Payne Durham
PositionTight end
Number87
Current teamTampa Bay Buccaneers
Draftyear2023
Draftround5
Draftpick171
Birth dateJune 15, 2000 (age 26)
Birth placeSuwanee, Georgia, U.S.
Height6 ft
Height in5
Weight lb255
High schoolPeachtree Ridge (Suwanee)
CollegePurdue (2018–2022)
Pastteams
Highlights
StatusActive
Statseason2025
Statlabel 1Receptions
Statvalue 117
Statlabel 2Receiving yards
Statvalue 2184
Statlabel 3Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue 32
PfrDurhPa00

William Payne Durham (born June 15, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.

Early life

Durham attended Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia.[1][2] He played lacrosse in high school and did not start playing football until his senior year.[3] In his lone season, he had 22 receptions for 330 yards and five touchdowns. He committed to Purdue University to play college football.[4][5]

College career

Durham played in two games his first year at Purdue in 2018. In 2019, he started four of 12 games and had nine receptions for 82 yards and four touchdowns. He started all six games in 2020, recording 16 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Durham started 10 of 12 games in 2021, finishing with 467 yards on 45 receptions and six touchdowns. He returned to Purdue as the starter in 2022.[6][7][8]

Durham played in the 2022 Senior Bowl.

Professional career

Durham was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round, 171st overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[9] He appeared in 13 games and started two as a rookie in the 2023 season. He finished with five receptions for 58 yards.[10] He scored his first receiving NFL touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in the 3rd quarter of a 2024 week 16 home match up.

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceivingTacklesFumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDCmbSoloAstFumLost
2023TB13255811.625000000
2024TB1661111510.531220210
2025TB171011111.011021100
Career46181718410.831241310

Postseason

YearTeamGamesReceivingTacklesFumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDCmbSoloAstFumLost
2023TB2111818.018011000
2024TB11000.00000000
Career3211818.018011000

References

  1. ^ Hammock, Will (October 25, 2020). "Payne Durham, Tyler Goodson fare well in Purdue-Iowa clash". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers take Peachtree Ridge grad Payne Durham in NFL Draft". Gwinnett Daily Post. April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  3. ^ Carmin, Mike (March 26, 2019). "Purdue tight end Payne Durham making strides while learning football". Journal and Courier. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Knight, Joey (May 12, 2023). "Here's how a 3-point basket led Bucs tight end Payne Durham to the NFL". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  5. ^ Carmin, Mike (December 16, 2017). "Two Georgia standouts commit to Purdue football". Journal and Courier. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  6. ^ Carmin, Mike (September 30, 2022). "Penalty at Minnesota in 2020 sticks with Purdue's Payne Durham: 'I haven't really let it go'". Journal and Courier. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Johnson, Jeff (November 3, 2022). "Payne Durham becomes bull of a tight end for Purdue". The Gazette. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Fezler, D. J. (November 18, 2022). "Purdue's Payne Durham Looks to Leave Behind Legacy That Goes Beyond Play on the Field". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Smith, Scott (April 29, 2023). "Bucs Swing Second Trade of 2023 to Secure TE Payne Durham". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Payne Durham 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.