Daron Payne had an interesting choice to make last winter as a five-star defensive lineman at Birmingham’s Shades Valley High School.
The 6-foot-2, 315-pound nose tackle could have gone numerous places and instantly been the most touted player at his position group, or he could have immersed himself among a sea of five stars at the University of Alabama. Payne opted for the latter, and he hasn’t regretted his choice.
“It helps having this much competition, because everyone is good and everyone can make a play,” Payne said. “Everybody wants the best for each other. We’re like a family and can lean on each other and will help each other out when we need help.
“All of these guys are first-round (future NFL draft) picks.”
Payne joined a Crimson Tide defensive front this summer that contained the five-star likes of A’Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen and Da’Shawn Hand. There was also Jarran Reed, who could be a top-10 pick in the 2016 NFL draft, and others who had earned significant playing time on a rotation that was eight or nine players deep.