Damon Payne

Class:
Graduate Student
Position:
DL
Height:
6-4
Weight:
311
Hometown:
Belleville, Mich.
High School:
Belleville

CAREER HIGHS

Michigan
• Tackles: 3, 2x - last at Michigan State (Oct. 25, 2025)
• Solos: 2, 3x - last vs. Ohio State (Nov. 29, 2025)
• Asst: 1, 6x - last at Northwestern (Nov. 15, 2025)
• TFLs: 1.0 - vs. New Mexico (Aug. 30, 2025)
• Sacks: none
• Int.: none
• FR: none
• PBUs: none

Alabama
• Tackles: 3, 3x - last vs. Missouri (Oct. 26, 2024)
• Solos: 3 - vs. Mississippi State (Oct. 22, 2022)
• Asst: 2, 5x - last vs. Auburn (Nov. 30, 2024)
• TFLs: 0.5, 4x - last vs. Missouri (Oct. 26, 2024)
• Sacks: 0.5 - at Kentucky (Nov. 11, 2023)
• Int.: none
• FR: 1, 2x - last vs. Mercer (Nov. 16, 2024)
• PBUs: none

Graduate Student (2025)
• On two occasions, shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performances against New Mexico, against Washington
• Started in his U-M debut against New Mexico (Aug. 30) and tipped a pass that led to an interception; also contributed three tackles including one for loss
• Assisted in one tackle at Oklahoma (Sept. 6)
• Earned the start against Central Michigan (Sept. 13) and assisted one tackle
• Played significant snaps from the interior at Nebraska (Sept. 20)
• Started at nose against Wisconsin (Oct. 4) and made two tackles
• Played along the interior at USC (Oct. 11), at Maryland (Nov. 22)
• Made one solo tackle against Washington (Oct. 18)
• Credited with three tackles playing nose and defensive tackle at MSU (Oct. 25)
• Contributed along the defensive line against Purdue (Nov. 1)
• Started at nose against Northwestern at Wrigley Field (Nov. 15) and assisted on one tackle
• Made two solo stops and started at nose against Ohio State (Nov. 29)

PRIOR TO MICHIGAN
• Spent four seasons at Alabama (2021-24) and earned three varsity letters
• Appeared in 32 games during his career with one start along the defensive line; credited with 30 tackles including 2.0 for loss, 0.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries
• Helped the Crimson Tide reach the 2022 and 2023 College Football Playoffs and the 2022 National Championship Game

Senior (2024)
• Appeared in all 12 games with one start along the defensive line; made 14 tackles with 0.5 for loss and one fumble recovery
• Saw action along the defensive line against Western Kentucky (Aug. 31), at Wisconsin (Sept. 14), at Tennessee (Oct. 19), and at LSU (Nov. 9)
• Credited with three tackles against South Florida (Sept. 7)
• Made one solo tackle against Georgia (Sept. 28)
• Assisted on one stop at Vanderbilt (Oct. 5)
• Started against South Carolina (Oct. 12) and was credited with one assisted stop
• Shared a TFL among three stops against Missouri (Oct. 26)
• Recovered a fumble advanced six yards and made two tackles against Mercer (Nov. 16)
• Made one solo tackle at Oklahoma (Nov. 23)
• Assisted on two stops against Auburn (Nov. 30)

Junior (2023)
• Appeared in all 14 games along the defensive line; made nine tackles including 1.0 for loss with 0.5 sacks
• Saw action along the defensive line against Middle Tennessee (Sept. 2), Texas (Sept. 9), Tennessee (Oct. 21), at Mississippi State (Sept. 30), at Texas A&M (Oct. 7), and against Georgia (Dec. 2) in the SEC Championship Game
• Assisted on two stops at South Florida (Sept. 16)
• Credited with a shared TFL against Ole Miss (Sept. 23)
• Assisted on one stop against Arkansas (Oct. 14), LSU (Nov. 4), and Chattanooga (Nov. 18)
• Credited with two tackles including a share of a sack at Kentucky (Nov. 11)
• Credited with one assisted stop against Michigan in the Rose Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Jan. 1)

Sophomore (2022)
• Appeared in six games along the defensive line; made seven tackles including 0.5 for loss with one fumble recovery
• Made his collegiate debut against ULM (Sept. 17) and assisted on two tackles including a split TFL
• Played along the defensive line against Vanderbilt (Sept. 24), Austin Peay (Nov. 19), and Arkansas (Oct. 1)
• Credited with three solo stops against Mississippi State (Oct. 22)
• Generated two tackles against Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31)

Freshman (2021)
• Did not see game action

Prep
• Attended Belleville High School (2021) coached by Jermain Crowell
• Tigers went 10-1 and recorded a state semifinals appearance
• State qualifier in Track & Field

Honors and Rankings
• Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of five stars; the No. 24 overall player nationally, the No. 7 defensive lineman, and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Named a four-star prospect by 247Sports; the No. 39 overall player in the nation, the No. 9 defensive lineman, and the No. 2 player in the state of Michigan
• Rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 26 overall player in the country, the No. 3 defensive tackle, and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Rivals.com four-star prospect, the No. 39 overall player in the country, the No. 2 defensive lineman in the nation, and the No. 1 player in Michigan
• On3.com four-star consensus prospect, the No. 49 overall player in the country, the No. 7 defensive lineman in the nation, and the No. 2 player in Michigan
• On3.com four-star prospect, the No. 167 overall player in the country, the No. 17 defensive lineman in the nation, and the No. 4 player in Michigan
• Prepstar ranking of five stars, the No. 17 player in the country, the No. 1 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 1 player in the state of Michigan
• Prepstar Magazine’s Top 150 Dream Team member
• Under Armour All-American Game participant