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Football
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South Dakota State University Athletics
2021 Football Roster
Shafer, Payton
Jersey Number 30
Payton Shafer
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 210
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Cottage Grove, Minn.
- High School:
- Park H.S.
- Major:
- Sport and Recreation Management
Bio
PRONUNCIATION
2022: Closed out his collegiate career with a solid senior season ... saw action at linebacker and on special teams in 12 of 15 games with three starts ... recorded three tackles in season debut versus Butler ... registered career-high six tackles (five solo) in road win at North Dakota ... tallied four tackles in consecutive starts against Indiana State and at Northern Iowa ... also was credited with a half-tackle in league-clinching victory at UNI ... opened Football Championship Subdivision playoffs with three-tackle performance against Delaware ... logged final start in national championship game versus North Dakota State
2021: Backed up at linebacker and was a key contributor in short-yardage situations ... played in 10 of 15 games, also sweeing action on special teams ... registered three total tackles in each of the Jackrabbits' first four games ... notched two tackles for loss and a sack in home opener versus Lindenwood, then added TFLs against Indiana State and Southern Illinois ... earned starting assignment in road win at Western Illinois and responded with a career-high five tackles ... made lone postseason appearance in second-round victory at Sacramento State
2020-21: Contributed again as a backup linebacker and on special teams ... was selected as recipient of Adam Vinatieri Award as the squad's top special teams performer ... played in all 10 games ... shared team lead with four special teams tackles and finished the season with 12 total tackles ... posted season-high three tackles in home opener against Western Illinois ... notched tackles in each of the team's first three Football Championship Subdivision playoff games, including another three-tackle performance, including one for loss, in semifinal win over Delaware
2019: Played in nine games as a true freshman ... the bulk of his playing time came on special teams, but did also see action at linebacker ... credited with three tackles in home opener versus Long Island ... notched two tackles in road win at Indiana State ... registered season-high four tackles at Missouri State
BEFORE SDSU: Payton started three years at linebacker at Park High School, earning first-team all-conference honors his junior and senior seasons ... after posting back-to-back 60-tackle seasons his first two years, he was credited in 2018 with 115 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles en route to earning first-team all-state recognition and being named district defensive player of the year ... also was selected to play in the 2018 Minnesota All-Star Game
2022: Closed out his collegiate career with a solid senior season ... saw action at linebacker and on special teams in 12 of 15 games with three starts ... recorded three tackles in season debut versus Butler ... registered career-high six tackles (five solo) in road win at North Dakota ... tallied four tackles in consecutive starts against Indiana State and at Northern Iowa ... also was credited with a half-tackle in league-clinching victory at UNI ... opened Football Championship Subdivision playoffs with three-tackle performance against Delaware ... logged final start in national championship game versus North Dakota State
2021: Backed up at linebacker and was a key contributor in short-yardage situations ... played in 10 of 15 games, also sweeing action on special teams ... registered three total tackles in each of the Jackrabbits' first four games ... notched two tackles for loss and a sack in home opener versus Lindenwood, then added TFLs against Indiana State and Southern Illinois ... earned starting assignment in road win at Western Illinois and responded with a career-high five tackles ... made lone postseason appearance in second-round victory at Sacramento State
2020-21: Contributed again as a backup linebacker and on special teams ... was selected as recipient of Adam Vinatieri Award as the squad's top special teams performer ... played in all 10 games ... shared team lead with four special teams tackles and finished the season with 12 total tackles ... posted season-high three tackles in home opener against Western Illinois ... notched tackles in each of the team's first three Football Championship Subdivision playoff games, including another three-tackle performance, including one for loss, in semifinal win over Delaware
2019: Played in nine games as a true freshman ... the bulk of his playing time came on special teams, but did also see action at linebacker ... credited with three tackles in home opener versus Long Island ... notched two tackles in road win at Indiana State ... registered season-high four tackles at Missouri State
BEFORE SDSU: Payton started three years at linebacker at Park High School, earning first-team all-conference honors his junior and senior seasons ... after posting back-to-back 60-tackle seasons his first two years, he was credited in 2018 with 115 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles en route to earning first-team all-state recognition and being named district defensive player of the year ... also was selected to play in the 2018 Minnesota All-Star Game
Football Postgame Comments at Montana State (09.06.2025)
Sunday, September 07
Football Highlights at Montana State (09.06.2025)
Sunday, September 07
Gameday Eve - Montana State (09.05.2025)
Thursday, September 04
Dan Jackson Weekly Press Conference (09.02.2025)
Tuesday, September 02
