Brian Kelly is continuing his dominant transfer portal recruiting run thanks to the expected addition of former Florida State defensive end Patrick Payton. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder will have one year of eligibility remaining in Baton Rouge.

Payton was uber-productive for the Seminoles this season, posting 35 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, and four sacks. For his career, he’s managed 109 tackles, including 32 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks.

In 2022, he was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned All-ACC honors in 2023 when he posted seven sacks.

His combination of productivity and experience should make him an instant impact player for the Tigers next season.

Payton is considered a four-star prospect in the Rivals Portal rankings.

Stay locked in on the Rivals Transfer Tracker to keep up with the latest transfer news, portal entries, commitments, and rankings. For a deep-dive into the transfer portal, make sure you visit the Rivals Transfer Search page.

The Rivals Transfer Portal X account is a must-follow for any college football fan.

The winter college football transfer portal window is scheduled to open on December 9th, 2024 for 20 days. Additionally, players have a 30-day window to transfer when their head coach leaves. There is also a five-day window for players to transfer after their team has finished postseason play. A 10-day transfer window will open on April 16th as well.