Kwity Paye

Kwity Paye (/ˈkwɪti ˈpeɪ/ KWIT-ee PAY; born 19 November 1998) is a Liberian professional American football defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was born in Guinea as a refugee of the First Liberian Civil War and emigrated to the United States as a baby. Paye played college football at Michigan and was drafted by the Colts in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Kwity Paye
refer to caption
Paye with Michigan in 2018
No. 51 – Indianapolis Colts
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1998-11-19) 19 November 1998
Guinea
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:261 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:Bishop Hendricken (Warwick, Rhode Island)
College:Michigan (2017–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 3, 2023
Total tackles:89
Sacks:13.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:5
Pass deflections:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Paye was born on 19 November 1998, to a Liberian Krahn mother in a refugee camp in Guinea in the aftermath of the First Liberian Civil War.[1][2][3][4] Named Kwity after his maternal grandfather, who was killed during the war, his mother brought him and his brother Komotay to Providence, Rhode Island in the United States when he was six months old.[5][6]

He and his brother found an affinity for American football growing up there, with Kwity later attending Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, Rhode Island.[5] Playing running back and defensive end, he was named Rhode Island's Gatorade Football Player of the Year as a senior in 2016.[7] Paye originally committed to play college football at Boston College, but later switched to the University of Michigan.[5][8]

College career

As a true freshman at Michigan in 2017, Paye played in nine games and had five tackles and one sack. As a sophomore in 2018, he started four games and recorded 29 tackles and two sacks.[9] As a junior he started 11 games and finished with 50 tackles and 6.5 sacks.[10] Paye returned to Michigan for his senior year in 2020 but only played in four games due to the season being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Collegiate statistics
Year GP Tackles Fumbles
SoloAstTotalLossSackFRFF
2017 20441.5100
2018 10216275.5201
2019 1226245012.56.500
2020 4124164200
Career 28 59 38 97 23.5 11.5 0 1

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2+1⁄2 in
(1.89 m)		 261 lb
(118 kg)		 33 in
(0.84 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		4.52 s1.54 s2.61 s6.37 s35+1⁄2 in
(0.90 m)		9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		36 reps
All values from Michigan's Pro Day[12]

Paye was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round (21st overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.[13] He signed his four-year rookie contract on 6 May 2021.[14] In his rookie season, he finished with four sacks, 32 total tackles (16 solo), one pass defended, and one forced fumble.[15] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[16]

In the 2022 season, Paye appeared in 13 games. He finished with six sacks and 45 total tackles (32 solo).[17]

References
  1. Grossman, Hallie (24 April 2021). "Meet the NFL draft's most extraordinary prospect, Kwity Paye". ESPN.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  2. Wenzel, Matt (20 January 2017). "Born in a refugee camp, Michigan commit Kwity Paye now living his dream". mlive.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. Scandura, Mike (18 December 2015). "An incredible journey for Bishop Hendricken's Kwity Paye". ESPN.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. Sang, Orion (11 October 2019). "Kwity Paye escaped civil war. Now he stars for Michigan football". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. Kwity Paye has come further than most in his journey to Michigan (Video). College GameDay. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  6. Sang, Orion (11 October 2019). "Kwity Paye escaped civil war. Now he stars for Michigan football". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  7. "Kwity Paye named Gatorade R.I. Football player of the year". Providence Journal. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  8. Koch, Bill (24 October 2016). "Hendricken football star Kwity Paye commits to Michigan". Providence Journal. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. McMann, Aaron (26 December 2018). "Kwity Paye ready to step up at DE for Michigan". mlive.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  10. Chengelis, Angelique S. (7 August 2020). "'I'm playing': Michigan's Kwity Paye resolute about tackling 2020 season despite COVID risk". The Detroit News. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  11. Sang, Orion (26 December 2019). "Michigan football DE Kwity Paye returning for senior season". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  12. Fox, Austin (26 March 2021). "Kwity Paye Put On A Show At Michigan's Pro Day This Morning". Maize&BlueReview. Rivals.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  13. Stankevitz, JJ (29 April 2021). "Colts Select Defensive End Kwity Paye With 21st Pick In NFL Draft". Colts.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  14. Stankevitz, JJ (6 May 2021). "Colts Sign 5 2021 NFL Draft Picks". Colts.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  15. "Kwity Paye 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  16. "2021 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  17. "Kwity Paye 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
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