ARLINGTON, Texas - Former Northwest and Tennessee receiver JaVonta Payton will get a chance to earn a championship later this month, when the Arlington Renegades take on the D.C. Defenders for the XFL Championship.

Payton, who spent the 2017-18 seasons with Northwest, has caught 11 passes for 164 yards, averaging 14.9 yards per catch. His best performance of the season came in last Saturday's XFL South Division title game against the Houston Roughnecks, when he broke out for 121 yards on five catches in a 26-11 victory.

A native of Hillsboro, Tenn., Payton was a crucial member of the Rangers' 2017-18 teams and played in 21 games. He caught 67 passes for 840 yards and 11 touchdowns and helped the Rangers to back-to-back conference playoff appearances and the 2017 Graphic Edge Bowl. 

Following Northwest, Payton went on to Mississippi State for the 2019-20 seasons, before transferring to Tennessee to conclude his college career. With the Vols, he caught 18 passes for 413 yards and six touchdowns to help the Vols to a 7-6 record. One of his most notable touchdowns came in a road win against Kentucky, where he took a 75-yard pass into the end zone on the first play from scrimmage. 

Though undrafted, Payton signed a free agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals, where he was cut despite a promising preseason. He is the second Northwest alumnus in the XFL, joining former teammate Tariqious Tisdale, who was drafted by the Roughnecks last fall, before being dealt to the Seattle Sea Dragons.

The XFL Championship game will be held on Saturday, May 13 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 P.M. Central on ABC and ESPN+.