Tag: Damon Payne

Former Alabama defensive lineman Damon Payne to sign with the Michigan Wolverines

Michigan Wolverines land commitment from former Alabama DL Damon Payne.

There was some back-and-forth, but ultimately, former Alabama Crimson Tide DL Damon Payne will sign with the Michigan Wolverines. Payne reportedly initially signed with the Wolverines Wednesday morning, but there were conflicting reports that his signing was voided. However, he cleared up the confusion with a commitment post-Wednesday evening.

The former four-star recruit was ranked No. 39 overall in the 2021 recruiting cycle and the No. 9 DL prospect and will see significant minutes for the maize and blue immediately. He becomes the Wolverine’s fifth transfer portal commitment of the cycle with just one year of eligibility remaining.

In 2024, Payne recorded 14 tackles and a fumble recovery with Alabama after being mostly a rotational piece the previous two seasons. Payne is a Michigan native and had been heavily pursued out of high school by now-head coach Sherrone Moore.

For Alabama, it likely isn’t a massive loss as he wasn’t going to be a starter in 2025, but a lack of depth never helps. It will be interesting to see what DeBoer and his staff are able to find in the transfer portal.

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Rayshaun Benny shares thoughts on in-state DT Damon Payne joining the Michigan D-line

The 2024 DT rotation is gonna be lethal! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football likes to proclaim “the best players in Michigan go to Michigan,” but that’s not always the case. Some top in-state talent have looked elsewhere, especially if they’re one of the higher-rated players in the country.

Such was the case for former Belleville (Michigan) five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne. Though Payne had visited Ann Arbor multiple times, there wasn’t much reciprocity between the program and the elite-level recruit during the 2021 cycle. Payne ended up at Alabama but never grew into a starting role, instead being more of a reserve. Now, he’s coming to Ann Arbor, ready to make his hometown proud.

On Thursday, WolverinesWire asked fellow 2021 class member Rayshaun Benny, who has been in Ann Arbor the whole time, in a general sense his excitement for Payne’s commitment to the maize and blue (Payne hasn’t signed yet) as well as the importance of getting or bringing local talent back into the fold.

“I think it’s good. Coach Moore is doing a good job with keeping the Michigan guys in Michigan, or getting Michigan guys back to Michigan,” Benny said. “So it’s big, just with the history we got with the D-line, that’d be big as far as just building another dominant group, knowing that we got the two moving on — one moving on.”

Of course, Benny is referring to Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Graham announced he’s moving on to the NFL draft. Grant has not made that decision officially.

Assuming everything holds with the current room, Michigan will likely have Benny (he hasn’t decided his future, he says), Trey Pierce, Ike Iwunnah, Enow Etta, and Damon Payne available to rotate next year — along with Derrick Moore, TJ Guy, Cam Brandt and others on the edge.

Payne was ranked as the top defensive tackle in the state of Michigan in the 2021 class while Benny was the second-best DT in the state that cycle.

Alabama DT Damon Payne commits to Michigan football after all

The drama is over! #GoBlue

It was a crazy day in terms of transfer portal recruiting for Michigan football. The Wolverines had appeared to have gotten a commitment and a signing from former Belleville (Mich.) five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne — who has been at Alabama since 2021 — but that’s when things went haywire.

Payne had signed with the Wolverines, it was reported by multiple outlets. However, some in his circle indicated that wasn’t actually the case. He got his signing voided and appeared to still be on the open market.

But later on Wednesday, Payne took to his Instagram to announce he is indeed committing to the maize and blue.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDvspYqR9A4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Payne is the fifth transfer portal commit for Michigan football this cycle, joining Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley, Arkansas defensive backs TJ and Tevis Metcalf, and Cal Poly offensive lineman Brady Norton.

Here is how he ranked originally as a recruit:

* Ovr Pos St
247Sports Composite 5 24 7 1
On3 Industry Ranking 4 49 7 2
247Sports 4 39 9 2
On3 4 167 17 4
ESPN 4 26 3 1
Rivals 4 39 2 1

Payne has one year of eligibility remaining.

Report: Michigan football expected to make transfer portal splash with five-star commit

Welcome home! #GoBlue

If at first you don’t succeed, sometimes you’ve just gotta try again. And in a world where the transfer portal has become a part of college football, sometimes things work out that way.

There was very little in the way of success when it came to the recruitment of former Belleville (Michigan) five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne. The Wolverines used to have some issues recruiting out of his high school, but they have since been patched up (five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and safety Elijah Dotson hail from there). But Payne had committed to Alabama, where he’s been since.

Until Tuesday.

