Vernon Linebacker Tyce Payne Targets First-Team All-State Honors While Weighing College Options

VERNON — Tyce Payne, a junior linebacker at Vernon High School, has already earned all-state recognition in each of his first two seasons and is now setting his sights on first-team honors while navigating the college recruitment process.

Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 205 pounds, Payne has accumulated 154 tackles across 23 varsity games, including 41½ tackles for loss and six sacks. His impressive statistical profile has drawn interest from several programs, with BYU, Michigan, and TCU emerging as the schools he’s currently considering.

Despite the growing attention, Payne remains focused on his high school career. “I want to get first-team all-state, and I just want to prove that we have the best linebackers in the state,” he said.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has already taken notice, ranking Vernon’s linebacker unit No. 1 in Class 3A entering the season. “It’s super cool,” Payne commented. “I’m fired up about it.”

Payne believes his game has evolved significantly since joining the varsity team. He describes himself as “more physical and quicker to react,” developments that have solidified his role as the anchor of Vernon’s defense.

Beyond his on-field performance, Payne emphasizes the importance of character and team unity. “Being a good teammate can be as simple as ‘hyping up someone else’s tackle’ or offering encouragement after a play,” he noted.

This commitment to team-first values will prove valuable for a Lions squad aspiring to advance further in the playoffs. “I feel like we’re pretty solid,” Payne said. “We just need to fix some things, especially offensively, but I feel like we can make a deep run.”

The 2026 season introduces a new dynamic to the program, as Payne’s father, Brock Payne, takes over as head coach after five years as defensive coordinator. Tyce noted that the transition has been smooth and beneficial for the team’s overall efficiency.

While college recruitment will eventually become his primary focus, Payne acknowledges that timing is important. With two seasons remaining at Vernon, he’s not feeling pressure to make an immediate decision. “Somewhere with a good culture, somewhere I can win at and somewhere that can develop me as a player and as a person,” he said when discussing what he’ll look for in his college choice.

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