NOTE: This series sort of tailed off when I got into the teens of the 2020 recruiting cycle, because not many of those kids are relevant to Michigan’s recruiting. But with the 2021 cycle in full swing, I’ll start at the top of the in-state rankings.
Name: Damon Payne
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 297 lbs.
High school: Belleville (MI) Belleville
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: 2021
Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, USC, Vanderbilt
Commitment: Undecided
Notes: 247 Composite 4-star, #5 DT, #31 overall, #1 in-state as of 1/18/20…Claims 5.47 forty…4.59 shuttle…28.9″ vertical
Hit the jump for more.
Stats: N/A
Strengths: Payne starts with a good stance that gets him in position to get off the ball…He has good short-area quickness…Shows a good punch…Uses a nice push-pull to disengage…Keeps shoulders square to line when necessary…Quicker than his 40 time indicates
Weaknesses: Needs to add weight to play interior defensive line…Needs to continue to add pass rush moves to arsenal
Overall: Payne is an excellent prospect. He has a good combination of athleticism, size, technique, and football awareness. He’s not a can’t-miss prospect, because I don’t know that he’s been challenged much with the competition presented to him. But if you can get a guy his size who can move, you take your shot. I see him as an interior defensive lineman, but he has the feet and football awareness to also play guard or tackle on offense.
Highlights:
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297? Defensive TACKLE? heck yeah we want him – show him he’s NEEDED!
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For the record, I don’t think he weighs 297 pounds based on looking at him, but that’s the way these weights go. They’re usually inflated a little bit.
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I remember being scolded for doubting listed weights based on comparable appearance ?
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Magnus, what are your thoughts as to why Payne isn’t too interested in Michigan despite reports that we are trying with him?
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This is my OPINION:
I get the sense that there is some petty stuff going on with recruiting at Belleville, and as a coach, I find it to be pretty annoying and disappointing. As a high school coach, your job is to provide opportunities for players and put them in the best position to have success (academically and/or athletically), period. Your job isn’t to involve yourself in personal drama and push kids in one direction or another.
If we’re being honest, the vast majority of kids in the state of Michigan with college football aspirations would LOVE to play for Michigan, an in-state school that is almost always in the top 25, plays in front of 100,000+ people, puts people in the draft, etc. Just look at players over the years from West Bloomfield, King, Cass Tech, Novi Catholic Central, Country Day, etc….
…but is it a coincidence that Belleville didn’t send anyone to Michigan from 1997 (Ian Gold) to 2020 (Andre Seldon)?
I’m not saying I know all the reasons behind it, but I think it’s selfish behavior from the people “in charge.”
(NOTE: I’m speaking from a Michigan perspective, but obviously, a good high school coach should also be open to sending kids to CMU, WMU, Ohio State, Florida State, Clemson, etc. I’m not sure the Michigan States, Penn States, and Baylors of the world deserve the same treatment, since they obviously have cultural issues.)
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Thanks, very insightful.
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I agree with your opinion. Are these grown men or teenage girls?
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Gold was an AA kid. Only went to Belville for HS.
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Maybe they don’t pay enough.
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