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Junior wide receiver Quorey Payne knows the Salukis are primarily a running team.
He also knows that the already limited touches reserved for receivers will be split among the three that regularly see the field. And don't forget about the tight ends, an important piece of the Saluki offense.
So when Payne takes the field on Saturdays, he understands his chances may be limited, which is precisely why he takes the advice of his coaches to heart.
"Coach said since we don't get the ball that much, whatever we get, just make the most of it," Payne said.
With 12 catches for a team-high 371 yards, it's hard to believe the junior from Clewiston, Fla., could do anything more - and without even starting a game.
Payne's reception totals through five games equal a Gateway-leading 30.9-yard per catch average. On the season Payne has caught touchdown passes of 79, 57, 69 and 61 yards. He currently has a streak of three consecutive games with a touchdown of 50 yards or more.
"He's a big play guy," quarterback Joel Sambursky said.
And don't be fooled into thinking Payne's big plays have been handed to him. The junior has shown an incredible ability to create plays on his own.
Trailing 20-7 in the second quarter last Saturday versus No. 15 Northern Iowa, Payne took a simple short hitch route 69 yards for a touchdown in impressive fashion.
Juking and jiving through a host of UNI defenders, Payne used just about the entire east side of the field on his touchdown run that brought all in McAndrew Stadium to their feet.
"It was a jaw-dropping run, but I've seen him do it plenty of times in practice," quarterback Joel Sambursky said. "At that point in the game, we really needed a spark.
That was the first impression I had. But I wasn't stunned or shocked because I've seen him do it in practice before."
Head coach Jerry Kill said he wasn't surprised either by the big play, or any other Payne has made for that matter. Kill said Payne's "highlight film out of high school is unbelievable."
Although Kill knew of Payne's playmaking ability, depth concerns forced him to play Payne at cornerback his freshman year. He concedes it might have been a mistake that stunted Payne's development.
"If he wouldn't have done that, he'd have probably been ready to play last year," Kill said.
Payne showed promise on defense, compiling 10 tackles while seeing action in all 12 games his freshman year. But Kill said he always knew Payne would be back on the offensive side of the ball.
Payne, who played receiver and cornerback in high school, had no complaints.
"I wanted to play both," he said. "But I feel like I can make more plays on offense."
Payne spent his sophomore season learning the position behind veteran Saluki receivers Brent Little and the graduated Courtney Abbott. Payne saw limited action as a punt returner and receiver, catching one pass for seven yards.
This past summer Payne stayed in Carbondale to fine-tune the receiver position. He and Sambursky spent hours working on their timing, which on certain plays has looked perfect this year.
The offseason workouts prompted Sambursky to tell Payne, "You're going to be a superstar," on a number of occasions.
"It's just incredible to see him make plays out of nothing. He can change the whole complexity of the game in just one snap," Sambursky said. "Quorey is a great story.
He hasn't even gone to where he can go. He's got a lot of potential, and he's still learning."
Saluki Sports 
