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Alabama DL Damon Payne expected to enter NCAA transfer portal

1918632_10206777287683070_1367905321192383146_nby: Charlie Potter12/17/24Charlie_Potter
Alabama DL Damon Payne
Alabama DL Damon Payne (Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY Sports)

Alabama defensive lineman Damon Payne plans to enter the transfer portal, CBS Sports reports. Payne is the 15th Crimson Tide player to transfer in the 20-day winter window.

Payne, a redshirt junior, has played in all 12 of Alabama’s regular-season games and made his first career start against South Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 313-pound defensive tackle has recorded 14 tackles and half of a tackle for loss as his role has increased up front this fall.

After not playing as a freshman in 2021 and redshirting, Payne appeared in five games in 2022. Over the last two seasons, he has played in all 16 of Alabama’s contests. In 2023, he played 20 or more snaps in just one game (Chattanooga, 22), and that number rose to eight this season. Payne logged 30 or more snaps twice in Year 4, per Pro Football Focus.

A former 4-star recruit out of Belleville, Michigan, Payne was the No. 49 prospect in the nation in the 2021 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. The nation’s No. 7 defensive lineman chose Alabama over Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC and others.

The 20-day portal window opened on Monday, December 9, and will close on Saturday, December 28. Due to a later bowl game, Alabama players will have five extra days to enter.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

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