The first player to be featured in a Mahoning Valley Thunder Profile is Quorey Payne.  The first time I met Quorey was after a home game in which he returned a kickoff for a touchdown which was called back because of an illegal block.  The next home game, Payne again returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and again, it was called back because of a penalty.  I joked with Quorey after the last game and said that the next home game, May 30 at The Covelli Centre, he would run one back and it would count.  In fact, I guarantee it.

Quorey Payne grew up in Florida and had a standout high school career before playing his college ball at Southern Illinois.  The former Saluki said he doesn’t follow his old college team much because his coaches are no longer there and he doesn’t really know any of the guys playing right now. 

Last week, Quorey did not return home to Florida during the bye week.  He opted to stay in Youngstown and try to make a few extra dollars moving furniture.  “Florida is just too far to drive, and I wanted to stay to keep working out”, said Payne.

Of all the Thunder players I have talked to, Quorey is the most polite.  Don’t get me wrong, the whole bunch of guys have been awesome.  It isn’t easy to put on a happy face to sign autographs for kids after the home games when you lose by 30 points, but Quorey and his team find a way to smile and get through it.  Payne is respectful, addressed every member of the media as “sir”, and is a very positive person.

In his spare time Quorey enjoys a good workout.  It is his ambition, to advance to a higher level of professional football someday.  The AF1 shutdown this year has only the CFL and NFL as possibilities.  AF1 might reload and come back next season.  Unfortunately for Thunder fans, Payne has 15 TD’s this year and is turning heads around the football world. 

Quorey watches The Ultimate Fighter and said a good fight on that show gets him “jumping all over the place” and pumped up.  We spoke briefly about last weeks episode when Team Bisping’s English fighter knocked out the teeth of Team Henderson’s American.  He is also an absolute addict for VH1 reality shows such as Tough Love and Rock of Love with Bret Michaels of Poison.  However, Sportscenter is dominant on his television and he says when the television is turned on, thats usually what is being broadcast through his one bedroom apartment.

Quorey likes to play video games and has a PS3.  “I like the NCAA and Madden games, but they aren’t out yet, I am waiting“.  Quorey said for now he is just having fun playing Street Fighter and Resident Evil 5.

Payne has interesting musical preferences.  He likes Anthony Hamilton, Usher, R Kelly, and Pretty Ricky.  He also admitted that he is a sucker for a good slow song.  In fact, he said he likes slow music better than anything.  I guess depending on his mood he would jam some beats before a game or during a workout, but slow music was his definitely his answer for my favorite music question.

Quorey just got out of a three year relationship and announced that he is currently single. 

I really like Quorey Payne.  He is the prototype of what the Mahoning Valley Thunder wanted to show off as a player to the general public.  He is well-spoken, polite, creative, and a spectacular athletic talent who will never quit. 

Don’t forget on May 30 against Kentucky at The Covelli Centre, I guarantee a kickoff return by Quorey Payne for a touchdown with no penalties.