PREP ZONE: Saints senior safety bringing max Payne

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Matt Payne’s St. Charles East football teammates are about to find out what football observers around the country have already learned in recent months – Payne has turned into a bona fide football specimen.

A staggering offseason makeover might catch his East teammates off guard when the Saints assemble on Monday to begin their summer camp.

“He’s like a grown man now in a 16-year-old’s body,” said Joe Giustino, Payne’s speed and strength trainer. “He’s blown me away as far as what he’s been able to accomplish.”

As Payne says, “the numbers tell the story.”

Here are a few: Payne’s dead lift is up to around 545 pounds. His squat is at 525 compared to 315 when he was  sophomore. His 40-yard dash time is down from about 4.9 a year ago to as low as 4.48.

Payne has taken his retooled physique to several offseason combines, including one at Northwestern in which Payne was among six finalists for top camper out of more than 200 prospects. That combine last month drove home to Payne just how far he has come.

“Individually I thought I was pretty good but when I went up against kids my age, my size, my ability and I was able to put all the work into actual use, into actual football drills, and see how far above I was over most kids I was with was when I really said ‘Hey, I have a chance to be a top athlete,’” Payne said.
Remarkable stuff for a kid who played sparingly for the sophomore team two seasons ago before becoming a starting safety for East as a junior.

Payne spent much of his upbringing in Kansas City, Kan., which is why an invitation to the University of Kansas’ summer football camp is a huge thrill. Payne already has attended a Northern Illinois camp and plans to attend another at Northwestern.

Ivy League options could be on the horizone, too, considering his 32 on the ACT.

Although his strength and size – he’s added about 35 pounds the last couple years to work up to 190 – would likely allow Payne to thrive as a high school linebacker, he expects to return to the free safety spot this season.

“I think colleges are looking more for kids that are tweeners who can play a little bit of linebacker but a lot of safety with all the the spread offenses,” said Payne, who is holding out hope for an imminent invitation to the prestigious Football University Top Gun showcase combine in Florida. “I think strong safety would be my best bet for college.”

As one of the students who helped advise East’s administration on the hire, Payne has already had exposure to new Saints coach Mike Fields.

Payne doesn’t expect the Saints to regress from the perennial playoff team they  became under former coach Ted Monken.

“It’s going to be a big learning curve this summer but the entire team is excited,” Payne said. “We’re definitely looking forward to even a better year than last year.”

If Payne shows as much progress on the field as he has in raw measurables, he figures to play a leading role in making that happen.

Giustino expects Payne to be a sight to behold.

“I’ve never had somebody achieve such unbelievable success in such a short amount of time, period,” Giustino said. “What he’s achieved in a year, unreal.”

• Jay Schwab is sports editor of The Chronicle. He can be reached at 630-845-5382 or jschwab@kcchronicle.com.