Former DE Patrick Payton finds new home with team FSU has owned in recent years

A player FSU football fans had been waiting to hear a decision from after the 2024 season concluded has found a new home.

Former FSU defensive end Patrick Payton will play his final collegiate season with a team FSU has owned in recent years.

He'll play for the LSU Tigers according to a post on social media.

FSU defeated the LSU Tigers 24-23 in the 2022 season opener and 45-17 in the 2023 season opener.

Ironically, Payton didn't play in the 2022 game and had four tackles against the Tigers in 2023. However, none of the tackles resulted in sacks, tackles for a loss, or QB hurries.

That was the book on Payton in 2024, a lot of expectations after becoming vocal about wanting to enter the transfer portal after the 2023 season. However, he had little to show for it, and that turned fans against him as the season progressed.

He had little impact as a pass rusher and wasn't great against the run. His draft stock suffered tremendously, which is likely why he didn't declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. FSU has already signed two defensive ends from the transfer portal to replace him.

James Williams and DeAnte McCray are bigger guys with two years of eligibility remaining. That's a good trade-off, plus they likely come in with the attitude they have a lot to prove with a new team, as opposed to Payton who played like he had already made it as a player.

I wish Payton luck with his new team. He was a good example of the FSU coaching staff developing a player out of high school until he mailed it in this year.