Freshman Sensation: Payton Brown dominates in collegiate debut, sets high expectations for SEMO

Rarely does a true freshman step onto the collegiate stage and immediately dominate, but running back Payton Brown shattered expectations in his debut, proving SEMO’s future is bright with him in the backfield.

A Legacy of Excellence

Coming off a standout career at Hillsboro High School, Brown was no stranger to the spotlight.

He ran for 1,605 yards with 26 touchdowns on 152 carries his senior year, earning first-team All-State honors and a place on the Regional Radio Football Dream Team.

Brown’s high school achievements hinted at a bright future, but even his biggest supporters could not have predicted the impact he would have in his first collegiate game.

“Honestly, the first couple weeks, I didn’t think he’d make an immediate impact, but he works hard,” running backs coach Madison Bunch said, “He’s super, super, super competitive and he won’t let anyone outwork him. I think that’s why he’s reaping all those benefits right now.”

Making History on the Big Stage

In front of a national audience during the FCS Kickoff on ESPN, Brown showcased the same skills that made him a high school star.

He ran for 97 yards and three touchdowns, tying the FCS Kickoff single-game record. His efforts earned him the game’s Most Valuable Player award.

With starting quarterback Paxton DeLaurent sidelined by an injury late in the second quarter, the Redhawks turned to Brown for production. He answered the call, scoring 18 of SEMO’s 30 unanswered points in the second half.

He sealed the victory with his third and final touchdown, a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter, pushing SEMO’s lead to 37-15.

Bunch emphasized the importance of Brown’s relentless attitude.

“Payton’s not going to let one guy bring him down. If he is, it’s going to take everything out of the guy to do it. And his teammates? They’ve been right there with him, every step of the way,” Bunch said.

A Freshman Phenomenon

At 6-foot-1 and 216 pounds, Brown’s size, strength and determination have quickly earned him the respect of his coaches and teammates.

SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz was impressed by Brown’s maturity and work ethic from the start.

“He wants to be great. He’s willing to do what it takes to be great. He wants to be coached,” said Matukewicz. “On a lot of those things, sometimes it takes a sophomore or junior to realize that. Payton came into our program like that because of the household he came from.”

Despite his early success, Brown remains grounded. When asked about his MVP performance, he deflected praise to his teammates and coaches.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Brown admitted. “But it’s time to move on and get to the next game.”

Moving Forward

As the Redhawks prepare for their next game against New Mexico State, expectations for Brown are sky-high.

Despite his stellar debut, Brown and his coaches know there is still room for growth.

“[We want him to improve on] The things that involve him without the ball. Pass catching, block, pass pro, all the fundamental things. He’s good at running the ball because he was born that way,” Matukewicz said. “But when you get here, you’ve got to develop skills and other things.”