Shades Valley and Alabama Star Da'Ron Payne Enters NFL Draft

TUSCALOOSA, AL - After basking in the glow of a national championship, Alabama Crimson Tide star and former Shades Valley High School standout Da'Ron Payne announced Wednesday he will forego his senior season in Tuscaloosa and enter the NFL draft.

Payne had a dream postseason this year, winning Defensive MVP honors in both the Sugar Bowl and the National Championship Game. His postseason dominance capped off a Crimson Ride career that saw the former Shades Valley Mounties star play all three years he was at the Capstone and 53 tackles, a sack, eight additional quarterback hurries and an interception as a junior .

Payne joins fellow Crimson Tide underclassmen Calvin Ridley and Bo Scarbrough in the draft. Other players are expected to make announcements this week regarding their draft status. Junior running back Damien Harris has already announced he will return to the Tide for his senior year.

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