Damon Payne was a priority for the Michigan coaching staff in the 2021 recruiting class. He ended up at Alabama, but after entering the transfer portal this winter, he is now a Wolverine and ready to ball out in his home state:
The Michigan Wolverines picked up some intriguing talent from the transfer portal this offseason, and one player to be excited about is defensive lineman Damon Payne Jr. A graduate student who transferred from Alabama, the Michigan native is coming back to his roots for his final year of college eligibility.
The story so far
Payne was a five-star prospect out of high school, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. Michigan tried to get him to stay home, but he ultimately chose Alabama.
Payne started to get significant playing time during the 2022 season, but he never seemed to reach his full potential at Alabama. From 2022-24, he racked up 30 total tackles and 0.5 sacks. He had one tackle against Michigan in the Rose Bowl back in 2023.
Following his senior season, Payne decided to enter the transfer portal and landed in Ann Arbor. He is now back home and is joining a defensive line unit that should be one of the best in the country.
Outlook for 2025
Payne didn’t quite live up to his recruiting ranking at Alabama, but the 6-foot-4, 313-pounder has a ton of experience and all the potential in the world. He entered the portal to search for a new start, and there may not be a better place than the school with one of the best defensive lines country year in and year out. This should be a good fit for both parties.
Michigan’s defensive line was a force last season, and it is the reason why the Wolverines were able to win their biggest games. However, losing Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant to the NFL hurts, and those guys will be difficult to replace.
However, the Wolverines still have plenty of talent that will help pick up the slack, and guys like Payne — and fellow transfer Tré Williams — will go a long way in helping shore up the interior of the line. This coaching staff should be able to get the most out of Payne, and he is expected to be a major contributor on this Michigan defense.