Rivals.com 24/7Sports RUNNING BACK 5'10''|190 LBS CLASS OF 2022 Check out Regular Season Highlights (games 1-8) by Gi'Bran Payne on @hudl https://t.co/GTswEC7Jf8 #hudl— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) December 13, 2019
Ohio RB talks often with #OhioState RB coach Tony Alford, talks definite interest in #Buckeyes. VIP https://t.co/Cc2ACajbLH— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) May 21, 2020
COMMUNICATION WITH PAYNE INCREASING As we discussed on Thursday, there is a four-man group of players who could have benefitted greatly from Ohio State holding its annual summer camps. That includes three of the top-seven ranked players in the state of Ohio's 2022 class who do not yet have Ohio State offers but are prime candidates to earn one – Westerville South receiver Kaden Saunders (No. 4 in Ohio), Canal Winchester running back Stephan Byrd (No. 5) and Cincinnati La Salle running back Gi’Bran Payne (No. 7). An offer to Saunders, ranked No. 166 overall and No. 16 as an athlete, is possibly contingent on the young slot receiver's willingness to play on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive back, as the Buckeyes have told him in the past that's where they project him best. Saunders, however, has been adamant that he wants to play on offense, which is where the majority of the 13 schools who have offered (including Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Minnesota and Arizona State) like him to play. An offer to Byrd, we believe, could have gained some momentum if Byrd had impressed the Buckeyes at camps this summer. Last summer, the No. 167-ranked overall player and No. 19-ranked running back in the country flashed skills that impressed Tony Alford, but Byrd is still yet to receive an offer. In speaking with Byrd – whose 11-offer list is highlighted by Cincinnati, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa State and Tennessee – he's maintained an impressive amount of patience and understanding even though he hasn't yet been offered by Alford and Co. Out of those three players, an offer to Payne, ranked No. 206 overall and No. 24 at running back, might be the closest to happening. Payne is confident an offer could come at any time. The relationship between Payne and Alford is continuing to build, and Payne's recruitment to Ohio State is “still progressing as we had been before,” he told Eleven Warriors. Payne's offer sheet right now is at 13, and there has been some momentum building between him and Ohio State. Payne was offered by Iowa last Thursday and Wisconsin last Friday, bringing him to eight offers from Big Ten programs, including Penn State, Michigan and Minnesota. If Payne gets an offer from Ohio State, I think he ends up in the Buckeyes' 2022 class as an eventual four-star composite running back and possible top-150 overall prospect. If he does get offered by Ohio State, Payne told Eleven Warriors “I’m going to still look at all my options and decide” instead of committing right away – even though his good friends Jaylen Johnson and Devonta Smith (who are his teammates at La Salle) and C.J. Hicks are already committed to the Buckeyes. After landing TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor in the 2021 class, running back might not be a major need for the 2022 cycle, but the position is always one in which the Buckeyes (like most programs) want to bring in a high-caliber talent, so there will be no shortage of moves made by Alford and crew to make that happen. Ohio State projects to have six running backs on scholarship heading into the 2022 season right now (Master Teague, Marcus Crowley, Steele Chambers, Miyan Williams, Henderson and Pryor), but will still add one more from the 2022 cycle – perhaps that number could jump to two, and I like Payne to be that second back if so. The Hurry-Up: Despite Denzel Burke’s commitment, Ohio State will continue recruiting Jaylin Davies, and Gi’Bran Payne appears to be getting closer to earning an OSU offer. https://t.co/jLvDwWT0Ey— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 24, 2020
Who might be #OhioState’s next in-state offer? (FREE via @Bill_Kurelic)https://t.co/ikFuUJu5jK pic.twitter.com/qUpWhJ0Yjs— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) June 21, 2020
