in the national championship win over Montana State carrying one time for two yards.

HIGH SCHOOL: 2021 graduate of Omaha Westside High School...Three-year starter...Team captain his senior year...Played for coach Brett Froendt...Led the Warriors to a 31-5 record over three seasons including a Class A state championship in 2020...Nebraska's Gatorade State Player of the Year for 2020-21...Two-time all-state first team...Set school records for career passing completions, yards and touchdowns...Threw for 5,338 yards and 65 TDs in his career while rushing for 2,122 yards and 37 scores...Accounted for 2,742 yards of total offense and 39 TDs in a 12-0 senior season after a state runner-up finish his junior year...Also participates in baseball...All-metro academic honoree...2020 Greater Omaha Sports Football Scholar.

PERSONAL: Majoring in sport management...Son of Brian and Lynda...Has a brother, Ethan.

Cole Payton