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Michigan football 'stopped recruiting' 5-star in-state prospect. His father has no idea why

Michigan's Jim Harbaugh answers questions from reporters on a Zoom call about playing football in 2020, COVID-19 and more, Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Detroit Free Press

Bewilderment is detected in his voice. Disappointment is heard, too. Over the phone, Damon Payne Sr. recalled how the Michigan football program he has always rooted for suddenly stopped recruiting his son, the gifted five-star defensive tackle and newly minted Alabama commitment, Damon Jr.

“I don’t know what happened. I have no idea,” he said. “If you can dig and investigate and find out why, let me know.