Alabama defensive lineman Damon Payne's signed Michigan documents have been removed

Alabama defensive lineman Damon Payne‘s signed Michigan documents have been removed, On3 has learned. Payne originally signed the papers around 9:30 a.m. ET but in the past few hours, something changed.

Payne is one of the top players available in the portal, being ranked the No. 146 overall player per the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Rankings. Looking at just defensive linemen, the former Alabama product comes in at No. 12.

Michigan was hoping to bring Payne back home after leaving the state coming out of high school. Payne played high school football at Belleville (MI), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 49 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Originally signing with Alabama for Nick Saban, Payne did spend one season with Kalen DeBoer.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.

Now, the recruitment appears to be back open due to the documents being removed. If other schools want to sign Payne, they will have the opportunity to take him away from the Wolverines. It appears as if a top portal name is back on the market.

Following a redshirt year in 2021, Payne played in six games in 2022, then saw time in 2023 as a rotational player on the defensive line. This past season, he logged 14 tackles and one fumble recovery in eight games.

With Payne expected to move on, Alabama will lose a key rotational piece across the defensive line. With the portal open and postseason play about to begin, it’s a tough balancing act in college football.

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report