UC FB Practice Report: Payne Flashes as Bearcats Wrap Practice Five

CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati football team moved its fifth practice of preseason camp indoors to the Sheakley Indoor Practice Facility on Tuesday as thunderstorms rolled through parts of Cincinnati in the morning.

The practice consisted of 21 total periods, including several situational team periods where competition between the first string on offense and defense was fierce.

Fifth-year transfer running back Gi’Bran Payne (juh-BRON) flashed with several impressive runs during 11-on-11 portions of practice, showcasing his explosiveness on a long touchdown run down the left sideline. Payne, a native of Cincinnati, played high school ball at La Salle before spending the last four seasons at Notre Dame, where he was hit with the injury bug. Payne was a part of running back rooms where he saw two of his former teammates get drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft this past year (Jeremiyah Love, 3rd overall; Jadarian Price, 32nd overall).

Payne spoke to the media after practice and shared his perspective from his time at Notre Dame while looking ahead to his opportunity in Cincinnati: "It was definitely tough. [When I got injured at Notre Dame], that was the first year I didn't play football at all. So, that was tough on me mentally, but I feel like in the end it really helped me. I took it as a learning experience. I think I got better mentally, understanding the game better while rehabbing my knee, and I'm back 100%. No problems, no issues, and I've been taking those tendencies and extra work mentally and applying it out here."

Payne broke onto the Cincinnati sports scene during La Salle’s 2019 Division II state championship run as a sophomore. He rushed for 790 yards and nine touchdowns while adding eight catches for 141 yards and three receiving scores. He capped off that title season by rushing for 129 yards and a touchdown in a 34-17 state championship victory over Massillon Washington. Payne saw his most game action with the Fighting Irish in 2023, when he played in all 13 games as the primary short-yardage back, recording 45 carries for 168 rushing yards (3.7 avg) and two rushing touchdowns, along with nine receptions for 58 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

"I came into it knowing I wanted to be closer to home, and UC was willing to take that chance on me," Payne said. "It means a lot to be able to come home, put on for the city, and I'm just very grateful."

"He kind of turned my head in the spring, and I think he's got a lot of talent and ability," head coach Scott Satterfield said following practice. "He's popped a few good runs in this camp, but I like our whole running back room. I like all four of these running backs, and it's going to be some competition right there to see who's going to be the guy who gets the most carries."

Payne finds himself in a crowded Bearcat running back room that features three other capable backs in the mix, including sophomore Zion Johnson, fifth-year Louisiana transfer Zylan Perry, and junior Stanford transfer Cole Tabb. Johnson, the lone returning Bearcat from a season ago, flashed as a true freshman while appearing in four games, logging 22 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown. Perry had his best collegiate season rushing for the Ragin' Cajuns in 2025, earning Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt honors after rushing for 689 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He is also a proven kick returner who led the NCAA FBS with 862 kick return yards in 2023. Tabb played in 11 games and made three starts during his sophomore campaign at Stanford, logging 114 carries for 445 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

"Yeah, I'm definitely used to this," Payne said of the competition. "The running back room is stacked. Everybody does a little bit of everything, so we all mesh well together, and that's why we're so tight as a group. It was the same case at Notre Dame."

In team drills today, JC French IV and the offense won the day over the defense. French led several impressive scoring drives, connecting with tight end Lyviel Waters down the left sideline and hitting Kent State transfer Cade Wolford on a seam route for a touchdown. The QB depth chart competition remains tight, as Samaj Jones scampered for an untouched red-zone touchdown up the middle and Penn transfer Liam O'Brien broke loose on a long sideline scramble. O'Brien joins UC after leading Penn in rushing with 548 yards and seven scores while throwing for 2,376 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Wolford arrives at Cincinnati after a big-play freshman season at Kent State, where he led the MAC among players with at least 15 receptions with an astonishing 26.8 yards per catch. In 12 games, Wolford hauled in 19 receptions for 509 yards and seven touchdowns.

When asked about the progression of the offense, Satterfield noted, "Yeah, I think the fourth practice — the last one (Sunday) — that was our best day. I thought we were efficient. We hit our goal efficiency on that day. Today we made some plays, and in the finish drill we ended up scoring there. In a sudden-change period we had a big play, so I like where they're coming along. I think defenses are always a little bit ahead when you start camp and spring practice, but I think we're catching up a little bit offensively, though we still have a long ways to go."

Exciting Schedule at Historic Nippert Stadium

Cincinnati hosts six games at historic Nippert Stadium in 2026, opening with Boston College (Sept. 5) and Western Carolina (Sept. 12). Big 12 home opponents include Kansas State (Sept. 26), Texas Tech (Oct. 24 – Homecoming), Utah (Oct. 31), and Colorado (Nov. 21).

PURCHASE TICKETS

Season ticket packages start as low as $300 and represent one of the best values for family entertainment in Cincinnati this fall. A three-month payment plan is available, too. Season parking can be purchased for $100 at Eden Garage here.

Spend your Saturdays with the Bearcats this fall. Purchase tickets and use Ticketmaster's interactive Nippert Stadium map to select your seats. 

Ticketmaster’s Step-By-Step Guide to purchasing tickets is available, as well.

For information, visit GoBearcats.com/tickets, call 1-877-228-7849 or email uc.tickets@uc.edu.