A former five-star recruit who spent four years at Alabama before returning home to Michigan for a final college season, then signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.
Damon Payne Jr. was one of the most heavily recruited defensive linemen in the 2021 class before committing to Alabama, where he developed as a rotational run-stuffer for four seasons. He transferred home to Michigan for 2025 and now looks to carve out a role on the Chiefs' interior defensive line as an undrafted free agent.
Path to the league
A Belleville, Michigan native and the No. 39 overall recruit in the 2021 class per 247Sports, Payne fielded offers from Michigan, Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, USC and more before committing to Alabama. He spent four seasons in Tuscaloosa (2021-2024) before transferring to Michigan for his final college year in 2025, and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2026.
Career highlights
Payne's production at Alabama was modest as a rotational lineman, totaling 30 tackles and half a sack across three playing seasons behind a deep Crimson Tide defensive front. He is known as a strong run-stuffer who plays with good pad level and lower-body explosiveness, though he entered the league viewed as raw as a pass rusher.
2025 season recap
In his lone season at Michigan in 2025, Payne appeared in 12 games and recorded 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass deflection as a graduate transfer. The season served as his final showcase before going unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft and signing with Kansas City.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Damon Payne
- ESPN: Damon Payne
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Michigan
- Hometown
- Belleville, MI, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
