Michigan has plucked former Alabama defensive lineman Damon Payne from the transfer portal, signing the redshirt junior to play for the Wolverines in 2025, On3 reported on Wednesday morning.

The 6-foot-4, 313-pound behemoth is from Belleville, Mich., so Payne would be returning to his home state to continue his collegiate career. It was reported on Tuesday that Payne planned to enter the portal, so it didn’t take long for him to make a decision on where he was heading next.

Payne was the 15th Alabama player to transfer during the current 20-day winter window. He played in all 12 of Alabama’s regular-season games in 2024 and made his first career start against South Carolina in mid-October.

Payne recorded 14 tackles, 5 of them solo, and had 1 fumble recovery as his role increased along Alabama’s defensive front this fall. But that apparently wasn’t enough to keep Payne in Tuscaloosa to finish his college career, as the Michigan native has reportedly decided to head back to his home state to join the Wolverines.

Following a redshirt year in 2021, Payne played in 6 games during the 2022 season, then he saw playing time during the 2023 season as a rotational player along the defensive line.

But after a solid 2024 season at Alabama, Payne is leaving a tradition-rich SEC program for a tradition-rich Big Ten program.

Alabama and Michigan will face off in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31.

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