Malakhi Payne
Malakhi Payne
About Malakhi
Expert Analysis
Matt Tate | Prep Redzone Scout
Payne measures in at 5’11 165-pounds. He had 211 carries for 1533 yards with 20 touchdowns, paired with 4 receptions for 13 yards. Payne has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, change of direction, balance, and good acceleration. Very good vision to power through the defense. He’ll use his dynamic jump cuts to glide effortlessly through the defense and into the endzone. Very good inside and very good outside running. He turns the corner and uses his home run speed to reach the endzone. Payne keeps getting yards after contact due to his balance and powerful legs. He runs through defenders with his good trucking and will gain more yards with a stiff arm too. Look out for him to keep balling out next season.
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Read EvaluationMatt Tate | Prep Redzone Scout
Payne was another standout in Monarch’s lost to Montrose. The 5’11 165-pound running back had 14 carries for 97 yards and 1 touchdown. Payne has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, change of direction, balance, and good acceleration. He’s an elusive bruiser. Very good vision to weave or power through the defense. Very explosive jump cuts to pivot into an open gap, if one is covered. Very good inside running and good outside. Payne consistently gets yards after contact due to his balance. He bounces off defenders or they slip off him. Great performance by the young running back.
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Read EvaluationRobert Davis | Prep Redzone Scout
Explosiveness is the word that defines Payne. With 1,011 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season, Payne has become one of 4A’s most dangerous homerun threats. His top end speed allows him to take the edge on defenders and turn routine runs into highlight worthy plays. Payne is beginning to develop as a receiving option, which will only elevate his stock even further. Defenses have struggled to contain his acceleration in open space and his ability to flip field position in a single carry makes him a go to player in this offense. Payne’s production and athletic traits make him a prime breakout candidate on the recruiting trail heading into the offseason.
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Read EvaluationMatt Tate | Prep Redzone Scout
Measuring in at 5’11 170-pounds, Payne has 134 carries for 1011 yards and 14 touchdowns. Payne is a power back and is also shifty. This bruiser has very good athletic ability due to very good change of direction, speed, balance, and good acceleration. Good quick start. Payne has good vision to weave through the defense or power through them. If a gap is covered, he uses his very good mental processing to pivot into a different hole and run though. He is a very good inside runner, and punishes the defense for tackling him. Good outside running. He gets yards after contact due to defenders slipping off him, or him running through them. Very good strength. In goal line situations, he is used for the easy yardage and has a nose for the endzone. He’s a great power back, that deserves some more love.
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Read EvaluationRobert Davis | Prep Redzone Scout
Payne adds explosiveness and balance to Poudre’s offense. His vision allows him to identify running lanes quickly, while his ability to make the first defender miss creates opportunities for big gains. Once he bounces to the perimeter, Payne has the speed to turn the corner and rip off chunk yardage. His agility in tight spaces makes him difficult to contain, as he can shift gears and keep defenders off balance. In this matchup, Payne will be relied upon to generate momentum and keep the offense ahead of schedule. If he breaks free for a couple of long runs, he could easily tilt the outcome in Poudre’s favor.
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Read EvaluationMatt Tate | Prep Redzone Scout
Payne has a very productive season for Monarch. The 5’11 150-pound back had 150 carries for 751 yards and 5 touchdowns. Payne has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, change of direction, acceleration, and good balance. He utilizes his good vision and decision making to pick the correct hole to run through, utilizing his good reaction time. Payne is a bruising running back that searches out for contact. He has very good strength. That shows when he’s trucking through defenders or stiff arming them to the ground. He’s an exciting prospect who runs extremely hard.
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Read EvaluationElijah Bonner | Prep Redzone Scout
Young but fearless, Payne handled 150 carries, gaining 751 yards with an average of 5.0 yards per attempt. His season highlight was a 50-yard dash against Frederick. He posted three games over the century mark and scored five touchdowns, marking a breakout season that suggests even bigger things in his future.
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Read EvaluationMatt Tate | Prep Redzone Scout
Measuring in at 5’11 150-pounds, Payne carried the ball 150 times for 751 yards and 5 touchdowns. Payne was major reason in Monarch’s success. He has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, change of direction, speed, and good balance. Payne is a power back that excels at running downhill. He has good vision, and if one of the holes is covered, he’ll use his dynamic cut to move into the open hole. Uses dynamic jump cuts out in open space to make defenders miss. Payne thrives on physicality and uses his good strength to run through defenders. He puts his shoulder down and trucks through them. Powerful stiff arm as well. I’m excited to see more of Payne next season, as he’ll on a great trajectory so far.
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Read EvaluationRobert Davis | Prep Redzone Scout
Payne proved to be a workhorse back in Monarch’s second-round playoff game, carrying the ball 24 times for 102 yards and a touchdown. Payne’s performance highlighted his ability to shoulder the load for his team and showcased his physical running style. Payne is difficult to bring down, consistently running through arm tackles and wearing down opposing defenses. While he’s a bruiser between the tackles, he also possesses the speed and explosiveness to make big plays in the open field. With Monarch’s bright future ahead, Payne will likely play a central role in their offense moving forward. He’s a name to watch as he continues to develop into a dynamic back.
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