UCF’s versatile Payton finds new home in secondary

Tristan Payton was back in uniform for UCF during Saturday night’s blowout of Austin Peay, but even the most astute Knights football fan may not have noticed.

It was mop-up duty in a 40-point rout and Payton wasn’t in the position Knights fans have grown accustomed to seeing the junior, who has switched to defense after sitting out the first six games of this season for violating the NCAA’s drug policy.

UCF coaches have lauded Payton for his ability to adapt from wide receiver, where he played during his first two seasons, to defensive back. He gives UCF versatility in the defensive backfield and he can be used at both corner and safety, which provides needed depth at key positions but also gives the Knights more options in nickel packages.

“Tristan has been over on the scout team giving a look and he’s a very talented kid and there’s so much he can do. … He played a little offense, played a little defense,” UCF defensive backs coach Travis Fisher said.

“He was doing good on defense so [we said], ‘Hey, wanna give it a shot?’ … So he came over.”

It’s kind similar the move made by UCF linebacker Shawn Burgess-Becker, who came to UCF as a safety when he transferred from Alabama two seasons ago. Once he spent some time on the scout team lining up at linebacker, the Knights coaches saw an opportunity to not only help the team with numbers in the middle of the defense, but also to put Burgess-Becker in a position to be more successful as a player.

“Tristan is one of those kind of guys [who will do] whatever he can do to help the team,” said Fisher of Payton, who has had his ups and downs in his two seasons at UCF.

As a freshman, Payton, who was not made available for media interviews this week, was second on the team in receptions with 21 catches for 261 yards and a touchdown. He was also a key kick returner and averaged 24 yards on 30 returns.

Last season, he caught 12 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown and UCF fans will not soon forget the 72-yard touchdown pass he threw to Tre’Quan Smith against USF.

He’ll still see some duties as a return man, but most of his play-making will come from the Knights’ nickel packages, in which his versatility will be a huge asset.

“He plays a lot of safety right now and we definitely need him at nickel. He can play corner,” Fisher said. “It’s obviously a little bit different with him on the back end because of his ability to catch the ball and play the ball in the air.

“He’s a different type of receiver anyway, he’s real physical, so that’s what makes it so good for him to be on the defensive side of the ball.”

Payton has been very receptive to the change.

“I don’t have any problems at all with him. He’s always asking questions,” Fisher said. “He stands by me in practice and asks a bunch of questions.”

Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander, of course, loves the addition on his side of the ball and is happy to have more options as the No. 18 Knights prepare for a big game at SMU Saturday.

“It was kind of a deal on where he could help the team most and right now the receiving corps is playing really, really good. Right now at DB, at the safety position we have a good two deep, but we’re really struggling to find a couple more guys,” Chinander said. “He’s a violent, physical player and he’s a smart player and he just fits in with what we do with our defense. … He’s done awesome so far.”

Safety Tre Neal said his defensive teammates love having Payton on their side of the ball, as well.

“He’s really athletic, you saw it at receiver. You bring him over and it’s another athletic body,” Neal said. “As a DB, he can play safety, corner, just an extra body we can teach the position.

“He’s one of the more fast, athletic, quick-twitch guys and once you get him working and understanding the defense, you can put him on the field.”

“Tristan is one of those kind of guys [who will do] whatever he can do to help the team.” Travis Fisher, UCF defensive backs coach