Former Alabama star Daron Payne hosting local event for youth
The offseason is a time for many NFL stars to give back to their communities by hosting camps to inspire the next generation of young football stars. Thursday, July 7, former Alabama star Daron Payne is returning back home to the place where he became a high school football star — Shades Valley High School (Irondale, Alabama). The gifted defensive lineman will be hosting his free annual youth football camp.
Check out the link below in the tweet for more information.
All participants in the camp will receive a free t-shirt, water/electrolyte drinks, and a protein bar.
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.”
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.
On3’s Jonathan Wagner also contributed to this article.