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Alabama Loses Former 5-Star to Transfer Portal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Dec 17, 2024 9:52 AM ET

The Alabama Crimson Tide are headed to the ReliaQuest Bowl, set to play the Michigan Wolverines in Kalen DeBoer's first season as head coach of the program.

Alabama finished the 2024 college football season with a 9-3 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the SEC, suffering losses to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

As DeBoer and the Crimson Tide prepare for their bowl game, currently scheduled for Dec. 31 at noon ET, they suffered a roster loss to the transfer portal.

On Tuesday, former five-star prospect Damon Payne announced his intention to enter the transfer portal, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.

Payne leaves Alabama after three years, where he recorded a total of 0.5 sacks and 30 tackles.

Alabama defensive lineman Damon Payne is expected to enter the transfer portal, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound former five-star recruit posted 14 tackles for the Crimson Tide this season. https://t.co/GO95iWrZHU pic.twitter.com/4OtZr2YgSi
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 17, 2024

Payne originally committed to Alabama in 2020 and enrolled at the university in 2021.

Coming out of high school the Mississippi native was a five-star prospect, ranked as the No. 7 defensive lineman and No. 24 player in the nation, per 247Sports.

The 6-foot-4 defensive tackle was a highly touted prospect who received several offers from powerhouse programs including Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State.

Payne becomes Alabama's 13th five-star recruit to enter the transfer portal since it was created in 2018, per Mike Rodak at 247Sports.

Here's a look at the other prospects who previously departed from the university and the class in which they committed to the Crimson Tide.

Jaylen Mbakwe (2024)

Ben Davis (2016)

Eyabi Anoma (2018)

Ale Kaho (2018)

Antonio Alfano (2019)

Trey Sanders (2019)

Scooby Carter (2019)

Drew Sanders (2020)

Tommy Brockermeyer (2021)

Ja'Corey Brooks (2021)