LOOK: Daron Payne announces youth football camp in Alabama
Washington Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne is returning home this summer. Payne recently announced that he will be returning to Shades Valley High School in Alabama for a youth football camp.
Payne played his high school ball at Shades Valley, before he turned into a star for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He starred at Alabama for three years before Washington selected him with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Now, Payne is coming back to his former home and giving back to his community.
Those in Alabama are undoubtedly familiar with Payne, as he came to the Crimson Tide as a national top 35 recruit and a top ten defensive lineman in the 2015 recruiting cycle as a four-star recruit, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
In three seasons at Alabama, Payne totaled 102 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, five passes defended, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown. Now, he is a vital part of the Commanders strong defensive front.
Payne is part of an Alabama-heavy Commanders defensive line
In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Commanders selected Alabama defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis in the second round. By doing so, they brought in the third former Alabama player on the defensive front. In addition to Payne and Mathis, the Commanders also have Jonathan Allen up front.
After Mathis was drafted, he expressed his excitement to be teaming up with Payne and Allen on the Commanders.
“Most definitely, that’s a blessing,” Mathis said. “Those are my big bros. I just talked to Jonathan Allen at the A-Day game and Payne, we talk all the time. So man, it’s a blessing to be back with Payne and also getting a chance to play with Jonathan Allen, because he left when I was coming into Alabama. So that’s another blessing for me and my family. I can’t wait to get around those guys and just learn from them also just come in and help them out.”
Payne has been involved in recent rumors surrounding a contract dispute with the Commanders. He reportedly walked off the practice field last week due to the dispute, though Payne later denied those reports.
In four years in Washington, Payne has totaled 227 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 35 quarterback hits, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one interception, along with nine passes defended.