Payne entered the transfer portal after joining the Tide in 2021. The former five-star appeared in 30 games and had 30 tackles, with three for loss, and half a sack in three seasons’ time. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, he ended up signing with the Wolverines.

 


Here is how Payne ranks in the transfer portal rankings:

* Ovr Pos
247Sports 3 85 –
On3 3 243 13

Payne will certainly have an inside track to start alongside Rayshaun Benny in 2025.

(Update: multiple reports indicate that this report is premature, and that Payne is still going through the process. Both On3 and 247Sports reported that Payne had either committed or signed, contrary to other reports. Thus, we will continue to monitor.)

(Update 2: Payne had reportedly signed, but that signing has since been rescinded.)

 

Has a new transfer portal target emerged for Michigan football on defense?

Bring him home. #GoBlue

If at first you don’t succeed, sometimes you’ve just gotta try again. And in a world where the transfer portal has become a part of college football, sometimes things work out that way.

There was very little in the way of success when it came to the recruitment of former Belleville (Michigan) five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne. The Wolverines used to have issues recruiting out of his high school, but they have been patched up. Five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and safety Elijah Dotson hail from there.

However, Payne committed to Alabama, where he’s been since joining the Tide in 2021.

Until Tuesday.

Payne entered the transfer portal.

The former five-star appeared in 30 games and had 30 tackles, with three for loss, and half a sack in three seasons’ time. According to The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb, Michigan football could be his destination when everything is said and done.

We’ll see if the Wolverines pick things up here. They’ve been after fellow former five-star Keeshawn Silver, but it’s unclear where he stands.

44 days until Alabama football kicks off the 2024 season

We are just Damon Payne days away from the start of the 2024 Alabama football season!

In 44 days, Kalen DeBoer will usher in a new era of Alabama Crimson Tide football, replacing the legendary [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] as head coach in Tuscaloosa.

Coach DeBoer and the Crimson Tide will take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Aug. 31 to kick off the 2024 college football season inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

At Roll Tide Wire, we will count down the days until Alabama football takes the field.

With 44 days remaining, we look at rising junior defensive lineman Damon Payne Jr. who wears No. 44 for the Crimson Tide.

Payne has appeared in 19 total games for Alabama over the past two seasons and has accumulated 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks.

The Belleville, Michigan native is expected to play a major role in the defensive line rotation in 2024.

Damon Payne Jr.’s Photo Gallery

5 Alabama players who could emerge in the Rose Bowl

Roll Tide Wire takes a look at five players that could emerge for Alabama in this year’s Rose Bowl against Michigan.

Over the years, Alabama has had several players come from being “under the radar” to making an immediate impact. One player that comes to mind is former five-star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Hawaii native was called on in the biggest game of his life and made a residual impact that will forever be remembered.

Now, the tables have turned and it could be someone else’s turn to have a residing effect on this year’s Rose Bowl game against Michigan. Who will it be?

Roll Tide Wire takes a closer look at five Alabama players who could emerge in the Rose Bowl this season.

Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 44 days

We are just 44 days away from the start of Alabama’s 2023 football season!

The Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field for the 2023 college football season in 44 days, as Middle Tennessee State visits Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 2.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will be counting down the days until Nick Saban and his team take the field.

Today, with just 44 days remaining until kickoff, we will take a look at redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Damon Payne Jr. who currently wears No. 44 for the Crimson Tide.

Payne saw his playing time increase towards the second half of the 2022 season and should see his role increase once again in 2023.

Payne totaled seven tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in 2022.

Damon Payne Jr. Photo Gallery

5 sleepers on Alabama’s defense heading into 2023

Five sleepers on Alabama’s defense heading into the 2023 college football season!

We are now under two months away from the start of the 2023 college football season. Now, it truly feels like it is just around the corner. Before you know it, Nick Saban and the Alabama football team will be taking the field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium to play the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders on Sept. 2.

As we patiently await kickoff in early September, I thought we could dive into some players on Alabama’s roster who are being slept on entering the 2023 season. We have already looked at five sleepers on the offensive side of the ball. Today, we will shift our focus to the defensive side.

Let’s roll!

Alabama Football: 5 overlooked players heading into the 2023 season

These five Alabama football players are being undervalued heading into the 2023 college football season!

Before you know it, the 2023 college football season will be here. Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field on Sept. 2 against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders to begin its quest for another national championship.

As we navigate the perpetual offseason, most of the talk leading up to the college football season, relative to the Crimson Tide, is the ongoing quarterback battle in Tuscaloosa.

Instead of bogging you down with continuous quarterback talk, let’s take a few moments and look at some of the players on the roster who are not receiving quite the notoriety that they deserve.

Below is a list of five players that I believe are being slept on leading up to the 2023 season!