Michigan football lands Alabama transfer DT Damon Payne from the portal

On By Littum

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The Belleville to Ann Arbor pipeline looks set to stay hot.

Damon Payne, a former top-50 high school recruit and Alabama defensive tackle, announced his decision to enter the transfer portal earlier this week. On Wednesday, he decided to come home and join the Michigan football program, located 20 minutes west of his hometown, according to reports.

He is the third former Tiger to commit to the Wolverines this month, joining incoming freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and defensive back Elijah Dotson.

During the Jim Harbaugh era, the relationship between UM and Belleville’s staff (namely with former coach Jermaine Crowell) was not the best. This is another sign that is changing.

At 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, Payne redshirted his freshman year in 2021, played in six games in 2022 and then played in eight games during 2023 as a rotation player along the line. Most recently, Payne recorded 14 tackles and a fumble in eight games in 2024.

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The goal is that he will replace some of what UM is losing at center on the line in Mason Graham and possibly Kenneth Grant, who still has a decision to make.

“Just like you saw in (the Ohio State game), the physicality, I want to turn it up to another level,” coach Sherrone Moore said of what he wants in the transfer portal and recruiting class. “The toughness, the pressure we had in that game was excellent, but I want to get bigger. I want to get faster. I want to get stronger, more explosive on offense.

“I thought defensively we played as well as a game as you could against that team and so I’m going to do that and just continue to build as a team because that’s what it’s really about. “

This isn’t an unexpected move at all – Payne was the No. 9 available defensive lineman in the transfer portal according to the 247Sports composite rankings and fits what could be needed for the Wolverines along the entire front.

The Wolverines are scheduled to see Payne’s former team for a second time in 2024 at the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 (noon, ESPN) in Tampa, Florida. The former Tide trench man recorded a tackle against UM in last year’s Rose Bowl.

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.