Player Bio: Jeremy Payton

ASU: One of ASU's most versatile overall players...has the ability to play any position in the secondary after beginning his career as a wide receiver...has totaled 78 tackles (50 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss (minus 25 yards) and two sacks (minus 21 yards) in 35 career games...has made seven career starts, and looks to compete to replace departed starter Josh Barrett opposite Troy Nolan as ASU's starting safeties in 2008...named a preseason fourth-team All-Pac-10 member by Phil Steele's College Football Preview.

2007: Played in 10 games, starting the first three Pac-10 games (against Oregon State, at Stanford and at Washington State)...finished the season with 26 tackles (20 solo) and one pass break-up...had a solo tackle in season-opening victory over San Jose State on Sept. 1...recorded five tackles (four solo) and a pass break-up against San Diego State on Sept. 15...collected six tackles (all solo) in his first start of the season, a victory over Oregon State on Sept. 22...posted three tackles (two solo) in win at Stanford on Sept. 29...recorded five tackles (four solo) at Washington State on Oct. 6...returned to action after missing three games and had a tackle in win over Arizona on Dec. 1...closed the season by making three tackles (two solo) in Pacific Life Holiday Bowl against Texas on Dec. 27.

2006: Played in 12 games with one start, coming against Hawai'i in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl...totaled 25 tackles (15 solo), 1.5 tackles-for-loss (-14 yards), one sack (-13 yards), one interception (four yards), one pass breakup and one forced fumble...recorded four total tackles (three solo) against Northern Arizona on Aug. 31...posted four tackles (three solo) versus Nevada on Sept. 9...added four tackles (one solo) against No. 12 Oregon on Sept. 30...tallied a pair of tackles (one solo), assisted on a one-yard tackle-for-loss and forced a fumble at No. 3 USC on Oct. 14...registered a 13-yard sack and a pass breakup against Stanford on Oct. 21...intercepted an Alex Brink pass against Washington State on Nov. 11...notched three tackles (two solo) at Arizona on Nov. 25...recorded a season-high six total tackles (four solo) as a starter against Hawai'i in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 24.

2005: Played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman, starting three (vs. Northwestern, vs. Oregon and vs. Washington)...registered 25 total tackles (13 solo), including two tackles for loss (minus-nine yards) and one sack (minus-eight yards)...had a career-high seven tackles (three solo) in his first career start against Northwestern (Sept. 17), which finished tied for second-most on the team in that game...also registered a one-yard tackle for loss against Northwestern...followed that with a five-tackle (three solo) effort at Oregon State (Sept. 24)...had an eight-yard sack of Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards.

2004: Saw limited action in three games (UTEP, Northwestern and Iowa)...played safety and wide receiver in ASU's season opener vs. UTEP, becoming ASU's first two-way player since J.R. Redmond in 1998 and '99...caught a seven-yard pass and had two tackles, including one for a loss, vs. the Miners...received a medical redshirt after a foot injury caused him to miss the rest of the season.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2004 graduate of South Hills High School in West Covina, Calif....a member of the Tacoma News Tribune's "Western 100"...rated the No. 46 player in California and an All-American in the preseason by SuperPrep...a postseason All-America selection by PrepStar Magazine...played in the Cali-Florida High School All-Star game...rated as the No. 42 prospect in TheInsiders.com Pac-10 Region Top 100 in the preseason...also rated the No. 25 defensive back in the nation, the No. 57 player in the West and the No. 42 player in California by Rivals.com...he and his twin brother, Bryan, were named Co-Defensive Players of the Year in the All-C.I.F. Southern Section Division VII...named All-C.I.F. on offense and defense twice...twice named All-San Gabriel Valley on offense and defense...twice named all-state, once on offense and once on defense...two-time all-league selection...was the league MVP on offense...was South Hills High School Co-Most Valuable Player...his team went 13-1 in his senior year...collected 54 catches for 907 yards and nine touchdowns...also added 43 tackles and seven interceptions...earned all-state, all-area and all-league honors following his stellar junior season...collected 34 tackles and eight interceptions as a junior...also had 25 receptions for 686 yards and seven touchdowns...three-year starter...finished with 15 career interceptions and 83 career tackles...collected 83 career receptions for 1,471 yards...lettered three times in football and twice in track...captained his football team in 2002 and 2003...set school records for longest touchdown reception (91 yards) and longest interception return (93 yards)...coached by Steve Bogan.

PERSONAL: Earned his degree (B.I.S., interdisciplinary studies) in May of 2008...is contemplating a profession as a member of a S.W.A.T. team...parents are Salaam (homicide detective) and Rafeala (LAPD) Payton of West Covina, Calif....has three siblings, Bryan (20), Alexus (15) and Imani (12)...his twin brother, Bryan, is a junior safety at Oregon State...lists catching the game-winning touchdown with a minute left in a 2002 semifinal game and then grabbing an interception as the other team drove downfield as his most exciting sports experience...enjoys hanging out with friends...born Sept. 2, 1986 in Camp Pendleton...full name is Jeremy Ryan Payton.

Payton's Career Statistics

Jeremy Payton Class: Graduate Student Hometown: Covina, Calif. High School: South Hills Height / Weight: 6-1 / 207 Position: Safety Experience: 3V