[2] He attended Lindbergh High School in Sappington, Missouri, where he played football as a wide receiver and cornerback.
[4] Payton redshirted as a freshman at Southern Illinois in 2018, then transferred to the NCAA Division II Pittsburg State Gorillas in 2019.
[2][5] In his first year with the Gorillas, Payton played in all 11 games, two as a starter, and recorded 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and four pass breakups.
[6] In his final year, 2023, Payton played 13 games and made 35 tackles, five TFLs, 16 pass breakups and four interceptions.
[7] He ended his collegiate career having appeared in 35 games, finishing with 64 tackles (46 solo), 26 passes defended and four interceptions.