4-star RB discusses interest in #OhioState, talking to Ryan Day, and more. VIP https://t.co/lZ5GTeltRd— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) June 21, 2020
BLESSED..THE University of Alabama has offered.❤️🐘 #AGTG @CoachHuff @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/k5Vfivtjo6— Gi’Bran Payne🧸 (@upnexxt03) June 24, 2020
top 10..recruitment is still 100% open‼️edit: @bspaeth7 🤞🏾 pic.twitter.com/GIqKEGNFFK— Gi’Bran Payne🧸 (@upnexxt03) July 4, 2020
Cincinnati La Salle RB Gi’Bran Payne (@upnexxt03)Payne is the No. 8 Ohioan in the 2022 class. Holds offers from Alabama, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/axAL98bZtT— Zack Carpenter (@Zack_Carp) July 11, 2020
Top247 2022 RB Gi’Bran Payne (@upnexxt03) just released a top ten, which includes #Michigan. Wolverines already have offered the Ohio backhttps://t.co/MCtTyLAh1W pic.twitter.com/afrzockc4C— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) July 11, 2020
Gi’Bran Payne not sweating wait for Ohio State offer Another Ohio prospect remaining patient in the recruiting process is Cincinnati La Salle running back Gi’Bran Payne. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Payne has narrowed his top schools list to 10 — but noticeably absent from his list is Ohio State. The Buckeyes have not offered Payne yet. That’s why, despite regular contact with Tony Alford and the Ohio State staff, Payne didn’t include them in his recent announcement. He knows things could change and isn’t worrying too much about when or if that offer comes. “Recruiting has slowed down since the Covid,” Payne told Lettermen Row. “It’s starting to pick back up. I have a strong relationship with Coach Alford and we talk regularly. I actually had a call with Coach Day and they told me that I’m a top player for them and my time will come.” Former Buckeyes commitment Devonta Smith and current Ohio State verbal Jaylen Johnson are both trying to sway the talented tailback’s thought process. “They’re both in my head,” Payne said, acknowledging Smith’s efforts to convince him to pick Alabama. “Especially Tay. He made a post that he wasn’t leaving without me, and Jaylen talks to the Ohio State coaches, so they know everything about me.” As for the Buckeyes offer? If it comes, it comes. “My time will come,” Payne said. “If it’s meant to be, it will happen.” Jordan Hancock impact on Barrett Carter, in-state stars stay patient https://t.co/5ijBrDw7cJ— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) July 15, 2020
Four-star 2022 Ohio RB Gi'Bran Payne (@upnexxt03) on why Michigan is a top school, calls with Jim and Jay Harbaugh #GoBlue. https://t.co/btv6fHixDo pic.twitter.com/ujrm5hy6N5— "EJ Holland" (@EJHolland_TW) July 17, 2020
Top Ohio 2022 RB Gi'Bran Payne talks #Buckeyes and what Ryan Day has told him about a possible #OhioState offer. VIP https://t.co/zf9pUhuF9w— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) July 17, 2020
BLESSED beyond measures..The University of Florida has offered.🐊 #AGTG @CoachGregKnox @GatorsFB pic.twitter.com/g3eYOPU7v4— Gi’Bran Payne🧸 (@upnexxt03) August 21, 2020
Top247 2022 RB Gi’Bran Payne had one of the best games I’ve ever seen. Had four TDs banged up/willed his team to a hard earn victory over Elder. Has a GREAT bond @JayHarbaugh and says #Michigan is one of the schools recruiting him the hardest right now. https://t.co/MCtTyLAh1W pic.twitter.com/vpovF8UhNT— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) August 29, 2020
WATCH: 2022 Top247 RB Gi'Bran Payne put on a show to open up his junior campaign with four touchdowns in the double overtime victory over Elder (FREE)https://t.co/OfX2yRmWG5 pic.twitter.com/IdJBiebiue— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) August 29, 2020
BLESSED..Temple University has offered.⭐️#AGTG @GinfanteMT pic.twitter.com/7FgYqaZikD— Gi’Bran Payne🧸 (@upnexxt03) September 1, 2020
After talking to @JaylenJohnson21 I caught up with his teammate and top 2022 recruit @upnexxt03.Below is the link to the article on that interview with Payne. We discussed his recruitment, role with the Lancers this season, and more! https://t.co/kNV7QREMIu— Mick Walker 🤝 (@MickDWalker) September 22, 2020