2021 Verbal: Cole Payton

[SDbison]

Cole Payton #2 on list of FCS QBs for 2026 NFL draft.
https://www.si.com/college/fcs/mvfc/...iams-robertson

[Hammerhead]

Ya know, I really, really don't get why the majority of this forum and the rest of the world didn't just watch the kids HS highlights??? He isn't doing anything this year at NDSU that he didn't do in HS.

It was obvious he was going to be an elite QB at any level. Even in HS he was doing the things other QB's can't. He was throwing with accuracy downfield while on a dead run, he was throwing perfect touch passes in the short range, he was hitting deep receiving targets in stride, all while running past,through,over, and around defenders all day long.

They are comparing him to Tebow, which is absurd, Tebow was a fullback playing QB. Tebow was a 4.7 guy. Cole is way more comparable to a 6'3" 235 lbs Steve Young. Steve Young was 6'2" 215 and was known for his accuracy even though his highest completion % only once reached 70%. He was usually in the 50 percentile to low 60 percentile.

How could you not see this coming??? He is now a proverbial man amongst boys. Cole Payton will not be truly tested until the 2026 Senior Bowl; God willing! Please join me in praying for his well being and injury free season, again please... and for other players who are irreplaceable at this time, like our punter, the soon to be great Aaron Bickert. Both OL and Defensive interior are not at all deep.

If this team stays healthy they will be undefeated and quite possibly one of the greatest Bison football teams of all time.

NDSU has been blessed with unbelievable QB talent in the FCS era. Other than the crazy covid season where Cam Miller ended up starting before he was probably ready, I've always felt that the #2 QB was ready to be QB1.

[tony]

Ya know, I really, really don't get why the majority of this forum and the rest of the world didn't just watch the kids HS highlights??? He isn't doing anything this year at NDSU that he didn't do in HS.

While I didn't post anything about it, I thought that Payton's throws didn't have much of an arc to them which can be a problem, especially on those throws down the middle.

This year? Yeah, some passes are flat, but he has dropped a lot of balls over defenders and right into a bucket.

Just for fun, here's a comparison of Trey Lance's first four starts in 2019 and Cole Payton's in 2025*

Trey: 52-72 698 9 TDs, 277 yards rushing
Cole: 53-73 979 8 TDs, 299 yards rushing

* I picked Trey's season because it was historically awesome. Payton has an advantage in not being a freshman, of course. We have been the most fortunate football fans on the planet, imo.

[Wolfie]

They are comparing him to Tebow, which is absurd, Tebow was a fullback playing QB. Tebow was a 4.7 guy. Cole is way more comparable to a 6'3" 235 lbs Steve Young. Steve Young was 6'2" 215 and was known for his accuracy even though his highest completion % only once reached 70%. He was usually in the 50 percentile to low 60 percentile.

I don't think comparing QB's from the 80's to late 90's is a good comparison, because back then, a DB could maul a WR and it wasnt' pass interference. Now days, you can't breathe on them, and it's PI.
So, those "greats" from years before always had low completion percentages. If they played in todays game, it would be much higher.

[Snowgoose]

I don't think comparing QB's from the 80's to late 90's is a good comparison, because back then, a DB could maul a WR and it wasnt' pass interference. Now days, you can't breathe on them, and it's PI.
So, those "greats" from years before always had low completion percentages. If they played in todays game, it would be much higher.

Not only that but the QBs could get destroyed. Those QBs got mauled sometimes and so did the receivers going across the middle. Ronnie Lott would take your head off.

I think initially Tebow is a decent comparison. Tebow is considered one of the best QBs to ever play college football and they are somewhat similar in lots of ways. Cole has been unreal this season and this season could be compared to Treys and even Cam's season last year if things continue in this direction. So much fun to talk and cheer for a guy that stayed when it would have been way easier to leave.

[ByeSonBusiness]

I don't think comparing QB's from the 80's to late 90's is a good comparison, because back then, a DB could maul a WR and it wasnt' pass interference. Now days, you can't breathe on them, and it's PI.
So, those "greats" from years before always had low completion percentages. If they played in todays game, it would be much higher.

Also...those quarterbacks did it in the NFL. I am going to assume thats difficult.

[Wolfie]

Not only that but the QBs could get destroyed. Those QBs got mauled sometimes and so did the receivers going across the middle. Ronnie Lott would take your head off.

.

I watched some "big hit" highlight videos of the NFL from the 80's and 90's....honestly shocked how some of these guys are still alive.
Was brutal....very fun to watch for sure, but god damn it was vicious.

[TAILG8R]

I watched some "big hit" highlight videos of the NFL from the 80's and 90's....honestly shocked how some of these guys are still alive.
Was brutal....very fun to watch for sure, but god damn it was vicious.

Some of them aren’t …


*Sent from my iPhone where autocorrect is definitely not my friend*

[bison22]

2 more touchdowns and nearly 300 yards. 2 incompletions for Cole Walter Payton

[Kevin]

That’s my bro, bro.

Wait until you see what he does to the hoborabbits