Payne emphasizes the importance of establishing goals

Terrance Armstard/News-Times Kevin Payne, keynote speaker of the 19th annual Union County Scholar-Athlete banquet poses with Keiandre Purifoy (left) and Krisanna Reynolds (right) Thursday evening at the College Avenue Church of Christ.
Terrance Armstard/News-Times Kevin Payne, keynote speaker of the 19th annual Union County Scholar-Athlete banquet poses with Keiandre Purifoy (left) and Krisanna Reynolds (right) Thursday evening at the College Avenue Church of Christ.

Jason Avery

News-Times Staff

EL DORADO - Kevin Payne has never been an individual to let adversity stand in the way of reaching his goals.

On Thursday night at the Union County Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet sponsored by the El Dorado News-Times, Nexans AmerCable and El Dorado Chemical, the former Junction City and Louisiana-Monroe standout, who was later drafted by the Chicago Bears, spoke in front of a packed house on how he went from not having a single Division I college offer to the NFL.

Payne spoke of having a special mentality, making a special decision, having a special commitment and having a special work ethic.

Heading into his senior year at Junction City, Payne did not have a single offer from a Division I school, and he spoke of how hard he had to work to make the goal of playing at that level a reality.

However, there was a road block he had to overcome.

During a game early in the season, Payne suffered broken ribs after taking a hit.

But Payne had his mind made up that he was going to play at the Division I level, and despite the pain, he set out to prove everyone wrong. Although he didn’t break the 2,000-yard barrier or score 30 touchdowns as he had set out to do, he finished with 1,700 yards and 26 touchdowns, which earned him an offer from Louisiana-Monroe.

Payne said he felt special when he received the offer, and after signing, he went to college to prove himself.

As a redshirt freshman, Payne racked up 150 all-purpose yards at LSU, but a pinched nerve followed by a broken arm suffered near the end of the season again provided another road block.

However, a move to defense would set Payne on his way to the NFL.

Although Payne said the move affected him initially, he had a decent junior year before setting his sights on wanting to play in the NFL. Payne’s dream was realized when the Chicago Bears selected him in the fifth round of the 2007 draft.

Payne said he cried at the moment he was drafted, and he thanked everyone who had helped him reach that point.

Although he broke his ribs in the preseason, then Bears coach Lovie Smith took Payne aside early in the season and said he had what it takes, but a broken arm led to Payne missing the rest of the season.

Devastated by the injury, Payne said he didn’t let the injury get in his way, and he became the starting free safety the following season, leading the team in interceptions while ranking second in tackles.

Having overcome injuries to carve out a career in the NFL, Payne spoke of always improving after having bad experiences.

Payne told the audience that there is an opportunity for growth, take it to the next level, don’t get down on yourself and grow into your dreams.

Payne concluded his speech by asking four questions.

The first was why. Why work so hard to learn and develop skills and improve.

The second was why not. Why not see how much you can develop and help other people.

The third was why not you. You can make decisions that can change your life. The final question was why not now. Now is the time to take your dream and give it life. After Payne concluded his speech, he was given a standing ovation. Payne also handed out journals with his emblem on the cover for the student-athletes to use.

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