Virginia Beach native C.J. Fayton joins the NSU football coaching staff this season as wide receivers coach.
Most recently, Fayton worked as a receivers and defensive backs coach at Smithson Craigshead Academy in Nashville, Tenn., in 2009. Prior to his high school coaching stint, Fayton served as an intern in the football recruiting department at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, in 2008.
Fayton lettered four years at Tennessee (2002-05), playing in 49 games and starting 13 times. He caught 74 passes for 981 yards and seven touchdowns in his Volunteer career, including a career-long 57-yarder in the 2005 Cotton Bowl win over Texas A&M. Fayton had brief stints with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets in 2006 before an injury curtailed his playing career.
Fayton was a SuperPrep All-American as a senior at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, leading the Cavaliers into the Eastern Region playoffs. Fayton was an All-Beach District, All-Tidewater and Group AAA all-state pick at defensive back. In addition, he accounted for more than 1,400 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns as the Cavaliers’ starting quarterback.
Off the gridiron, Fayton averaged better than 20 points per game on the PA basketball team and was also a standout high jumper and relay runner on the track.
Fayton, a two-time Academic All-SEC selection, earned a pair of degrees from Tennessee. He received his bachelor’s in sports management in 2005 and his master’s in recreation administration in 2008.
Fayton is married to the former Leslie Treherne, a former track and field All-American at Western Branch High School and the University of Tennessee.
