Former Tennessee Vols WR catches familiar looking TD in UFL game

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated 4/15/24

Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver JaVonta Payton caught a familiar looking touchdown this past weekend in the Arlington Renegades' loss to the DC Defenders.

Payton, who plays for the Renegades, got free for a wide open 17-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter on Saturday afternoon. The former Vol finished the game with two receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown on three targets.

WIDE OPEN

The @XFLRenegades add on another TD in Arlington pic.twitter.com/8kChYheoSN
— United Football League (@TheUFL) April 13, 2024

Payton spent one year at Tennessee, playing a key role for the Vols in 2021 (Josh Heupel's first season) after transferring from Mississippi State.

Javonta Payton was only at Tennessee for a year, but he was so underrated pic.twitter.com/pDnjHspugi
— zach ragan (@zachtnt) January 8, 2023

The Nashville native caught 18 passes for 413 yards and six touchdowns during his lone season on Rocky Top. Payton was one of the first wide receivers at Tennessee to quickly grasp the concepts of Heupel's unique up-tempo offense (it likely helped that Payton played under the late Mike Leach, one of Heupel's mentors, before arriving at Tennessee).

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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