The 6-5 250 pound Payne Durham was recruited as a three-star athlete from Suwanee, Georgia and was a member of the Purdue Boilermakers 2018 recruiting class. Durham played all five years for the Boilermakers including two games as a freshman.
Durham proved to be productive in back to back seasons. In 2021 Durham hauled in 45 passes for 467 yards and six total touchdowns while averaging 10.4 yards per catch. In 2022, Durham played in 13 games, caught 56 passes for 560 yards and scored eight touchdowns while averaging 10 yards per catch.