Former Clemson football DT stands out at NFL Combine Thursday

The annual NFL Scouting combine is currently taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana, where hundreds of NFL hopefuls are going through the most unique job interview of their lives. Several Clemson Tigers are participating this year, including defensive lineman Payton Page, who tested well on Thursday, the first day of on-field workouts.

Page did not participate in the marquee event of the combine, the 40-yard dash. However, his athleticism was on display in other drills.

Page had a vertical jump of 30.3 inches. That's impressive for a 290-pound athlete. Meanwhile, his broad jump measured 9'8". Those were not the only two drills he participated in on Thursday but both showcased his impressive athleticism and his explosiveness, something that is helpful when doing battle in the trenches at the NFL level.

Finishing third among defensive tackles in the broad jump and fifth in the vertical jump, Page had to have opened the eyes of some scouts and executives who were on hand to observe the proceedings. Testing well is going to be important for his NFL Draft prospects because Page did not put up overwhelming stats as a collegiate.

Playing four years at Clemson, he managed to amass just 60 total tackles (8 for loss) and 0.5 sacks. His best season was 2024 when he racked up 32 tackles (3 for loss).

However, at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, he has the build and the athleticism to get a look from NFL scouts. His potential and his athletic traits are what earned him an invitation to the NFL Combine, not his productivity at Clemson.

Hopefully, Page will seize this opportunity to impress NFL decision-makers and parlay a great week in Indianapolis into an opportunity to play on Sundays. The results from his first drills were a great start in that pursuit.