Another Tiger Gets Chance to Showcase Talent in All-Star Game
By: Robert MacRae January 26, 2025

Another Clemson product will have the opportunity to put his talent on display in an upcoming college all-star game.

The East-West Shrine Bowl announced that Clemson defensive tackle Payton Page has been added to the East Team roster.

Page joins a pair of fellow Tigers — running back Phil Mafah and safety R.J. Mickens — who previously accepted their invitations to the East-West Shrine Bowl.

The East-West Shrine Bowl will be played this coming Thursday, Jan. 30, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — home of the Dallas Cowboys. The contest will kick off at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on NFL Network.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is the longest-running college all-star football game in the nation and gives top college players a chance to showcase their skills to NFL scouts and a national television audience.

Page grew into one of Clemson’s defensive leaders as a senior in 2024, when he earned third-team All-ACC honors while posting 36 tackles (2.5 for loss), 0.5 sacks, a pass breakup and a pick-six over 14 games (all starts).

When he returned an interception for a 57-yard touchdown vs. The Citadel on Nov. 23, Page became the first Clemson defensive tackle to return an interception for a touchdown since Carlos Watkins’ 15-yard pick-six against Appalachian State in 2015. Page’s pick-six was also the longest by a Tiger defensive tackle since Jock McKissic’s 82-yard interception return for touchdown against South Carolina in 2006.

Page was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Dudley High in Greensboro, N.C., and was a national top-40 prospect in the 2021 recruiting class according to ESPN.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder finished his four-year Clemson career (2021-24) credited with 69 tackles (6.5 for loss), a half-sack, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries across 53 career games (14 starts).