Michael Payton (1999) - Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame

Michael Payton

Induction:
1999
Class:
1992

By the time Michael Payton had finished his Marshall football career, not only had he re-written the Marshall and Southern Conference quarterback records, the Harrisburg, Pa., native had led the Thundering Herd to the 1992 NCAA Division I-AA national championship. Payton and Marshall had a near miss when he led the Herd to the 1991 national title game, but finished as runner-up, as he set the national division record for passing efficiency. As a senior, Payton passed for 3,610 yards and 31 touchdowns and, most importantly, led the Herd on a late drive to set up Willie Merrick’s game-winning field goal to defeat Youngstown State 31-28 in the title game. Payton was a consensus All-American and won the 1992 Walter Payton Award as the I-AA National Player of the Year. He was not only the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year in his last two seasons, but also honored each time as the league’s Athlete of the Year. For his career, Payton passed for 9,411 yards, amassed 9,704 yards of total offense, and threw 69 touchdown passes, all school records at the time. He was named the West Virginia Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1991 and 1992. In 2015, Payton became the sixth Marshall man inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Payton was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.