Ouachita Baptist University Athletics

2024: All-Great American Conference Third Team as a receiver and return specialist... Played in all 12 games, started four games at receiver, and started all games at return specialist... Led the team in receiving yards (503), receiving touchdowns (6), and kickoff returns (16 returns, 425 yards, 26.6 average, 1 touchdown)... Finished second on the team in receptions (25), second in all-purpose yards (977), and third in scoring (48 points)...  Named GAC Special Teams Player of the Week after opening the second half of the road win over Northwestern Oklahoma State with a 100-yard return for a touchdown. Also had a 53-yard touchdown catch in that win... Best receiving game of the season came in the playoff game at Central Oklahoma with six receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown... Had two touchdown catches in the road win over Oklahoma Baptist... Also had touchdown catches against Southwestern Oklahoma State and Southeastern Oklahoma State.

2023: D2 Conference Commissioners Association All-Region Second Team as a return specialist... Great American Conference Freshman of the Year... First Team All-GAC return specialist... Two-time GAC Special Teams Player of the Week... Led the Great American Conference and ranked 13th in the nation in kickoff return average at 27.1 yards per return... One of just three players in the GAC to have a kickoff return for a touchdown, which was a 94 yard score against Arkansas-Monticello... First named GAC ST Player of the Week after three returns for 96 yards, including a 53 yard return against Southern Arkansas... Repeated the honor the next week with five returns for 188 yards and the 94 yard touchdown against Arkansas-Monticello... Also one of Ouachita's top receivers with a total of 13 receptions for 266 yards and two touchdowns... Had a 73-yard touchdown reception against Southern Arkansas... Had a 40-yard touchdown reception against Southern Nazarene... Season-high 89 receiving yards against SNU... Season-high six receptions against Northwestern Oklahoma State.

HIGH SCHOOL: 2022 6A West All-State honors... 2022 6A West Special Teams Player of the Year... 2021 5A West All-Conference selection... 2023 5A West All-State in Track... 2023 5A State Champion in 100m... 2021 5A West All-Conference selection in track.

PERSONAL: Son of Dan McElhany and Lindsey Payton... Majoring in Business Administration... Born October 4, 2004.