Virginia Tech Adds Nebraska Transfer Defensive End Pheldarius Payne

Pheldarius Payne
Defensive End, Class of 2022
Lackawanna Community College, Originally from Suffolk, VA
6-3, 260

Virginia Tech picked up some defensive line help in the form of Nebraska grad transfer defensive end Pheldarius Payne on Monday evening. Payne is expected to play defensive end, and he has one year of eligibility remaining.

Payne is originally from Suffolk, VA, and he attended Lackawanna Community College out of high school. He then signed with Nebraska as part of the Cornhuskers’ 2020 recruiting class. He originally played at Nansemond River High School in Suffolk.

Payne played in all eight games in his first season at Nebraska, recording 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. He then played in the first 10 games of the 2021 season before missing the last two games due to injury. He had 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2021.

Slotted as a defensive end for Virginia Tech, the 6-3, 260 Payne adds some much-needed size and experience to the defensive end position. He is expected to compete for heavy playing time when he enrolls this summer. He was listed as an outside linebacker at Nebraska, but appears to be most comfortable with his hand in the dirt.