Signee QA: Payton Hendrix
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Dallas (Texas) Bishop Dunne safety Payton Hendrix was part of Texas
Tech's huge defensive back haul in 2014, choosing the Red Raiders over offers
from Arkansas, Notre Dame and several others.
Hendrix is profiled below in the latest installment of our signee Q&A feature which we are running on all of the members of
the Red Raiders' 2014 signing
class.
Thoughts and opinions:
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME?
"Sean Taylor."
WHAT IS THE BEST FOOTBALL TEAM THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN, IN PERSON OR ON
TELEVISION?
"Miami back when Andre Johnson played for them."
An up-close and personal look:
YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT FROM YOUR FOOTBALL CAREER?
"My junior year, the second round of the playoffs, we were up by like two points
with about two minutes left in the game. The team was driving down the field,
and they threw a pass, and I picked it. I returned it pretty far. It was the
play of the game."
DID YOU EVER HAVE AN EMBARASSING MOMENT PLAYING FOOTBALL?
"Not that I can remember."
DO YOU HAVE A PREGAME RITUAL?
"I just like to stretch myself and do some agilities. I don't really have
anything particular."
WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE THAT YOU HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE A DIVISION I
FOOTBALL PLAYER?
"My sophomore year in high school, I had played offense up until my sophomore
year, and they moved me to Safety. It was that spring when I realized I had the
potential."
Thoughts on Texas Tech:
WHAT POSITION WILL YOU BE PLAYING AT TECH?
"Safety."
ARE YOU EXPECTING TO REDSHIRT YOUR FIRST SEASON ON-CAMPUS?
"No sir I am not."
WHAT IS A PERSONAL STRENGTH THAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE AT TECH?
"Leadership and aggressiveness on the defensive side."
WHAT IS ONE THING THAT YOU NEED TO WORK IN ORDER TO PLAY AT THE NEXT
LEVEL?
"My man coverage."
HOW OFTEN DO YOU WORK OUT AND WHAT IS YOUR ROUTINE?
"I workout almost every day except Saturdays. During the weekdays, I go to track
practice and lift weights and on the weekends I run hills and stairs and lift
weights."
Personal preferences:
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
"I just hang out with friends and play video games with my little brother."
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?
"Hot wings."
DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?
"In high school, everybody calls me Slim. The girls at my high school call me
Pay-Pay."
HAVE YOU DECIDED ON WHAT YOU WANT TO MAJOR IN AT TECH?
"No sir. I haven't decided yet. I'm kinda debating right now. I was going to go
with Petroleum Engineering but lately I've been leaning towards finance."
HAVE YOU MET ALL OF THE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS TO ENROLL AT TECH?
"Yes sir."
A look at the recruiting process:
WHAT ONE THING WAS THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION?
"The distance away from home."
IS THERE A TECH COACH THAT YOU FEEL ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO?
"Coach (Trey) Haverty and coach (Kevin) Curtis."
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT DURING THE PROCESS?
"Getting my first offer. It really means a lot when you get that first offer."
WHAT WAS THE WORST PART ABOUT THE PROCESS?
"All the constant calls, the calls with coaches and keeping up with them. Things
like that."
DID YOU MAKE FRIENDS WITH ANY CURRENT PLAYERS AT TECH OR INCOMING
FRESHMEN DURING THE PROCESS?
"Yeah I met a lot of guys when I was up there. We all know and talk to each
other a lot now. I text Derrick Dixon a lot, we keep in touch."
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT YOUR OFFICIAL VISIT TO TECH?
"I'm not even sure if I had a favorite part, I loved all of it."
WHAT SCHOOL WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN IF YOU HADN'T SIGNED WITH THE RED
RAIDERS?
""Probably Arkansas. Either Arkansas or Notre Dame."
The future and goals:
WHAT NUMBER WOULD YOU LIKE TO WEAR AT TECH?
"I want to wear No. 24. I've been wearing it ever since I played safety in high
school. That's just my number."
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL GOAL FOR THIS SEASON?
"My personal goal is to get First Team All-American of course. I want to be able
to play at a high level, make an impact in the secondary across the Big 12 and
across the nation as well."
WHEN WILL YOU ARRIVE IN LUBBOCK FOR GOOD?
"June 1."