Signing Day, December 2021: What Indiana gets from La Salle's Gi'Bran Payne
In the 2019 Division II football state final, then-sophomore Gi'Bran Payne rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown to help the La Salle Lancers to a 34-17 win over Massillon Washington and a state title.
Payne will bring his four-star running back talent to the Indiana Hoosiers after signing with them Dec. 15.
His performances leading to La Salle's football state title may not even have been the best state championship to display his talent. Payne's junior and senior football seasons were hampered with injuries, but his junior track and field season went without a hitch.
More: National Signing Day, December 2021: Where will Cincinnati athletes play college sports?
At the 2021 Division I Track and Field state championships in June, Payne was the second runner in La Salle's 4x100 relay team that finished in first place.
In 13 games in 2019, Payne scored 13 touchdowns, including a 95-yard interception return in the regional final victory. On the ground, Payne had 790 rushing yards and nine rushing scores. Three more touchdowns came on receptions.
The strong campaign put Payne on the map of top colleges and Payne started getting offers from programs like Kentucky, Alabama, Penn State, Notre Dame, Florida and more.
Indiana won out, despite originally not being in Payne's announced top five choices which included Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Penn State and Northwestern.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Signing Day: What Indiana football gets from La Salle's Gi'Bran Payne
