Iowa Hawkeyes Football have to make top four or risk losing their only world-class player
Apollo Payne grew up supporting the university that his father attended. The boy will now continue his father’s Iowa Hawkeye legacy.
OJ Payne is a Davenport West High alum. He first enrolled at Iowa City after attending Ellsworth Community College. He made six appearances for the Hawkeyes, the 2002 Big Ten Champions.
Apollo took Iowa’s preferred walk-on (PWO) offer after declining scholarships from lesser universities including Iowa State. The Iowa Print Sports Writers Association named him to their second team all-state after he caught 46 passes for 838 yards and eight touchdowns in ’23.
The 185-pound, 6-foot-3 player was particularly notable for the Prairie Hawks defense. As a defensive back, he recorded 42 solo tackles in the previous campaign.
“Iowa is bringing me in as a receiver,” he stated. “I’m looking to do what’s best for the club and how I can get on the field; I don’t plan on changing positions. However, I am confident that in the future, I can be a fantastic receiver for them.”
Apart from the emotional ties to the Hawkeyes, Apollo considered Iowa to be his ideal college choice.
“Because I felt at home there, I thought it was the best choice for me.” I had gone on several times, and each time I visited, it grew better,” he remarked.
Iowa develops its players. If you work hard, you can grow so much from where you are now in terms of build. Even when I have to work alone, I work really hard. Iowa demands a lot of character from its players, and I think I’m a perfect fit for that as well.”
Apollo Payne’s collegiate major will be sports management. The same way he attacks football practice, he’ll seek his degree.
“I’m going to grind my head off. Although it’s rare for a person to enter the game and immediately become the go-to man, he stated, “I know that if I give it my all every day, eventually it will lead to playing time and it will show in the game.”
Thankful to those who helped him accomplish a dream, he’ll head south on I-380.
“With all of the support from neighbors and children stopping by to say hello outside of school, the Cedar Rapids Prairie community has really helped.” This year, I’ll participate in the Iowa Shrine Bowl. Local companies have been of great assistance to me in my fund-raising. It’s fantastic,” he remarked.
