2023 Football Roster
Damon Payne Jr.
- Position:
- DL
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 303
- Class:
- Redshirt Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Belleville, Mich.
- High School:
- Belleville
2024
Rotated up front along the defensive line, working in 12 games with one start ... recorded 14 stops, including half a tackle for loss (-1 yard), to go with a fumble recovery. Western Kentucky: Saw time against the Hilltoppers. USF: Recorded three tackles on the night. Wisconsin: Rotated in along the defensive front against the Badgers. Georgia: Finished with one stop in the top-five matchup. Vanderbilt: Notched one tackle on the day. South Carolina: Earned his first career start ... contributed on tackle. Tennessee: Rotated in off the bench against the Volunteers. Missouri: Totaled three tackles, including half a tackle for loss (-1 yard). LSU: Provided a push up front against the Tigers. Mercer: Recovered a fumble and returned the ball six yards ... also recorded two stops on the day. Oklahoma: Notched one tackle on the night. Auburn: Made two tackles in the Iron Bowl.
2023
Carved out a role along the Alabama defensive front in year two ... recorded nine stops, including one tackle for loss (-5 yards) and half a sack (-5 yards). Middle Tennessee: Saw time in the season opener. Texas: Rotated in along the defensive line. USF: Totaled two tackles against the Bulls. Ole Miss: Finished with one stop, including half a tackle for loss. Mississippi State: Rotated up front along the defensive front in Starkville. Texas A&M: Saw time against the Aggies. Arkansas: Recorded one tackle in the Homecoming matchup. Tennessee: Rotated in on the defensive line. LSU: Finished with one tackle on the night. Kentucky: Totaled two stops in Lexington, including half a sack (-5 yards). Chattanooga: Recorded one stop against the Mocs. Auburn: Rotated in along the defensive front in the Iron Bowl. Georgia: Worked along the defensive line in Atlanta. Michigan: Posted one stop against the Wolverines.
2022
Earned time in six games ... recorded seven total tackles, including half a stop for loss (-1 yard), to go with a fumble recovery. ULM: Recorded two tackles, including half a tackle for loss (-1 yard), in his collegiate debut. Vanderbilt: Rotated in along the defensive line against the Commodores. Arkansas: Saw time along the defensive front in Fayetteville. Mississippi State: Earned his most extensive playing time to date ... finished with three tackles against the Bulldogs. Austin Peay: Recovered a fumble, one of the Tide's three turnovers on the day. Kansas State: Posted two tackles in the Sugar Bowl.
2021
Did not see playing time for the Crimson Tide ... redshirted at season's end.
High School and Personal Data
One of the top defensive tackles in the class of 2021 ... a composite five-star prospect by 247Sports ... ranked 19th nationally on the 247Composite, the No. 3 defensive tackle nationally and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan ... ESPN.com lists him 24th on the ESPN300, the third-ranked defensive tackle, No. 2 player in the Midwest and the top player from Michigan ... No. 34 in the Top247 rankings along with being tabbed as the site's No. 3 defensive tackle and No. 2 player in Michigan ... Rivals.com ranks him 37th in the Rivals100, as the No. 2 defensive tackle nationally and as the top player in Michigan ... ranked 17th in PrepStar Magazine's Top 150 Dream Team while listing him as the No. 1 defensive tackle and top player in the state ... selected to the Under Armour All-America Game ... coached by Jermain Crowell at Belleville (Mich.) High School ... signed with Alabama over Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Southern Cal among many others.
