Gainesville High grad Fred Payne confident he'll achieve 'dream' of landing on NFL roster - Gainesville Times

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Gainesville High grad Fred Payne confident he'll achieve 'dream' of landing on NFL roster

Former Western Carolina defensive back participated in a Pro Day last week

Former Gainesville High football standout Fred Payne is working his way to his life-long dream of playing in the NFL. Earlier this week, Payne took part in a Pro Day for NFL scouts at Appalachian State.

0402PAYNE1 — Former Gainesville High football standout Fred Payne is working his way to his life-long dream of playing in the NFL. Earlier this week, Payne took part in a Pro Day for NFL scouts at Appalachian State.

Marcus Rodrigue

Published: Apr 2, 2017, 12:17 AM

On arguably the most important day of his football career so far, nerves never afflicted Fred Payne. The former Gainesville High standout couldn’t let them, not with NFL scouts scrutinizing his every move during his Pro Day last Monday at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. After playing at Western Carolina, an FCS school with little national exposure, Payne knew his performance would greatly influence teams’ interest in him. No pressure, right?

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Bond conditions revised for Gainesville High grad A.J. Johnson in Tennessee rape case

Former Tennessee LB charged in Knoxville case

A.J. Johnson

0810Johnson — A.J. Johnson

Times staff reports

Updated: Aug 10, 2017, 8:03 PM

Published: Aug 10, 2017, 8:10 PM

Former Tennessee linebacker and Gainesville High graduate A.J. Johnson has a curfew and must abstain from alcohol as part of the modifications to his bond conditions while he awaits an aggravated rape trial. The changes come after Johnson’s DUI arrest last month. Under the modifications agreed to on Thursday, Johnson will be supervised by a pretrial release officer and must submit to drug screens upon request.

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