3 Days 'till Kickoff - #3 Fred Payne & Logan Chester

It's now 3 days until kickoff of Catamount football against the Mars Hill University Lions in E.J. Whitmire Stadium on September 5th in Cullowhee.

To help pass those long summer days until football season officially starts, and to hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, we'll continue the 100 day football countdown each day until kickoff day arrives.

Utilizing the 2015 Preseason Football Roster, #3 is currently assigned to two players:   Fred Payne & Logan Chester


#3 Fred Payne

Class: Junior
Hometown: Gainesville, Ga.
High School: Gainesville HS
Height / Weight: 5-10 / 195
Position: DB




2014 (Sophomore): Started all 12 games in the defensive secondary between cornerback and safety … Was fifth on the WCU squad with 68 total tackles including 33 solo stops and one TFL … Charted tackles in each game with three-or-more hits recorded in 11 of the 12 games on the year … Tallied a career-high nine tackles three times during the season including at home against The Citadel (Oct. 25) and Chattanooga (Nov. 1) and again at top-ranked Alabama (Nov. 22) … Recorded five pass break-ups … Made his first career interception at Furman (Sept. 27), returning the pick 11 yards … Named to the 2014 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference team and to the 2014-15 Southern Conference Honor Roll … Playing for the Purple squad, recorded four tackles in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

2013 (Freshman): Played in all 12 games on the season with one appearance in the starting lineup coming at Chattanooga ... Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Middle Tennessee State, tallying his first career tackle ... Credited with 11 seasonal tackles including seven solo stops ... Recorded a then career-high four tackles twice including four at Chattanooga and at Appalachian State ... Tallied his first career interception against SEC-foe, Auburn, picking off a Jeremy Johnson pass over the middle, pulling it away from the receiver ... Also recovered a fumble against the Tigers ... Named to the 2013-14 Southern Conference Honor Roll ... Blocked a field goal attempt during WCU's annual Spring Game. Prior to Western Carolina: A four-year varsity letter winner, credited with 360 career tackles with 14 interceptions and a quarterback sack ... Was a two-time first team All-Area selection and earned All-State in his final season ... As a senior, posted a career-high 121 tackles and five INTs while also catching five passes for 296 yards and four touchdowns ... Had a 90-yard kickoff return for a TD against Apalachee High ... Returned an interception 72 yards and a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown in a state playoff game ... Additionally tallied five receptions for 296 yards and four receiving touchdowns in his final season as a prep ... Finished with a career-best 136 total tackles including 88 solo stops as a junior ... Listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com.

Personal: Full name is Fredtavious Diquan Payne ... Is the son of Anita Harrison, grandmother Edith Williams and aunt, Crystal Wilmont ... Has two siblings - Anika Carrington and Nikita Payne ... His cousin, A.J. Johnson, plays football at Tennessee ... Worked as a mentor and volunteered with local elementary schools and the Boys & Girls Club.

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#3 Logan Chester

Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.
High School: Hopewell HS
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 205
Position: TE




2014 (Freshman): Did not see game action ... Named to the 2014-15 Southern Conference Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Is an invited walk-on to the WCU football team as a wide receiver ... Played as a wide receiver / tight end in high school ... Honored as the 2013-14 Hopewell High Athlete of the Year ... Was a part of four teams at Hopewell HS including football, swimming and indoor/outdoor track & field as a prep ... Helped the 4x400-meter unit win the 4A West Regional title and place fourth in the state ... Was also on the 4x200-meter relay team that was third at regionals and eighth in the state - and both relays placed in the top 15 at the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro.

Personal: Is the son of Larry and Leanna Chester ... His father, Larry, played football at Western Carolina under head coach Bob Waters and is a 1989 graduate.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

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