UTEP Miners

2014 (SENIOR): Played in all 12 games, making eight starts ... tallied 23 tackles (14 solo), a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, an interception and two pass breakups ... averaging 6.4 yards on 19 punts returns (121 yards) ... returned seven kickoffs for 93 yards (13.3 average) ... registered a season-high six tackles (four solo), a pass breakup and returned five punts for 67 yards (13.4 average), including a 31-yard return, against North Texas ... tallied a 28-yard interception return with two tackles against rival NM State ... notched five stops and a breakup versus Texas Tech ... forced a fumble at WKU ... had a season-high 28-yard kickoff return at LA Tech ... returned a punt 19 yards against Old Dominion and a 16-yard punt return at UTSA.

PRIOR TO UTEP: Saw action in 12 games as a punt and kick returner for Houston in 2013 ... returned 15 punts for a total of 64 yards (4.3 average) with a long of 31 yards against Rice ... ranked third in The American Athletic Conference in punt return average ... had four kick returns for a total of 78 yards and an average of 19.5 yards per return with a long of 21 yards versus BYU ... made the switch from receiver to defensive back prior to the start of fall practice in 2012 ... played in nine games on special teams ... second on the team with nine punt returns for 33 yards ... returned two kickoffs for 42 yards ... moved back to receiver at the conclusion of the season ... returned five punts in 2011, including a 76-yarder at Tulane for a score ... averaged 21.6 yards per return and enjoyed a 25-yard punt return in the season-opening win against UCLA ... recorded five tackles on defense, including two stops against Marshall ... added solo stops against East Carolina, Rice and at UAB ... First-team 13-5A All-District as a senior at Klein HS in 2009 ... third-team All-State ... Klein HS (Texas) team captain ... all-purpose player threw for a touchdown, ran for three TDs, caught four touchdown passes, had three interceptions and returned a punt for a touchdown in his senior year ... earned four letters in football.

PERSONAL: 
Full name is Damian Le Marque Payne ... Son of Kenneth Payne and Angela Williams ... father played football for Pitt ... mother ran track for Prairie View A&M ... has two brothers ... brother Kendrick played defensive line at Cal ... Uncle Harvey Williams had an eight-year NFL career (1991-98) with the Chiefs and Raiders ... Other relatives who played in the NFL include Gerald and Grant Irons ... Sociology major.