Jarrett Payton

AT MIAMI: A fifth-year senior who will be in his final season with the Hurricanes in 2003… will battle for the starting job at tailback…played extensively in 2002 at tailback after playing both tailback and fullback in his Miami career… provides a complete package of skills… son of the late Walter Payton, former Chicago Bears running back and member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

2002 (JUNIOR): Played extensively at tailback and as a starting kickoff return man… averaged 20.7 yards per kickoff return… at tailback, rushed for 223 yards on 50 carries, with a long run of 37 yards against Virginia Tech… rushed eight times for 17 yards and caught one pass for seven yards in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State… was UM’s tailback during all of the overtime and much of the fourth period against the Buckeyes following the departure of injured starter Willis McGahee… carried three times for 45 yards and returned four kickoffs for 96 yards against Virginia Tech… rushed 11 times for 51 yards at Syracuse… returned one kickoff for 15 yards at Tennessee… rushed six times for 24 yards, made a 16-yard reception and returned one kickoff for 21 yards at Rutgers… had one carry (minus-one yard) against West Virginia… rushed six times for 33 yards and returned a kickoff 13 yards against Connecticut… had five carries for 20 yards against Boston College… rushed six times for 18 yards at Temple… had four carries for 16 yards in the win at Florida… missed the opener against Florida A&M with a back injury.

2001 (SOPHOMORE): Returned to action after missing all of spring practice with a foot injury suffered when he cut his foot on coral while scuba diving… saw extensive action as a third-year sophomore, moving to fullback from tailback… was a potent threat at fullback behind starter Najeh Davenport… played in eight games during the regular season and gained 26 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns… caught three passes for 19 yards… scored touchdowns against Rutgers and Troy State.

2000 (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season with a redshirt year… decision to sit out the season was not medically related… suited up for several games and made three road trips, but did not see any playing time.

1999 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in seven games… rose to second-team on the depth chart at various points during the season… rushed for 262 yards on 53 carries for a 4.9 average… rushed for one touchdown and had a long of 40 yards… totaled six catches for 48 yards (8.0 average) with a long of 29 yards… returned two kickoffs for 44 yards with a long of 25 yards… finished fifth on the team in total offense with 37.4 yards per game… rushed nine times for 32 yards in his first collegiate action against Florida A&M… carried three times for 11 yards at East Carolina… had a key 25-yard kick return at Boston College… rushed a career-high 20 times for 87 yards against Rutgers… also had three catches for nine yards against the Scarlet Knights… earned Compaq’s Most Inspirational Play of the Week for his 16-yard touchdown run against Rutgers… netted 51 yards on 11 carries and two catches for five yards against Syracuse… posted a career-long run of 40 yards against Temple… finished the game with 115 yards of total offense on 81 yards rushing (nine carries) and 34 yards receiving (two catches).

HIGH SCHOOL: St. Viator… rated the No. 58 overall prospect in the nation by The Sporting News… named the No. 5 athlete in the Midwest Region by PrepStar… played quarterback, tailback and receiver in high school… timed at 4.3 in the 40 and can bench press 300 pounds… named to the Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald All-Area teams as a senior… Reebok All-American… Catholic Metropolitan All-Conference and MVP selection… accounted for 2,842 all-purpose yards as a senior… passed for 1,088 yards and rushed for another 1,345 yards as a senior… on defense, picked off two passes in limited time… spent his first two years on the varsity soccer team… led squad to third-place finish at the state championships his final season of soccer… coached in football by Kevin Kelly.

PERSONAL: Son of Connie and Walter Payton… his father was a Chicago Bears great and NFL Hall of Famer… chose Miami over Wisconsin, Penn State, Notre Dame and Indiana.

PAYTON’S CAREER HIGHS

PAYTON’S CAREER STATISTICS