Michigan lands commitment from Damon Payne after plot twist hours earlier
The Michigan Wolverines have officially landed a commitment from Alabama defensive tackle transfer Damon Payne after a long and strange day.
Original reports had stated this morning that he was expected to commit and sign with the Wolverines before our EJ Holland clarified with his camp that there was a mistake in the submitted paperwork. Hours later, Payne made the official announcement himself via Instagram.
“Damon Payne is not currently signed with any school, and he will be releasing his commitment under his own terms very soon,” his agent, Steven Fantetti of Athlete Empowering Agency, said in a statement to TheWolverine.com’s Holland this afternoon.
In the late night hours, whatever needed to be sorted out was, and Payne is now in the transfer portal class. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
Payne, a Belleville, Michigan native, is the No. 12 defensive tackle in the portal and No. 146 overall player, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He was a four-star recruit in the 2021 class and the No. 2 prospect in the state of Michigan, ranking 49th nationally.
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This season, Payne had 14 tackles and a fumble recovery in eight games played. He redshirted in 2021 before playing in six games in 2022, and then emerged as a rotational piece in 2023 for an Alabama team that lost to Michigan in the Rose Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff.
Michigan needs the veteran help at defensive tackle with Mason Graham declaring for the NFL Draft and his classmate Kenneth Grant expected to join him. Payne projects to fill a rotational role up front and could compete for a starting job next year with Rayshaun Benny if he elects to return for a fifth season. Both were star defensive tackle prospects at the prep level in Michigan during their high school years.
Payne is the fifth addition of the portal cycle for Michigan, along with Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley, Cal Poly offensive tackle Brady Norton, and Arkansas defensive backs TJ Metcalf and Tevis Metcalf.
This story is developing.
